This post has taken me forever to write... and that has really surprised me. I’ve talked about the subject of Christmas music with a number of friends over the past few weeks, and I’ve gotten such an interesting response from those conversations that I decided to turn it into a blog post. If your eye of analysis is too critical on Christmas music, however, some will think you hate sunshine and happiness. I don’t hate sunshine. Or happiness. Or Christmas.
I also do not hate Christmas music, at least in-and-of itself. Although this post is birthed out of some personal frustration as a worship leader, the following analysis is only designed to point out a deficiency in the church, with the hopes of inspiring change and growth. It is from the perspective of a worship leader, fueled by the desire to invigorate the praise of God’s people as they celebrate the birth of humanity's Savior.
With that said, here we go...
Read MoreIt’s occurred to me that, in order to understand what I do as a worship leader, I need to explain a few things. I also want this blog to be an outlet for the little things I’ve learned about leading worship, offering them to you for your own potential use. Over the past 8-10 months, I’ve been exploring an aspect of the modern worship scene that fits both of these qualifications, and so, I offer this practical discussion.
Our topic: worship loops.
Read MoreThis post is part rant, part observation, and part challenge. For a while, I’ve noticed that this topic is closely related to the overarching issue of style. I think, however, that if this topic is given the proper attention, then it will transcend the argument over worship style. Indeed, I’m becoming more convinced that worship leaders should pay more attention to this aspect of their corporate leadership, because I believe it is one of the more powerful weapons in worship. So, what is this weapon that demands so much attention?
Read MoreIn the previous post, worship was defined as our heartfelt response to God, for who He is and what He has done; it should invade every aspect of our daily lives, as we willingly place ourselves on the altar of our own praise. I also pointed out that Christians (myself certainly included) do not always succeed at fulfilling this, our created purpose.
Why?
Read MoreOnto our first order of business... defining worship.
This may seem unnecessary, but “worship” is a word that has become overused in Christian circles, almost to the point of cliche. Sadly, the cultural misappropriation of the word has caused the true, Biblical meaning of worship to be lost in the white noise. Many believers are so busy talking about worship, they forget what (or who) their worship should be focused on. Of course, these believers would contend that God is the focus of their worship, but their own tastes and desires have reduced God to a shadow of what He truly is.
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