The author of this article, Ed Chinn, serves as part of the leadership team for WorshipInstitute.com.  

He and his wife Joanne live in Fort Worth, Texas

Imagine that you are planning a grand dinner party of old and new friends.  You joyfully plan every exquisite detail of the evening, from the gourmet foods to the elegant table, lighting, flowers, and music. And, during dinner, you will share secrets, reveal historic possibilities, and weave new relationships together.  Oh, you can visualize the candleshine and wineglow on these cherished faces. 

At 6:30, the doorbell rings: the moment to greet and embrace your friends.  As you open the door, your joy radiates into a full and smiling “Welc –.”  But your chattering guests pin you behind the door as they blast on into your den. 

They unpack a guitar, digital projector, and speaker system.  Then, as a guitar strums, they begin to chant, “Oh, Fred, we just want to know you better.  Please come and dwell among us; speak to us…” 

Suddenly, they all get quiet and turn their gaze to the kid with the guitar and the kinda sexy girl moving her head slowly from side to side as she hums, sways, and metrically slaps her hip.  Lyrics and cinematic imagery splash across your wall.

How long would it take you to realize these people have no respect for, or even the faintest interest in, you?  Clearly, they worship their own self-generated, self-serving image which they have named “Fred.” You – the real Fred – are not even a factor, let alone essential, in their gathering. 

What Have We Created?

I still remember the first time I heard the term “leading worship.”  I wondered then and –thirty years later and after directing many worship conferences – I wonder now, “What does that mean?”

“Worship leader” sounds like, but is not, a biblical role.  Granted, neither are most of the jobs I’ve filled. But, I do wonder if joining the words “worship” and “leader” creates a perilous syncretism.  “Worship” is one of the great words; it wears the ancient robes of mystery.  “Leader” is also a biblical word.  But, when we connect them, the new term – worship leader – seems to take on a sweeping audacity. 

Could that be why Jesus (or anyone else in the Bible) did not have one?  Is it possible that the Lord is capable of hosting His own gatherings?  Isaiah 25:6 certainly indicates that He is and does.

I am not suggesting that humans have no valid roles in gatherings.  Of course, they do.  But, over the past quarter-century, I’ve watched an interesting phenomenon: it seems that the emergence of the Worship Leader has paralleled a loss of God-centeredness. 

 Some questions need consideration: Do we even know how to enter into His Presence?  What happened to the good manners of entering His home graciously, reverently, and patiently? 

If Jesus did nothing on His own initiative, but waited for the Father to do and speak things, then where do we find the authorization to take such commanding control of His gatherings?  

Worship Ushers

When I met Richard Curtis, he was already retired from a successful business career.  I was amazed that a long-time leader of people and resources could find such quiet and invisible excellence as an usher.  He had, and taught others to have, the superb ability to just disappear into serving (when Richard died, one of his ushering disciples picked up the fallen banner and marched on in his teacher’s example).

One day, I thanked Richard for the great care which he brought to ushering.  As we talked, he said something which stunned me, “I think leading worship is like ushering…just quietly and reverently help people to find a place in the Presence.”

Perhaps only this man, who had served as a leader and as an usher, could so instinctively understand the problem with linking “leader” to worship. 

Part of the problem is that we tend to use biblical words for their tone even as we expect our culture to provide ever-new definitions.  So, when we say “worship leader” it carries a biblical sound.  But, we subconsciously buy the cultural definition of “leader” – a construct which tilts toward autonomy, control, and prominence.  So, when one “leads” worship – the cultural assumptions wait backstage with recording contracts, royalties, and dark indulgences. 

This is not a common “slippery slope;” it is more of a free fall into arrogance and, eventually, the grotesque flamboyance of celebrity.  And, it affects anyone trying to walk in a biblical role while allowing culture to provide new and improved content. 

That takes me back to the wisdom and example of Richard Curtis. 

Ushers are invisible, anonymous, and often unacknowledged.  Their primary function is to simply, quietly, and efficiently help people to find a place in the gathering.  They don’t get the spotlight, the royalties, the contracts, or the girls. 

What if our whole approach to worship took an usher – rather than leader – pattern?  Hidden.  Nameless. Submissive.  Unappreciated. 

Humbling Ourselves

Political conservatives in the US often talk about America’s “holiday from history.”  By that, they mean that certain policies and attitudes have taken a leave-of-absence from the clear lessons and ideals of human history.

I wonder if much of the contemporary church is on a “holiday from humility.”  Have we developed policies and attitudes which have departed our great Pattern?

Jesus taught that “everyone who exalts himself will be humbled.” (Luke 14:11).  And He humbled Himself into obedience to death – even death on the cross (Philippians 2:8).  No wonder that His disciple, Peter, was so clear and strong in reminding everyone that, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.  Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.” (I Peter 5: 5 – 6).

Those words, still hanging like a plumbline from Heaven, call us to end our holiday from humility.

A New Era of Worship

The Lord is not anxious or angry about the church (or anything else in His creation).  But, I do think He is inviting us to higher ground and a new era of worship (the road to that higher ground passes through humility, suffering, and death).

I and others who have worked in the contemporary “worship world” for many years think we detect some new breezes.  Some signs indicate that we may be coming to the end of illusions and the dawn of new realities. 

For example, His kindness and mercy may be carrying us from a personality-based, dollar-driven, and tech-rich “worship culture” into the greater glory of His Presence.

We also may see a renaissance of the fear of the Lord.  Imagine being ushered into His Presence by those who have a profoundly God-centered and fearful reverence toward Him. 

It also seems that a biblical and pristine re-definition of worship may be falling on His church.  Gerrit Gustafson – well-respected songwriter, author, and teacher – recently told me, “Music is one of at least thirty other biblically-prescribed acts of worship, including prayer, lying prostrate, preaching the gospel, defending the poor, etc.” 

Gerrit also described another emerging reality: “We have not yet plumbed the depths of God’s plan for ‘team leadership.’”  He then presented a vision of musical gifts linked with other gifts, and all listening together for the Spirit’s leadership for the gathering.   

Finally, in the new era, we may return to the Bible for, not only the tone, but the content of our words and ideas.  When that happens, perhaps the title “Worship Leader” will find biblical integrity.

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Recently, I stepped into a sublime and soaring place of worship.  And, true to the Lord’s nature, this “dinner party” contained an enormous surprise.  That moment could not have been scripted.  It was “…far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams!” (Ephesians 3:20, The Message).

Morris Chapman was leading that particular session.  As always, he had the good sense to get out of the Lord’s way. 

The next morning I ran into my friend Morris in the lobby of the hotel.  As we chatted, I told him how much I appreciated the sweet kiss from God and the transcending lift of the Spirit in that meeting.  And, this wise “usher” paused and said, “I had no business up on that platform.”

What if every worship leader knew that?  What if they knew the purpose and Person of the gathering?  What if they knew that their only role was to simply, quietly, and reverently usher people to their places at the Lord’s dinner party?

Perhaps when we finally sit silently at His great table – exhausted and sick of initiatives, scripts, and ourselves – He will open up the great abundance of His heart and do and say…far more than we could ever imagine or guess or request in our wildest dreams!

Ed Chinn

Copyright © 2008 by Ed Chinn.  All rights reserved.