Comments on: Gear lust or “ministry investment”: do singers understand what their worship instrumentalists have invested into their craft?

By: Rich

Rich — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 06:21:56 +0000

Hi Martin,

If your spirit is unnerved, then I have succeeded!

Really, that is one ingredient in a great conversation.

By: Martin

Martin — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 02:55:51 +0000

Whilst I agree on a lot you’ve said, my spirit is unnerved by various things.

My counterpoints:
“Investing in gear is appropriate .. when we are talking about sounds that relate and move people in today’s culture” This sounds all wrong to me. As far am I’m concerned, when it comes to worship, culture should have little to do with it. And it shouldn’t take sounds to move people into worship. We should be able to run a worship service VOID of all music if we so chose and yet still have everyone in an attitude of praise and worship.

“Investing in skill is the part of any call to ministry. (Psalm 33:3) ” True! But don’t think you can do it it your own strength either!

“Compare your craft to the pros, not your current worship team. Do we take the same passion a performer has to the act of leading worship?” I kinda get what your saying, but I’m no performer. I don’t have that passion. I do however have the most insatiable hunger and passion to see all of Gods people worshiping him. THAT is the passion that I bring to my worship team. Not professionalism. I guess I’m saying, choose your words carefully as not to give the wrong idea.

“You may have the passion, but not the skill or talent.” – True you need to know the “how”. But I find the “how” is so very little often found how well you use your instrument ‘technically’ but more so how well you play your instrument ‘worshipfully’. No amount of lessons or expensive gear can get you that talent. Obviously if you cant sing or play an particular instrument at all it would be useless if you tried. Some level of technical skill is a must.

“The Worship Team is not for everyone”
Cant agree more. But don’t also assume that The worship team is only for the best. That is elitism, as has no place in the church!

By: Larry Plaxco

Larry Plaxco — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 19:01:29 +0000

I agree with alot of this blog. As the lead guitar player at bilingual church in Puerto Rico, I’ve have at least another hour extra of “band” practice a week to hone our stylings, and at times I don’t have the proper “equipment” to produce the desired sounds. Granted as a guitar player, ask anyone, we love to get “gear” so I have no problem buying it- but when one of our vocalists downplays the guitar(s) part its a bit of an insult. We have actually had some say “If I knew setup would take this long I would’ve slept in.” We begged for them to help us setup!
My defining moment was a recent worship leader that lead us- he was determined to have 15 mins of band warmup every sunday. AFTER, vocal warmups. He made all our vocals (including us who just sing “backup”) to do these crazy scales and who knows what else. Us guitar players made a game of it, playing the scale then humming it. The vocalists complained that was tough, and “are we doing this every sunday?”
Thus, I agree with the American Idol syndrome. Alot of people do not realize how hard it is to put together a worship team- hard WORK. I’d say there are alot of talent out there, but I’d rather have a 90% hardworking team and 10% talent than vise versa.
From a transplanted Nashvillian, I’ll agree again with “keeping up with the pros”, If you can’t cut it musically, then you get in the way- you have to keep growing. My best years were playing with studio musicians who played for church out of their talents’ abundance. All of us learned from them and were slowly being brought to their level. But that is the point- the attitude of the band. Can we be selfless enough to realize we might learn from EVERYONE on the team and grow together.

Meanwhile, the question is- for MY vocalists- we are just thankful we have people who will show up. I wish we could have auditions, but there is not enough williness there for singers. I’ll trade you a drummer and 2 of my bass players for one of your vocals though…
God bless

By: Marilyn

Marilyn — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 14:25:08 +0000

Ok, so here is my suggestion to those who are in charge…
Don’t write someone off immediately if they blow their audition. Maybe they are too average for what you are looking for, but maybe they SHINE once they are put in an actual worship situation. The anointing can do that. Pray about the auditions and ask God to give you discernment re: who you should give a second or third chance. Two cents from someone who is grateful for people giving me a chance.

By: Rich Kirkpatrick

Rich Kirkpatrick — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 13:37:52 +0000

Hi Marilyn!

You bring up some very good points. I believe that what you are saying about anointing or being “consecrated” indeed is very important to not forget. I believe that is what all believers need to strive to, of course. The issue here is just with taking your gifts, no matter what they are and how small or big they are, and investing in them for the sake of God’s glory. You surely did that, by the way, as part of my team many years ago as I recall. I remember the vocal workshops we all took and how God used that to make many of us even that much more effective.

The idea of leading in a big church is overrated, especially so if the thought is simply talent and not heart. Your talent does not excuse you of investing time in your walk and devotion to God is what I hear you saying and wholeheartedly agree. No matter if you are in a small church (I have been in small churches of 100 people) or large ministry it is important to take the gifting God has given us and exercise it, invest in it and of course let God use it to reach and touch people. What I am saying here is that devotion is not complete without the discipline of developing the work and talent God has given each of us. And, none of us are entitled to a “platform” just because we “feel” called without serious preparation.

By: Marilyn

Marilyn — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 11:08:33 +0000

Hey Rich,
Just joined your blog network…
First of all, thanks so much for allowing me to be on the worship team back at VBC. Sometimes you clearly weren’t happy with my voice and other times I got some nice comments from you. I can’t say my voice has improved very much since then (and sometimes it really, really sucks) but I haven’t had the money to get voice lessons. I’ve been thinking about it a lot lately though and hopefully I can get a few half hours in soon (ea/half hour is about $15 here in China… a steal I know!) So, I agree that we need to do what we can to perfect our craft.

However, we need to remember the spiritual side as well — the anointing (which I believe comes with a consecrated heart). I’ve heard some really talented people lead worship. Everything sounds great but it just feels empty. I know worship is MY responsibility but an anointed leader can help it along. I’m just average and probably wouldn’t be able to sing in a big church, but I am having great results in our Int’l Fellowship here (about 200 people). We have a rotation of leaders and I lead once a month. I taught myself piano about 9 years ago and I’ve been leading from it ever since. What I play is very basic! But even though my voice and playing abilities are nothing to get excited about, people over and over comment on how much they REALLY enjoyed the worship. It’s humbling, because I know I’m nothing special. I honestly feel that God is using me in a supernatural way. I’m not saying that you, Rich, don’t value the anointing and I’m also not saying that people who clearly can’t sing should have a mic up on stage, but I am saying that sometimes God can take a very average pot of clay and do something amazing with them. And those that are really talented may benefit the most from spending more time with God and purifying their lives (in addition to purchasing all the cool gear). Hopefully the average people will have a chance to gain experience, maybe in a smaller setting. You gave ME a chance! And, by the way, I thought you were a great worship leader!

By: alex mclean

alex mclean — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 05:33:58 +0000

Nice job Rich, always shaking things up eh? Actually, it’s a great thread – I thought I’d pimp our Worship Directors blog here since you speak of gear… http://guitarforworship.wordpress.com/ you won’t be let down, Karl knows how to write.

By: Mike Dalton

Mike Dalton — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 21:36:11 +0000

I have been on this worship team for almost nine years, and when someone shows up with gear that sounds, well, like crap, I have to do what a true leader does, confront it. AND, that also goes with talent levels, no one wants to hear that they aren’t good enough, it HURTS, BUT, if you are willing to put in the time then it shows that you are going to follow the leadership that GOD has put forth. Aunt Mable can’t sing but her nephew Jonny is the worship leader and he keeps putting her up there anyway, well that is a horrible thing, not to the church but to Aunt Mable. Do you get it. Also, a calling from God is a calling from God, He will clear all the paths IF IT IS HIS VISION, NOT YOURS. You will make it in any ministry if it is God’s vision for you, if not at one church it will be at another, but as far as our team goes, NO ONE IS ENTITLED to be on the team, not the pastor, not me, not the best player. Gear is just as important as talent, if you are a half ass singer, then you are half assing your giving to God. A little harsh but sometimes that has to be said. And that goes for instrumentalist too!!!

By: Rich Kirkpatrick

Rich Kirkpatrick — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 21:15:56 +0000

Derek..I have a suggestion, why don’t you blog about this entirely different subject on your own blog. I am happy to link to it here. You are off topic.

By: Derek

Derek — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 20:43:37 +0000

“Elders” were not essential to the function of the church – Paul would only recognize elders after the church was already established, often on his return trips years later. The recognition of elders was a reflection of their rising into leadership in an organic way. Their authority was not based on some kind of official position – their authority was spiritual. So I disagree with the fundamental exclusivity that you’re suggesting.

In the institutional church, “participation” is largely passive. House churches vary, but an organically functioning church is not one based on entitlement or passivity. If anyone in church culture feels “entitled,” it is the clergy who has spent years under professional instruction who feel that they are the authoritative teachers from the position of the pulpit.

True authority in the kingdom is spiritual, not based on education or official position. This is clear from the teachings of Christ and of Paul.

I understand the American Idol reference made earlier. I’ve been there, and I’ve had to tell people no. But this is a symptom of a different root problem, that of creating the stage mentality to begin with. If you’re not entertaining from the stage, it’s that much less likely that you’re going to have people who want to share your spotlight, whether they’re talented or not.

The New Testament way looks very different upon a plain reading apart from institutional tradition. In 1 Corinthians 14, people are clearly exercising their gifts as led by the spirit. Quite a different thing than ordained officials determining who is allowed to speak under a “covering of leadership.”

If I’m visiting any typical church, and God lays a teaching on my heart to share, I’m forbidden from sharing it. This is clearly against what Paul is instructing.