Dreamy worship...

Man-o-man, I am turning into "that" critic of worship that as a worship leader, I was really bugged by.

It is such a big deal that there are canned pastors messages dealing with the "style" of worship and how people need to get over it because we are not there to be entertained, but to worship the Eternal God!

There are short movie clips, and music videos that churches can buy (I bought them as a worship leader!) that tell the body to chill out, paraphrased of course....

And yet, I attend different churches and find myself doing the Simon Cowel act... sitting in judgement of how well the leader knew the song, if the band was tight, was it the version I knew and why aren't they playing songs I know!?

Speaking with a friend that I sometimes play with at his church, I voiced my thoughts this way, it seems that leaders, vocalists and musicians in many churches are just not experienced at this stuff. The latest example I can think of is the "dreamy worship" that seems to be big with younger leaders. Take the 6 minute Hillsong United versions of slow worship songs and now play 3 of them back to back, break for offering then play another then again at the end of the service.

As a set list, it seems the person who does that is not understanding of the dynamic of telling a story through the song selection. Building to a point either in the coming sermon or telling their own story through the song selection.

The think I liked about Simon Cowel was his honesty in a persons ability based on his knowledge of the business. We need more honest people in leadership in church to instruct worship leaders in how to build a set.

A few more things they can teach them....
1. Not everyone has to sing a harmony part. If no one is singing the part the body knows (the melody), the body is not going to follow you!
2. You don't need a guitar solo on every song. (and as a guitar player who loves to play lead, that's a big statement)
3. Take the body on a journey through the song selection. And even though it might seem rehearsed, don't be afraid to instruct people and tell them why you are doing a certain song... use scripture!
4. Be honest about peoples ability... don't let them take a lead part because you are not strong enough to tell them how they really sound.
5. The sound guy is your best friend or worst enemy. In most churches we take whoever was kind enough to volunteer and put them at the soundboard. Half deaf, wearing headphones, clueless about who is singing melody and who is singing harmony and why they should not be at equal volumes, does not know who plays what solos etc.... it all leads to a poor production and a lack of impact.

Now you might say that all these things God overcomes... and I would say true. But why would we want to make Him work so hard when we can put a little more effort into it and thus give Him less to work on and more to be honored with!