As a former youth pastor, and someone who has led children in worship as well, I have become increasingly concerned about the manipulation of our younger generation when it comes to worship. Manipulation to conform to a certain “cool” lifestyle that takes the focus off the Lord and puts it on the medium itself is always a big mistake. Why, you say? The very word focus says enough by itself. When the focus toward the Lord is blurred, the focus on the world, or the temporary, becomes very clear. That kind of clarity toward the ways of the world and misguided focus on earthly things is empty at best. It is well known that what your eyes are focused on will influence your mind over a period of time. If we continue to focus on a cutting edge medium that is not God-centered, the end result will be that we are manipulating on behalf of a non-spiritual agenda. That is not God-honoring and in fact, is a slam against the Word of God.
Our passion as worship leaders should always be to lift up the name of Jesus first. That means we will highlight the Word of God, and not think of it as antiquated and old. We will live vibrant lives that show an increasing desire for Godliness as we live in the righteousness provided through the blood of Jesus. We will not compromise in order to improvise to make the Word of God look better, as if it needs it. We will unapologetically lift up the name of Jesus and be Salt and Light in a time when those terms are called outdated and ineffective. In other words, we will be the church. We cannot allow ourselves to get on the slippery slope of apathy anymore and expect God to bless our efforts. It won’t happen. There is only one God, and it’s not us. Let’s worship in spirit and truth and actually let God be the one who is glorified as we lift up the Savior, not the secular.
I have enclosed a brief article below that is a good reminder for each of us as adults about our attitude when it comes to leading worship. Even though this is for those leading children in worship, it applies to us all. Thanks for all you do to lead others in worship. Please keep your hand to the plow and don’t look back. Luke 9:62…
Keep plowing from generation to generation,
Copied from Integrity Today
Worship: The Spiritual Dimension
This is an article that was written to help leaders realize the importance of leading children in spirit-led worship.
First, begin with spiritual warfare: Worship is a spiritual activity, one that will be met with spiritual opposition, every time.
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness
of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places”
--Ephesians 6:12
Next, welcome the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit comes to reveal Jesus in our midst. As we surrender to the Spirit’s leading, we create an entry-point for glory to permeate our praise.
Finally, see leaders as co-worshippers: Worship-leading is not like cheerleading. Cheerleaders stand apart from the game, cheering on the team. A worship-leader joins the worship, as another worshipper, modeling a heart for worship.
Do not put out the Spirit's fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil.
--1 Thessalonians 5:19-22
The Pilgrimage continues..
David Warren
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