January 2, 2015
That Awkward Compliment
[intro]“I love it when your band plays.”
“I like your band better than the other bands!”
“You guys just have something the other bands just don’t have.”
“I really wish you guys played every week.”[/intro]
These are all actual compliments that I have gotten at church.
In fact, all 15 band leaders at our church have had similar awkward compliments given to them by well-meaning folks.
In some ways it makes sense.
We have 15 different bands all with different styles, different voices, different strengths, and different weaknesses. Acoustic bands, electric bands, spoken word, and jazz; the music is as diverse as the personalities serving in the ministry. We have government workers, personal assistants, school counselors, stay-at-home moms, hip-hop artists, and computer programmers all serving in Riv bands.
This genre diversity allows for preferences to rise up in our hearts, but also gives us a chance to examine exactly what our motives are each week. And it basically comes down to this:
Are we desperate as a church to worship God no matter what?
I think we know this, but I might as well say it. Worshipping God is what we are about. We do not worship men, bands, or styles of music. These are all vehicles to communicate our response to who God is and what he’s done. When the church sings of God’s saving grace we affirm with our mouths what we know in our heads to be true; and His truth is worth singing about.
So here’s a simple guide for how to worship depending on your situation.
1. If your favorite band is playing: Give thanks to God for the music and worship Him with the words. Sing loud because singing gives glory to God and encourages those around you that what we are saying is true.
2. If a band is playing that you don’t like (for whatever reason): Give thanks to God in spite of your tastes and preferences and worship him with the words. Sing loud because singing gives glory to God encourages those around you.
3. Pray for your worship leaders that God would use them to exalt His name before men.
So, saying all that, please feel free to continue encouraging those serving in ministry around you. Good encouragement heartens those serving and allows them to see God working in spite of their weaknesses.
“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” -1 Thessalonians 5:11
Did you know? You can buy several Riv worship albums online.
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