a look at music and ministry

I help with music at the church that endorses this blog. In Christian circles, what I do is often referred to as "leading worship," and so I reluctantly bear the title of "worship leader." I'll just say to those dismayed or surprised by my disdain for the title that it has nothing to do with the associated roles and responsibilities; it has everything to do with how presumptuous and arrogant it is to try on a label that should be reserved for Christ only (read Hebrews if you're confused why I'd say that). I bring this up because a passage of scripture I read recently reawakened me to the exclusivity of Christ's role as worship leader.

Here's the passage: "As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever." - 1st Peter 3:10-11.

I was happy to come across this, because it gives legitimacy and perspective to something the other musicians and I constantly pray and hope for, which is that God would be glorified through our service to the congregation. I have often wondered if it is just a platitude, though. Is it really possible for a bunch of amateurs playing music and singing to glorify God? We can put some songs together and sometimes it sounds ok, but is it glorifying to God?

The answer is no, at least, not without the critical vector Peter mentions: Jesus Christ. You see, when we "worship" (that's churchspeak for singing hymns of praise together during a service), sometimes we are under the dangerous--and possibly subconscious--impression that there is some sort of value to the medium. This impression is manifest in our hyperemphasis of style over content, length over depth, beauty in the flesh over purity of the heart. Frankly, anytime our worship service becomes about what we do and how it's done rather than whom we do it for, we've strayed towards some form of idolatry. Unfortunately, we musicians often buy into this thinking and even reinforce it by trying our darndest to "beautify" our craft, as if by making it prettier it will somehow become more acceptable, more glorifying to God. Yuck.

The fact is, however, no craft of man will ever be pleasing to God outside of the redeeming work of Christ. This is why Peter is careful to say that "God may be glorified through Jesus Christ." Had he left the last part off, the implication would be that the use of our abilities alone is itself enough to glorify God, which I'm grateful is not the case.

This whole passage in Peter puts abilities and ministry opportunities into an appropriate context for the church. We employ our God-given talents in ministrations of service for the Body of Christ, and to no other end than that, through Christ, God would be glorified. As musicians, we appreciate the opportunity to create something we enjoy and provide a point of participation for the Body of Christ. We do so with gravity, and an attitude of service to the church, which Peter articulated well here. It's a matter of stewardship. The details of exactly how Christ takes our music and humility of spirit during our times of corporate worship and transforms it into true worship, I don't rightly know yet. But I do know that without Christ, the whole exercise is pointless.

We musicians dare not suggest that what we do and how well we do it brings you into the presence of God. That's Christ's job, as the Mediator. So, I ask Christians everywhere not to project that on the musicians in your church. It's not a job we want to do for you, and more importantly, it's not a job we can do for you. You may not think you project anything of this sort on us, but I can tell you, I have often heard and even been the recipient of both criticism and compliments that suggest otherwise.

The challenge, as a church, and on a grander scale, as the Church, is to realize this issue doesn't just affect music ministry. There are other areas where ministry can become idolatrous, Christ-less. Do we see our service to the kingdom in it's proper context, which Peter outlines here, or are is it just another subtle attempt to get to God apart from Christ?