Articles
Metaphors for A Worship Leader's Life
02/07/06
by Leroy Chavez
"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize." Paul, the apostle, wrote this sentence in his first letter to the Corinthians, chapter 9:24. He is not really talking about running and winning a race, but of faithfulness and endurance in the face of adversity. This is an example of a metaphor. A metaphor represents one idea in the place of another to suggest a likeness between them. Stories that use metaphors, allegory, and analogy are all wonderfully used throughout Scripture. Jesus himself was a master storyteller and used metaphors frequently, as in 'you are the salt of the earth and the light of the world.' It is a powerful way to teach concepts that people will remember.
As a worship leader at one of the foundational Vineyard churches for the last nine years, I have discovered five metaphors that I use to train young worship leaders. The following are my notes on these five metaphors which help describe the attitude and some of the considerations of the job of worship leader, or as some call it, lead worshiper. I hope you find them useful in your journey and growth in your role.
The Best Man: He Gives Honor
A few years back, an article by Brian Thiessen appeared in an issue of Inside Worship magazine that suggested that leading people in worship was comparable to being the best man at a wedding. The best man is at the wedding for the sole purpose of focusing everyone's attention to the groom. The best man should be well dressed, carefully rehearsed and polished in his delivery of the toast. Could you imagine a wedding where the best man tried to steal the affections of the bride?
In Matthew 9 Jesus implies that He is the groom, but is with them for a short time. In chapter 25, referring to His return, Jesus tells the parable of the ten virgins waiting for the bridegroom's appearance. Revelation 21:9 reveals an angel saying, "Come here, I shall show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb." Then he shows John the New Jerusalem, which is the Church. The bride is the Church, the bridegroom is Jesus.
It is completely inappropriate for the best man to flirt with the bride. His job is to glorify the bridegroom. In the same way, our job as worship leaders is to point the way to Jesus. We are to tell of His mighty works, and His beauty and majesty. If you are leading a team of musicians, all of you need to model worship. Everyone must be mindful of the primary goal: giving Him all the glory.
The Bus Driver: Our Sacrifice
We all remember going on field trips on a school bus when we were young. As kids, all we wanted to do was goof-off and sing songs at the top of our lungs. The bus driver was usually some dour old man who never interacted with us.
What if, instead, you were the bus driver? But, in this case, your bus was full of family and friends all having a ripping good time. You would be very tempted to whoop and holler along with the rest of the party in the bus. You could join in, but you would still have to keep your eye on the road and your hands on the wheel. In the same way, the lead worshiper must keep an eye on the technical aspects of the worship time: here comes that difficult chord change, or maybe I should call out the first few words of the chorus so everyone knows where we're going. The lead worshiper must also look ahead to guide the group. Here is where we find one of the sacrifices involved in serving as a worship leader. You may not be able to fully immerse yourself in the experience of worship while you are leading, especially if you are leading a band.
Have you found yourself so deeply into worship yourself that you neglected the people you were leading? Maybe you missed a chord change or dropped a beat? It is important to stay connected to the team, the people, and the technical aspects so you don't lose anyone along the way.
The Trail Guide: He Knows The Way
Another metaphor for a worship leader is the trail guide. I was once in the Boy Scouts. I loved to go on nature hikes. I never thought about getting lost because I was confident the trail guide knew the way. If the worship leader is like the trail guide, he or she should know the trail.
The guide should be familiar with every tree and rock, every significant landmark along the path so no one gets lost. In the same way the worship leader should be so familiar with the progression of worship that when he leads the people, he does not falter or wander down a different path.
As worship leaders, we can't lead people where we have never gone ourselves. Each worship leader needs to have personal devotional time and personal worship time. This discipline is critical. In fact, it is critical for every believer in Christ. "Out of knowing God, we make Him known—we are first worshipers, and then worship leaders," as Andy Park wrote in his book To Know You More. We all need to participate in corporate worship, as well. Musicians have a tendency to analyze other musicians when they themselves are not playing. We need to resist this impulse and dive in to corporate worship with abandon. It is in corporate worship where we can experience the depth of the riches of God's love for us. Steve Robbins, professor and director of Vineyard Leadership Institute said, "Even though worship should be done privately as well, the locus of God's great manifestation is His presence with His people in corporate worship."
The Yacht Builder: Character Matters
In Gordon MacDonald's book, The Life God Blesses, he tells a parable of a man who was a member of a yacht club. This man decides to build his own yacht. He begins work at the dock and spends a great deal of time and money getting all the latest gadgets and yachting magazine recommendations for brass fixtures and expensive woods for the cabin. While the work progresses all the other members come around admiring the beautiful appointments and accouterments that the builder has added.
The day arrives when the boat is ready to sail. The man loads his whole family into the boat and sets sail. Many other club members also set sail along with him. A small storm begins to blow and the other yachters turn back to the harbor. The man and his new yacht cannot turn and with a gust of wind, the boat capsizes and sinks taking him and the lives his family.
The sad thing is the man built his boat without attending to the keel, that part of the boat that is deep underwater where no one sees, but is vital to keeping the craft upright when the wind blows. He was too focused on pleasing the other club members with his fancy, superficial trappings, and did not pay enough attention to the sea-worthiness of his craft. One small storm came along and his whole family was destroyed.
Character is like the keel of a yacht. No one sees it; no one pays any attention to it until adversity arrives. Then, it becomes painfully obvious to all what was beneath the surface. Character is built in private between you and God.
The issue here is discipleship. Our goal should be to live as a true disciple, or apprentice of Jesus Christ. He alone has the words of life, as Peter once said. Like the trail guide, you need a strong personal devotional life. This is something no one else sees. It is hidden. No one knows what you do with your sinful thoughts; no one but Jesus. Read Richard Foster's Celebration of the Disciplines, find a small, confidential group of friends who can hold you accountable. Spending time in prayer and journaling to the Lord will anchor you more solidly in God. You will reap amazing benefits.
A Widow's Jar: Trust
A favorite story of mine is from 1Kings chapter 17 where the prophet Elijah comes to a widow, and asks for some bread. We find out that she and her son are almost completely out of food—at the end of their rope. If she gives her last oil and flour to Elijah then they will be finished. He insists so she agrees. Then a miracle happens! Her jar of oil keeps producing oil. So much so that Elijah has her collect all her jars and bowls so they can try to hold it all. Her jar never runs out.
As worshipers, God asks us to give of ourselves in worship in a deeply spiritual and intimate way—a way most of us might feel threatened by. Many times we may only have a drop or two of our own to give, yet we must choose to either give it all or hold it back. This kind of giving is giving with abandon. If we trust in His goodness and He asks this of us, then we should "abandon the outcome," as Dallas Willard has said. We are the simple earthen vessel—that jar of clay that God fills up for His purposes. The beauty is that if we give, we are replenished to give more. In fact, it will never run out as long as we stay in relationship with Jesus.
Humility, submission, trust—these are the heart-issues that we are addressing here. Be careful that you don't rely so much on your own abilities, gifts and training that you miss the spirit. God can be trusted with your heart as well as your reputation.
The best man, the bus driver, the trail guide, the yacht builder and the widow's jar; these are metaphors that describe a submitted life. Paul wrote in Romans 12: 1 – 2 "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual (or reasonable) act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…" It has always fascinated me that after studying a performance art like music for so long and hard, that now we are required to use all this skill, training and gifting not to perform, but to give all the glory to Jesus.
Remember our primary job is to direct the attention, adoration and honor to the Lord. In fact, according to Paul, our whole life is a sacrifice of worship to God. Root out anything that may distract from that goal. Pray that our motives would be pure. Give Him the honor, remain focused, spend time with Him, be a disciple and trust in Him. You will be a blessing and you will be blessed!
