Where do I start? Well, I should probably clarify from the beginning that my last post, "A Challenge to Lead Pastors," was not directed toward my own lead pastor. We have a wonderful friendship and a work relationship of freedom, teamwork, and trust. I am extremely blessed to be working under such a humble, spiritually attuned man who is also not afraid to say the last ten percent in love. Hence the reproving that led to this apology.
What I wrote was immature, judgmental, and arrogant. My thoughts were under-developed and should never have been published in the tone they were. I woke up one morning last week thinking about the lead pastor/worship pastor relationship. I opened my computer just to jot down a couple thoughts to remind myself to think, study, and pray about the subject. Instead, what ensued was a quick, flesh-originated, brain spew session, after which I hit "Publish." The only thing that made me publish my thoughts immediately was a desire to stir up controversy. What you probably thought, though, was, "What an ignorant punk. Why should I listen to a single thing he says?"
So, lead pastors and everyone, please accept my apology. I did not mean to generalize, challenge anyone's authority, or lump all worship pastors together to an exalted place of prophetic insight and power. If I may, I would like to offer a different kind of apology for what I meant to say. Perhaps lead pastors, worship pastors, and all church leaders will more readily receive a challenge that comes out of brokenness and concern for the church.
The challenge is simple: Take a giant step back from your church, from the way you do worship, and begin thinking objectively and deeply about your church's structure of worship. What has shaped your worship? What elements are important to you in worship, and why? Why do you do things in the order you do? Do you stick with doing things because they work? What does it mean for something to be "working"? Are you afraid that people will leave if you change anything? Have you considered the historical structure of worship?
The reason why I ask these questions is because I question the reasons why we do the things we do in our worship. Are we doing things simply because that's the way they've always been done (traditionalism)? Are we doing things only because they work and throwing things out that don't seem to be working (pragmatism)? Do we choose the things we do based on the what our people want (accommodation)?
The questions could go on, and hopefully you'll take the time to really consider your worship structure. To help you, especially worship leaders and lead pastors, I challenge you to read Christ-Centered Worship together. Bryan Chapell's goal is for church leaders to allow the gospel to shape our practice of worship. If you openly receive what Chapell has to offer, you will more than likely find that the contemporary church structure of worship (songs - announcements - sermon) is not the biblical and historic pattern. Rather, contemporary church worship has been shaped by our individualistic culture, creating church consumers rather than true worshipers of God. Chapell is not saying that the alternative is the traditional, liturgical model of worship, but simply that we must have "gospel priorities" in our worship structuring.
I can guarantee you that if we approach this openly, laying our pride and pragmatism aside, we will be relieved at the simplicity of gospel-shaped worship, we will begin seeing a greater work of the Spirit in our communities, and God will draw closer to us in worship than ever before.
2 comments
Comment by Dawne on April 29, 2010 at 9:37 PM
I didn't read a judgmental, arrogant attitude into your previous post and I didn't think you were directing it toward your pastor. Now that I go back and re-read it with that in mind, I suppose that could have been an assumption. I think it's essential to consider the power and effect of our words and am thankful that you have such a relationship with your pastor and that you are able and willing to be "sharpened."
Having said that, I appreciate the challenge to ALL in the church that is in your original post. Especially for those of us who have been in the church for most or all of our lives, we need to take a step back occasionally and reconsider what we are doing and why. Is it because it is biblical and glorifies God? Or, is it just "the way we've always done it" and it's comfortable?
So, Ryan, thank you for your humility, teachable spirit, and passion for Christ-centered worship! Blessings to you.
Comment by testing ... is this mic on? on May 8, 2010 at 4:57 PM
I admit, I was a little uncomfortable with your "challenge to Lead Pastors" post. I'm a worship pastor and I hope my senior pastor didn't read that post. However, your apology and second swing communicated clearly and effectively. Ryan, I appreciate you more knowing that like me, you too can get sideways on a soapbox. I'm challenged to look deeper at why we do the things we do. In my opinion accommodation, traditionalism, and pragmatism aren't evil in and of themselves. It is entirely possible that a corporate worship experience that is accommodating, pragmatic, and containing tradition could be Christ-centered and Christ exalting. I wonder how much of our desire to create and experience deeply causes us to in effect hinder the very thing we are longing to experience in ourselves and in others.
Thanks for joining us and sharing your thoughts.