Fighting Discouragement

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Ministry is a front row seat to the best and worst moments in people’s lives. Weddings, births, baptisms, conversion, calling, mission are mixed in with death and divorce, illness and sin.

Life is hard.

Ministry is hard.

How easily we can become discouraged as we pour ourselves out in preparation, and leading only to be met with apathy or critique. How easily our hearts default to grumbling and complaint, bitterness and resentment when we feel unsupported, and under appreciated. If you have been involved in ministry vocationally or as a volunteer for longer than five minutes I’m sure you have encountered these realities in yourself as well as the people you serve. Here are a few things which have helped me fight discouragement and fight for joy in my serving:

Speak Truth. The Psalmist commands his soul: ‘Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise Him, my salvation and my God (Ps 42:5).’ We must fill our hearts and minds with truth - the truth of who God is and what He says, what He has done, and who we are, because there are always serpents in the garden whispering lies.

Gratitude. Over and again in Scripture we see God calling His people to remember. This is why they build Ebenezers - visible, physical reminders of God’s help, provision and faithfulness thus far (1 Sam 7:12). Look back, remember, how has He proven Himself faithful, good and kind to you? What are the Ebenezers you need to raise?

Get Outside Of Yourself. When we are discouraged, we can easily be tempted to think exclusively of self - my problems, my circumstance, etc. Fight against selfishness, pray for others, be present to the needs, desires, hopes and fears of those around you. How can you pray for your team, leaders, pastors, and yes, even your enemies right now?

Laugh. Life and ministry can be so ridiculous that sometimes you just have to laugh. Maybe not in the moment, maybe not for awhile, but finding the humor in the absurd and over the top can be such a release from taking yourself too seriously even as you take seriously your role.

How have you learned to fight discouragement in your own ministry context?

The Government and The Gathering

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As you have likely seen, a well-known worship leader has been traveling the country hosting large gatherings of corporate sung worship. #letusworship has promoted and fueled this movement over social media. After varying levels and lengths of quarantine, and many churches still offering a hybrid of in-person and online gatherings, I am not surprised these events have drawn significant crowds. More than the gatherings I find two things fascinating: the reaction, and the language. The language reveals a fundamental deficiency in our understanding of worship - worship is the response of our whole lives, not just for believers but all people (I have written at length on this subject, here). Although gathering and singing are certainly significant parts of the way we express worship as the people of God, no government can keep people from worshiping - even if they desired - because worship is the default setting of every human heart. The reaction exposes a very American ideology: life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, and an often repeated refrain from American Evangelicals that ‘the government is taking away my freedoms…’

My desire is neither to condemn nor condone. But I think is critically important for followers of Jesus at all times (and particularly in these polarized days), to be intentional and aware of how we are being shaped and formed, and by whom. Certainly, as leaders, we are held to a high standard in the subtle and significant ways we teach, lead, and instruct the people of God in their discipleship (James 3:1).

We are all living disconnected from many of our normal rhythms, routines, and community. As followers of Christ, we are called to be a people, and not to neglect assembling together (1 Pet 2:10, Heb 10:25). Gathering as the family of God is important. But what is the purpose of our gatherings? Teaching, fellowship, sharing, and responding to God and one another. In essence - our gatherings are for the formation of our whole lives around the person and work of Jesus Christ.

Being obedient to Christ should form us to resemble Christ more than the culture. But our resistance to government restrictions appears to be forming the faithful community into the image of America more than the image of Christ and His Kingdom. As followers of Christ, we are to be marked by love, and self-denial (Jn 13:35, Lk 9:23). What would it look like for those of us who claim the name of Christ to literally forego some of our freedoms for our weaker brothers and sisters during COVID-19 (1 Cor 8)?

Are there times or situations that require acute government resistance? Of course. We look to Daniel and Esther as examples in Scripture and Martin Luther King, Jr, and Dietrich Bonhoeffer as those who sought faithfulness to God over submission to unjust laws. But Scripture also tells us that God appoints rulers, and turns their hearts like water in His hand and that no ruler has any authority if it was not given them by God (Rom 13:1, Prv 21:1, Jn 19:11).

As we have felt the ache of our inability to gather, the confusion and pain of living in the middle of a global pandemic, and the fear of the future and the government, I have often thought of our brothers and sisters in chains (Heb 13:3) around the world. Those believers who risk their lives to whisper worship songs in the quiet of the underground Church, who are disowned by their families for embracing Christ, who are beaten, tortured, jailed, starved, burned, raped, and abducted for choosing the path of discipleship to Jesus. How would those brothers and sisters view our social media campaigns and open-air gatherings? How would they instruct us, lead us, and coach us in being faithful to Jesus in the midst of their very real persecution and our fear over freedoms?

We are people who live knowing the end of the story. Regardless of present or future circumstances: Christ is on the throne. He is ruling and reigning both now and eternally. Therefore, we have nothing to fear.

Benefits of Co-Leading

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Christians are called to make disciples. I think many worship leaders understand that part of leading worship is disciple making: training the team, and the congregation to see and respond in song to who God is and what He has done. Sadly, one area of disciple-making often overlooked is identifying, training and developing more worship leaders. Of course there many factors which contribute - a seeming lack of people willing and able to serve, a current worship leader managing just enough to serve weekly (much less training others), a fear that the quality or caliber of the music/leadership will decrease as a new leaders learn and grow, and sometimes it is just selfishness on the part of a leader unwilling share ‘their’ platform. Whatever the reason, I hope to give you a vision and a desire for the benefits of co-leading in this post.

I define co-leading as collaboration in planning, and shared responsibility for leading (the rehearsal, the team, the congregation, and the liturgy) during the service.

First and foremost, co-leading is another opportunity for disciple-making. Discipling our own hearts. In co-leading we are reminded that we have no right or entitlement to position or role, and that Christ’s Church and this ministry do not hinge on our presence or service.

We make disciples of the team and congregation when we co-lead. Our teams learn that we honor and value the heart, skill and leadership of others when we make space for leaders to serve. Our congregation learns to trust new leaders, and appreciate different perspectives and styles.

And finally, we make disciples of those we lead alongside. Co-leading is a safe space to train, develop and encourage new leaders in real time. When you co-lead it can provide a sense of familiarity, and stability as new leaders learn how to lead and serve.

Of course there are practical benefits to co-leading as well: someone who can step in and serve if you are sick or traveling, providing opportunities for men and women to lead together, training and developing others for church-plants and other ministry opportunities, and cultivating and stewarding the gifts and talents God has entrusted to our local congregation.

How have you seen discipleship and development of worship leaders done well in your context?

In a future post, I will spend time on learning to identify, train and develop new worship leaders.

A Philosophy of Worship

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Ready or not, Sunday is coming. Most worship leaders, teams, and churches are able to execute the rhythm of weekly gatherings. They can choose songs, schedule a team, and move through a rehearsal well enough to lead during the Sunday service. This is no small feat - especially for those serving, leading, and overseeing as volunteers. Regardless of church size, I often find something amiss - there is a lack of clarity, vision, and direction around corporate sung worship and the worship team.

I think this may be why so many worship leaders, teams, and churches are carbon copies of what we see online, and in the CCLI Top 10 songs. We sense the clarity, vision, and direction of these churches, writers, and worship leaders, and in an attempt to create that in our own unique contexts simply copy and paste. But when our corporate gathering becomes so outwardly referenced (rather than Scripturally rooted, and contextually appropriate) we lose clarity, vision, and direction.

This is why I advocate every worship leader, and church writes a philosophy of worship. A Spirit-led, prayerful, formation of guideposts and markers that will anchor the direction of the corporate gathering, and sung worship of your church.

Creating a philosophy of worship helps you weigh the songs you introduce, train worship leaders, shape the culture of the team, and the corporate gathering and keep you steady when loud voices attempt to move you in an unhelpful direction.

In creating a philosophy of worship that serves your context, here are a few questions I think are helpful as you study, think, pray, and write:

What does Scripture say about worship?

What are the mission, vision, and values of our church? How do they inform our gathering?

What are distinctive, non-negotiable for our team, our leaders, our songs, and our service?

How does what we do as a gathered church fuel, impact, and influence who we are as we are sent out on mission?

Need help fleshing out a philosophy of worship for your church? Send me an email here.

Diversity In The Corporate Worship Space

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When it comes to corporate worship in the gathered Church, one of the questions I am asked most frequently is ‘How do I create more diversity?’ On the surface, I do not think it is a bad question. Because really what people are asking, seeking, and desiring is for their Churches to resemble heaven - where people from every tribe, tongue, and nation worship before the throne of God (Rev 7:9).

But I have a two-fold dilemma with this question. First, when most people speak of diversity they have failed to realize the diversity already present within their congregations. Second, when people say they want a diverse church, what many mean is they want ethnic representation in their church. Most of us are unaware, or unwilling to do the hard, continued work of diversity and instead settle for representation.

Dilemma One: Missed Diversity

Merriam-Webster’s defines Diversity as the condition of having or being composed of differing elements. That means if your church has men and women, young and old, mature in the faith, and new believers, differing socioeconomic brackets, those from different denominations, varied families of origin, the intelligent and the simple, employed and unemployed, married and unmarried, those who are well and those who are sick, and on and on, you are in fact a diverse Church. Charles Spurgeon said, ‘When we get annoyed by the church’s empty seat, we are guilty of sinning against the filled one.’ I believe this is true with diversity as well. Should we fight for diversity on all fronts, including ethnic diversity? Absolutely. But let us also be aware, and grateful for the diversity with which God has already entrusted to our communities as we lean into becoming a community that grows in its reflection the glorified Bride of Christ.

Dilemma Two: Settling for Representation

The Church in America has slowly, painfully been coming face to face with the reality of racism which is enmeshed in our country, and sadly, in our churches as well. We must continue to own, confess, and bear fruit in keeping with repentance (Matt 3:8), as individuals and collectively as the Church. There is a temptation I feel in myself, and have seen in the majority culture - to desire the appearance of ethnic representation, without having the cost which is associated with true diversity. If we are truly serious about living as a diverse community, that will require a continual process of dying to self - empowering others with influence and authority, considering others greater than ourselves, surrendering our own preferences, making space, and celebrating the image and gifts of God by those who look, think and serve in ways that may seem unfamiliar.

Diversity in Corporate Sung Worship

My experience tells me that pastors often look to corporate sung worship as a unifier in the desire for diversity. Music is often touted as a ‘universal language.’ Which may be true to an extent until you look at Church history along with its so-called ‘worship wars.’ Viewing music within the gathered Church as a silver bullet to a sustained, embodied diverse community is as arrogant as it is naive.

So what are we to do as worship leaders and liturgists - especially those of us that find ourselves in may appear a monolithic culture - to foster greater diversity within our realm of responsibility within the Church? Here are a few ideas…

Have men and women co-lead together. Trading-off leading songs, transitions, prayer, and Scripture readings.

Find outside songs. It can be easy to pick from the same pool of songs all the time: ‘oh, I like/trust this church, or these writers, I’ll use everything they put out.’ Find songs outside your tribe. Songs written by women. Songs from other countries and other centuries.

Using ‘high’ and ‘low’ language. Whether it is with hymns or prayers from the Book of Common Prayer, archaic language gives us the ability to hear, pause, and learn something outside of the normal pedestrian ‘low’ language we use in everyday conversation.

Instrumentation. Are there musicians in your church who play an instrument or in a style unfamiliar to the normal Sunday gathering? What would it look like to thoughtfully incorporate those aspects into your gathering?

Invite others in. Whether it is to help plan special services, or in the normal rhythm of weekly services, allow others to help shape, lead, and serve.

Observe context, yours, and others. When you think about your context, what a handful of things you think are unique to your team, and gathering? What about areas of growth? Who are the churches and leaders who are serving their specific context well? What could you glean from those churches and leaders that could be applied to your own?

As with all formative practices, fostering diversity within the corporate worship space is a lifetime pursuit. Lasting transformation is only possible when our hearts are first, and continually surrendered to the sanctifying work of the Spirit. So let our hearts be transformed, so that we have the stamina, intention and desire to see our churches reflect the glorified Body of Christ. For His glory, and the good of the world.

Why All Churches Should Write Original Music

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Songs are gifts to the Church.

They have the ability to make theology accessible, articulating who God is, what He has done, and enable us to respond with lives of worship. Songs can become personal markers of our own journey - ebeneezers of God’s faithfulness in different seasons of life. But they are also connectors to a larger story. When we sing the songs which have been passed down through the ages, songs like the Doxology, A Mighty Fortress, and All Creatures of Our God and King, we are acknowledging that we are not the first nor will we be the last. We are a part of a Church that stretches across time, history, place, and space - and will last into eternity.

There are amazing songs accessible to the Church like never before. Gifted songwriters, worship leaders, and liturgists who have the ability to put into lyric and melody the things that the Church needs to hear and say to God. With such skill and talent available, why should the local church bother with writing songs for their particular expression of the Body?

Because those songs do not have the ability to carry the unique stories and struggles, triumphs, and joys that come with relationship, discipleship, and burden-bearing in the local community of faith. It isn’t that we want one or the other - only songs written by professional songwriters, or only songs written in and to a local expression - we need both. Our communities need songs that give us voice and connect us to the bigger picture, and they need songs that articulate our specific stories as we walk together as worshipers and lovers of God.

What do your people need to hear?

What do your people need to say to God?

Write it.