by Bobby L. Graham
What is a “worship leader,” and should we use such terminology?
What is a “worship leader?” To me, if anyone should be considered a worship leader, it is the elders, because they are to guide, to lead. Calling someone a worship leader, to me, sounds like the director and/or the producer on a movie set, etc.—you stand here, you do this, you walk this way—a production, a show—maybe something that denominations do, with their praise teams. It seems that some churches are leaning a bit.
I have taken the liberty to omit some of the questioner’s comments while trying to keep those needed to express the concern manifested in the question. I fully agree that worship is not a production in the sense noted in the comments; if anyone approaches it in such manner, that one’s problem lies first in not understanding the nature of worship. Worship is not entertainment!
God is the sole audience present in scriptural worship, and Christians constitute the worshipers. Their worship is the praise of their hearts directed to God and expressed in words sincerely reflecting the heart (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16; John 4:24; Matt. 15:8-9). When this kind of worship takes place, all participants receive benefits intended by God, who designed such worship. Edification of the worshipers is one of those benefits, as stated in some passages cited. Another benefit is that the expression of such worship unto God simultaneously draws the worshiper nearer to God’s heart and character, thus fashioning him more and more like the One who is being worshiped. It is axiomatic (as well as scriptural) that we grow more like the one whom we imitate or worship. These spiritual considerations must be foremost in structuring and arranging worship.
If a “Praise Team” is involved, or if the “worship leader” takes upon himself the responsibility of “running the show,” then it would be an unscriptural situation. Either elders or the congregation should designate one of the men to lead in such fashion, as long as what he does in leading worship conforms to the teaching of the New Testament.
Other things being equal, it is a matter of judgment that someone (or different persons) must lead in worship. It must become the responsibility of male Christians to lead in the singing, the prayers, the teaching, the eating of the Supper, and the contribution. What should we call such men? Song leaders, prayer leaders, teachers, preachers, worship leaders, or something else? As far as I know, the New Testament does not designate them unless they are teaching or preaching. Should we call the Bible reader or janitor something besides what he is? It would be scriptural, however, to call them what they are or are doing during worship. That might be song leader, song director, worship leader, or song worship leader. Neither designation is found in those exact words in the Scriptures. I have often been part of the Oklahoma Singing School, formerly conducted by R. J. Stevens and now by Tim Stevens and others. If I recall correctly, much emphasis was placed upon being not just a song starter, but a song worship leader. Does not that description fit what should be taking place? Is it not a scriptural description of what God desires to happen?
While some designations might not be one’s favorite or preferred way of describing something, all should remember that we cannot legislate in such matters, where God has not done so. It might be parallel to “Sunday School teacher” verses “Bible class teacher.” Because the former once represented something undesirable in the minds of many brethren (a separate organization form the local church, having its own overseers and treasury), it was dropped by many, and replaced by “Bible class teacher.” However, let us notice that neither is unscriptural in its own right. Preference might dictate one’s private usage, but private usage must not become “the law of the land for all” (Rom 14:5, 10, 13, 22-23). We should be careful not to wrangle over words in such matters, when there is no profit or usefulness in doing so (1 Tim. 1:4-7; 2 Tim. 2:16, 23-24; Titus 3:9).
