Drunken Worship Leaders and Mercenary Musicians

[Revmitchell]

If there’s anyone in the body of Christ who should be an example of purity of heart and purity of life, it is the worship leader, the man or woman who leads God’s people into his holy presence. Yet it is increasingly common to hear about worship leaders getting drunk after church services and dropping f-bombs while they boast about their “liberty” in the Lord. Some churches even hire unsaved musicians to play on their worship teams because of their talent. How can this be happening in the house of the Lord?

A few months ago, a young man posted a mocking, irreverent comment on my personal Facebook page. Because I didn’t recognize his name, I clicked on his profile to find out more about him, only to be shocked to see that he described himself as a guitar player at a church in Plano, Texas. When I posted a scriptural response to his mocking comment, he explained that he didn’t care about Jesus or the Word of God.

I asked him, “But don’t you play guitar on a church worship band?”

He replied, “I’m an atheist and don’t believe any of this stuff, but my father goes to the church and they needed a guitarist, so they hired me to play.”

What? A God-mocking atheist playing guitar on a church worship team? And what happens when they pray together and seek God’s heart? Or do they even pray together at all?

Little did I realize that it is becoming more and more common for churches to hire musicians who have no connection to their church—and sometimes no connection to the Lord—to play in their Sunday morning services. Forget about unity in the Spirit. Forget about harmony in the Lord. Forget about ministering under the anointing. The show must go on!

http://www.charismanews.com/opinion/38195-drunken-worship-leaders-and-mercenary-musicians

 

[BobRyan]

It is a sad sign of the times that such things should be taking place.

 

[JohnDeereFan]

If there’s anyone in the body of Christ who should be an example of purity of heart and purity of life, it is the worship leader, the man or woman who leads God’s people into his holy presence. Yet it is increasingly common to hear about worship leaders getting drunk after church services and dropping f-bombs while they boast about their “liberty” in the Lord. Some churches even hire unsaved musicians to play on their worship teams because of their talent. How can this be happening in the house of the Lord?

A few months ago, a young man posted a mocking, irreverent comment on my personal Facebook page. Because I didn’t recognize his name, I clicked on his profile to find out more about him, only to be shocked to see that he described himself as a guitar player at a church in Plano, Texas. When I posted a scriptural response to his mocking comment, he explained that he didn’t care about Jesus or the Word of God.

I asked him, “But don’t you play guitar on a church worship band?”

He replied, “I’m an atheist and don’t believe any of this stuff, but my father goes to the church and they needed a guitarist, so they hired me to play.”

What? A God-mocking atheist playing guitar on a church worship team? And what happens when they pray together and seek God’s heart? Or do they even pray together at all?

Little did I realize that it is becoming more and more common for churches to hire musicians who have no connection to their church—and sometimes no connection to the Lord—to play in their Sunday morning services. Forget about unity in the Spirit. Forget about harmony in the Lord. Forget about ministering under the anointing. The show must go on!

http://www.charismanews.com/opinion/38195-drunken-worship-leaders-and-mercenary-musicians

Obviously, not everybody is like this, but modern "worship" brings with it a whole host of problems.

When we founded our church, one of the things we decided was that we weren't going to participate in the modern worship movement and that we weren't going to have "special music". We have no problem with contemporary music for recreational listening and we don't judge anybody who chooses to bring it into their church, but for our church, we just decided it would be best if we didn't.

The ironic thing is that I spent several years as a professional musician and could put together a great band. When our piano player is unable to play, I'll play and I think I enjoy just playing the hymns as they were meant to be played as much as I ever enjoyed playing on stage.

 

[JohnDeereFan]

It is a sad sign of the times that such things should be taking place.

It is, but it's a good illustration of what happens when you try to bend the things of God to appeal to the world.

 

[Revmitchell]

What I have seen this is really only common in charismatic churches. It is not likely you will find this in Baptist churches regardless of the music style.

 

[JohnDeereFan]

What I have seen this is really only common in charismatic churches. It is not likely you will find this in Baptist churches regardless of the music style.

If you want to talk specifically about charismatic churches, I was involved in that movement for a couple of years and I can tell you from first hand experience, you wouldn't believe half of what goes on there.

Unfortunately, though, as much as you and I might like to pretend it doesn't happen in Baptist or Reformed churches, it is.

 

[Revmitchell]

I do not pretend about anything. I know it is not common in Baptist churches. It is very common among charismatic churches.

 

[JohnDeereFan]

I do not pretend about anything. I know it is not common in Baptist churches. It is very common among charismatic churches.

OK. If you say so.

I just can't help but wonder how many Baptist and Reformed churches where this is happening started out saying "It can't happen here".

 

[Scarlett O.]

This is such a terrible thing that happens in many places.

The purpose of the instruments in the sanctuary is for praising the name of God, ergo the person playing the instrument should be in a state of adoration of God and playing the notes for His glory.

A person who is an atheist, a disgruntled and complaining church member, a spiritually apathetic young person, a spiritually lazy old timer, or any one who does not play FOR the Lord's exaltation is terrible thing.

Psalm 150 says this:

Hallelujah!
Praise God in His sanctuary.
Praise Him in His mighty heavens.
Praise Him for His powerful acts; praise Him for His abundant greatness. Praise Him with trumpet blast; praise Him with harp and lyre.

Praise Him with tambourine and dance; praise Him with flute and strings. Praise Him with resounding cymbals; praise Him with clashing cymbals.

Let everything that breathes praise the Lord.
Hallelujah!

I personally know of one very large church in my area who hired a couple of professional singers to sing in their church choir way back BEFORE what we call contemporary music was a flicker in the minds of anyone. One was struggling with homosexuality, but that didn't matter. His golden voice was all that seemingly was important.

Those playing, singing, preaching, teaching, and more from the front of the sanctuary should be as focused on exalting the name of Christ and God the Father as humanly possible.

Anything else is a dead wrong.

All of us who have responsibilities in front of the congregation should examine ourselves first of all and repent of anything in our hearts that destroy the fruit of our service for Him.

 

[OldRegular]

If there’s anyone in the body of Christ who should be an example of purity of heart and purity of life, it is the worship leader, the man or woman who leads God’s people into his holy presence. Yet it is increasingly common to hear about worship leaders getting drunk after church services and dropping f-bombs while they boast about their “liberty” in the Lord. Some churches even hire unsaved musicians to play on their worship teams because of their talent. How can this be happening in the house of the Lord?

A few months ago, a young man posted a mocking, irreverent comment on my personal Facebook page. Because I didn’t recognize his name, I clicked on his profile to find out more about him, only to be shocked to see that he described himself as a guitar player at a church in Plano, Texas. When I posted a scriptural response to his mocking comment, he explained that he didn’t care about Jesus or the Word of God.

I asked him, “But don’t you play guitar on a church worship band?”

He replied, “I’m an atheist and don’t believe any of this stuff, but my father goes to the church and they needed a guitarist, so they hired me to play.”

What? A God-mocking atheist playing guitar on a church worship team? And what happens when they pray together and seek God’s heart? Or do they even pray together at all?

Little did I realize that it is becoming more and more common for churches to hire musicians who have no connection to their church—and sometimes no connection to the Lord—to play in their Sunday morning services. Forget about unity in the Spirit. Forget about harmony in the Lord. Forget about ministering under the anointing. The show must go on!

http://www.charismanews.com/opinion/38195-drunken-worship-leaders-and-mercenary-musicians

I have expressed on this Forum many times my opinion that the Choir/orchestra should be disbanded and placed in the congregation. The Music director and choir are frequently performance oriented and a source of disharmony in the Church!

 

[Revmitchell]

I have expressed on this Forum many times my opinion that the Choir/orchestra should be disbanded and placed in the congregation. The Music director and choir are frequently performance oriented and a source of disharmony in the Church!

I am not seeing that anywhere.

 

[Salty]

...He replied, “I’m an atheist and don’t believe any of this stuff, but my father goes to the church and they needed a guitarist, so they hired me to play.” ...

So this man is actually given a salary to preform?