THE WHY...

I think that we've come a long way.
I think that worship leaders, and specifically young worship leaders, have got a lot going for them.

We have better, quicker access to music resources (downloads, charts, tutorials, etc.,) and in many cases, those same resources are extremely affordable or even free.

We have a much better relationship with the worship industry. (Don't, okay? I know you want to get loud about the 'worship industry' phrase, but don't.) Now, more than ever, record labels seem to be making a concentrated effort to empower those who are gifted in the arts to skillfully serve the church universal.

We've got more opportunities to participate in worship. While everybody likes to talk a ton about the seeker-sensitive vs. emergent, or traditional vs. contemporary, or contemplative vs. celebratory, etc., it also means that there are a lot more "gigs" out there than before.

But I think we're struggling, too. I think in all of this quest for excellence, most of us worship leaders are still leading with some faulty philosophies of worship.

Lately, I've been thinking a lot about "the why." I'm not talking about the reason for worship or the reason I work in a church.

Actually, I'm talking about our tendencies as worship leaders (typically ego-centric, insecure little kids hiding behind guitars, keyboards and microphone stands) to blindly and randomly throw junk into our setlists without asking "why?"

I'll get practical here. My friend Justin Romack is one of the best drummers I know. I love to play with him. He's also my good friend...one of my best friends, in fact. Justin is also a very talented programmer, and the more he gigs, the more he's asked to provide loops, samples and synths for worship.

Personally, I love loops. I love hearing them, and as a musician, I love using them onstage.

But I've noticed that when I use loops in worship, they usually have very little or no effect. In fact, the crowds I play typically don't even act like they're aware that a loop is even going. They don't clap along like they do on all those Passion and United and Integrity albums and they certainly don't mention anything to me after we play like, "Man, that loop was so cool" or "what was that drum thing y'all did?"

You see, I've got to start asking the "why." I've got to start deciding if I'm using loops (or any other musical element) because I dig them as a musician or because that element is going to enhance worship for my crowd.

I'm not saying that loops are bad or that they don't work. I am saying that I'm so quick to throw them in a set without even thinking whether or not my people are going to like it or be blessed by it or if it might aid the overall push of the song.

I'm using loops as one example of course, but I think this "why" issue is something I'm going to have to really spend some time on. It's quite a tightrope we walk as musicians - balancing the desire to be excellent and to stretch ourselves musically against the needs of our specific people. Guys and gals who don't serve in the local church don't have to deal with this. But you and I do.

I'm not slamming worship leaders who travel, because I believe that those folks are serving the church in unique and visible way. But we've got to stop emulating and start pastoring. We've to be willing to play a tune way more boring that we'd like if that's what the song needs. We've got to be comfortable with doing a cover differently than the CD version. We've got to ask ourselves...I've got to ask myself...."Why am I doing this thing at this place?"

For those of you who've worked with loops, do they work? Are they impacting your people? I'd love to hear some success stories about the programming factor in a live worship setting. What other trends are now popping up in worship music that might need a little "why" work?