Have you met a worship leader who’s been bitten by the ambition bug?
Not the positive ambition of looking forward to the fulfillment of God’s promises or furthering of God’s Kingdom, I am talking the other kind – soaked in the flesh.
Here are 14 signs of a Superstar Wannabe:
- You think the Pastor is not listening to the Holy Spirit when he does not agree to budget for multi-colored lights and smoke machines.
- You changed your Church 7 times in the last 3 years as your “God-given” ministry of becoming the hottest worship leader / songwriter did not find the best of support.
- You experience constant frustration and other related emotions every day as record labels haven’t discovered you yet – despite sending them demo recordings of your awesome songs.
- You hear the voice of the Holy Spirit frequently telling you that the next song you write will be bigger than “How Great is Our God”.
- You don’t believe there’s any real difference between ‘worship’ and ‘music.’
- You believe that writing the next big Christian hit song is more important than serving your local church.
- You spend more time sending demo recordings to recording labels than in personal prayer/Bible reading/worship team rehearsals/planning.
- You believe that worshiping in Truth and Spirit = playing the latest hip song you heard on Christian radio yesterday.
- You believe that people who give you feedback on your songs or worship sessions are sent by the enemy and they will probably end up in hell.
- You believe that real worship is not possible without using a capo and cut-capo simultaneously on your guitar.
- You can’t understand why your Pastor is not willing to give a makeover for your Church to look and sound like Hillsong.
- You believe worship is not complete without young ‘worshipers’ in front of the stage with clenched fists up in the air, moshing and cheering.
- You alone seem to know just the right tweaks in lyrics/melody to improve every song in Top-25 lists published by CCLI.
- You attend worship conferences/seminars by popular songwriters/worship leaders only for a chance to get your songs heard by them and not to learn from them and improve your self/ministry.
The motive for what we do should be pure, especially in God’s eyes, otherwise it’s all in vain.
Have you spotted any other signs of a superstar wannabe?
[Image via vickybeeching.com]
David Santistevan says
Bro, this is fantastic. Very well said.
Gangai Victor says
Thank u, loved ur guest post here too!
Agile Scout says
Ouch. #Christian #pwnd
Gangai Victor says
🙂
Jared Erickson says
this is awesome! being involved in a large church I see a lot of this guys running around
Gangai Victor says
Glad it made sense to you 🙂
Yohan Perera says
Hi Victor,
Congratulations on being recognized by Worship Leader magazine bro. It seems God is blessing you for the hard work and faithfulness…
Gangai Victor says
Thank u Yohan, God bless u!
Jim Liberatore says
Awesome job. A pet peeve of mine is the Music = Worship one.
Gangai Victor says
Thank you Jim!
Sierra says
Honestly, I found this a little odd. It seems like youre tearing down Worship Leaders. I have travelled alot and NEVER once met the WOrship Leader you described…also, how can you know someones motives unless you talk with them or theyre bearing bad fruit? Im a Worship Leader and dont meet any of those criteria but I ask what is wrong with wanting to learn the newest songs? What is wrong with loving seeing young people at the front dancing and loving Jesus? That motivates me as a leader when I see youth abandoning their self image and dancing for Jesus! I cant believe that any true Jesus-loving church would hire the person you speak of-sounds a little too religious. I do agree with some of your points but some seem super judgemental.
Gangai Victor says
Hey Sierra, thank u for taking the time to comment here!
To clarify, this post is not about ALL worship leaders, only a specific type of them.
I am glad u’ve never met this type, and I sincerely hope it stays that way 😉
I do wonder if perhaps you got influenced by the counter-article at worshipcommunity first, then came here to post your thoughts.
For example, my article…
1. doesn’t say learning new songs is wrong.
2. doesn’t even mention ‘dancing’, let alone say dancing in worship is wrong either.
Maybe…just maybe u read my post a little too quickly?
I am thrilled though to see ur passion for worship ministry, may that fire never die.
God bless!
Jeff Q says
http://www.theworshipcommunity.com/anyone-can-make-fun-of-the-worship-leader/
Some good counterpoints in this response.
Songsphere says
Sad but true. I’d like to highlight #7. A good worship leader is the one that is totally consumed with the Lord. Period. That only comes from hours in prayer, the Word and communion with the Lord, (only to worship the Lord, not to ask Him for something, I might add). He has spent so much time in the presence of the Lord that his countenance almost glows, as Moses did when He was with God on the mountain. This is the kind of leader that the congregation wants to follow into the presence of the Lord. One who has been there, who goes their regularly, whether someone is singing his songs or not! This worship leader is one who says to the congregation, “Come on, let’s go see God together. Let’s lift Him up together, because He is worthy to be exalted.”
Gangai Victor says
Amen!