A conversation with a new friend got me thinking yesterday. Over our Chipotle burrito bowls at lunch, we shared a little about our churches. It came up that I lead worship at my church, and I had a chance to share a little about that.

What came out of my mouth was something I have been feeling for years but have been unable to articulate. I said, “I love people a lot more than I used to.” You see, when you’re in front of a group there is a tendency to focus on performance, whether you’re leading worship, speaking, or doing drama. It isn’t only MY performance, though, that I have focused on over the years that I’ve been a worship leader.

Earlier years in ministry found me looking on the congregation with a critical eye, asking questions (in a critical manner):
Why aren’t they singing with passion?
Why do they selfishly criticize the music?
Why can’t they put aside their burdens and just worship?
What is WRONG with them?

Over the years God has softened my heart and attitude. These days I look at the congregation not as a GROUP, but as a GROUP of INDIVIDUALS. The concept that, as a worship team, we’re up there leading a group, could not be further from the truth. We are worshipers first, worship leaders second, and more than that, the crowd is made up of particular souls, not one collective. The church is one in many ways, but also each human-divine and human-human relationship is unique.

While we lead a group in worship, we exercise both of those relationships. And while we serve God in this capacity, we also serve the people in the church. Yet as we serve them, we do not cater to them.

All of this is to say that I now look with eyes of love toward the individual people in the room as I look to God with a heart of worship. It matters less to me if people approve of the music or sing with passion. I want people to come along, but if in finding the throne of God individuals get left behind, my eyes are no less on Christ. I’m going to encourage you to join me, but if you don’t want to join me, that’s not going to prevent me from pursuing a meeting with my King.

That, I’m learning, is loving people when leading worship. Leadership in worship has so much to with love, and so little to do with professionalism or musical aptitude. If God has gifted, musical aptitude will be present. If the heart is hard, though, the Spirit will be quenched and less will be made of God’s glory. As it is, my soul longs to behold the glory of God, and my heart aches to pursue that glory with my brothers and sisters. Together, as we draw near to the throne of grace, properly fearing the Lord, remembering who He is, and cheering His Name, in incredible love we will see that glory as He sees fit to show us.

To my fellow worship leaders, I say lead in love and you will find yourself running with your church family into the anointing of God in worship.