If you desire to lead people, or find yourself craving leadership, these thoughts might intrigue you…
In the book of Exodus, there is a story about a ruler who domineered over a people group, enslaved them, and forced them to work for him.[1] He was considered one of the most powerful men in all the world.[2] There were few people that could consider themselves equal to him in any regard, and few people that were ever close enough to him to know him on a personal level. This man ruled through fear and intimidation.[3] He exercised powerful leadership over his people by enjoying the privilege of owning an entire race of people as slaves and surrounding himself with a lavish and luxurious lifestyle. To many, this human being was considered to be a god.[4] He was worshiped and adored, feared and idolized.
The story of this ruler is recorded in the early books of the Old Testament, and his leadership style can be clearly observed. Throughout history there have been rulers like Pharaoh, and many of them have claimed to be humble leaders, or leaders for the people. But where there is a hunger and thirst for power and wealth, there is a lack of humility and trust. Where loyalty is obtained through or guaranteed by fear, oppression and intimidation generally abound. In the case of Pharaoh, mass murder was used as a means of controlling the population of a people, and keeping them submissive to his rule and authority. Perhaps upon recalling that, people like Adolf Hitler may come to mind. Hitler, yet another “leader for the people” who resorted to mass murder as a means of achieving the goals of his own agenda.
Both of these extreme examples of this kind of dictator, oppressive leadership style find themselves on the opposite end of the spectrum when it comes to a God-honoring leadership style. For many, assuming a position of leadership is a very natural thing to do. Some children begin displaying natural leadership traits at a very young age. By high school, many young people are already given many opportunities to develop leadership skills, and those who are made to be leaders, will in one way or another lead.
For those who feel called to lead, and have a desire to do so in a God-honoring way, there is one person in the scriptures who should be emulated above all other leadership models. The individual in question is obviously Jesus, but it is specifically because of his own leadership style that he should be emulated. Jesus valued the matter of pleasing His Father above all things.[5] Furthermore, he valued to concept of letting the will of the Father determine how he would go about whatever it was he was doing.[6] In this regard, Jesus made himself a servant to his Father, God, and lead his followers according to the will and desires of the Lord, not himself.
Jesus modeled, perfectly, the concept of servant leadership, or servant-hearted leadership, also known as sacrificial leadership. This paper will attempt to outline this concept using the biblical example of Jesus, and other biblical figures and give practical tools for leadership specifically in the field of music ministry. The following thesis shall be used as a basis for all arguments: The discipline of being a servant-hearted leader requires humility, and total dependence on the Lord; setting aside one’s own desires, and acknowledging the needs of those to whom you have been called to act as a shepherd.
Servant-Hearted Leadership: What does it actually look like?
To answer the question, “What does servant-hearted leadership look like?” the logical place to begin an in-depth study is in the New Testament example of Christ. In the book of Matthew, one verse in particular sets the tone for the style of leadership in which Jesus came to operate. “… just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”[7] Jesus, being the son of the one and only, true living God came to the earth, not to rule and dictate, but to serve. This is the most fundamental basis for any leader who wants to operate in the most God-honoring way. The very essence of this verse reveals that Jesus own motives were purely selfless. His intention was not to fulfill some self-centered egotistical agenda. Jesus was not present on Earth, the Holy God incarnate, for the purpose of ruling over the people of earth as mindless subjects. To put it quite simply, Jesus was present on Earth because he loved all of mankind.[8]
The driving force of Jesus leadership style was that he loved the people he came to save. This truth became evident very early in Jesus ministry. As he began preaching and teaching, it was evident that Jesus did not come to do anything but reveal the love God the Father had for His children in a way that had never been revealed before. Before Jesus did anything else in his ministry, he established the love he had for his Father, and the love he had for those he came to save. It was clear from the beginning that Jesus was a man of unrivaled, unwavering love. In fact, Jesus loved the people he came to save so much that he was willing to give up his life for every single one.[9]
So as a leader, how does this model find its place? Are all leaders called to give up their lives for other people like Jesus was? Not necessarily, however, scripture does say that all believers are to offer themselves a living sacrifice to the Lord as a holy and pleasing act of worship.[10] So while it may not be the calling of every believer to die on a cross just like Jesus, it is undoubtedly the call of every believer to lay down their own life dreams and desires, submitting them to the will of the Father, and truly allowing God to be the one that makes the decisions and determines the steps of His children.[11]
In the same way, but to a further degree, Jesus offered himself as a living sacrifice to the Lord throughout the course of his human life. Jesus committed himself to a lifestyle of prayer and fasting, modeling the way for all believers to submit to the will of the Lord, and allow God to rule over one’s life.[12] All of this was not for anyone’s glory but the Lord’s. This is truly an authentic picture of worship that is unhindered by any personal agenda.
As leaders, it is imperative to understand the basis behind the concept of servant leadership because the most pleasing, and wholistic way of worshiping the Lord is by following the example set by Christ and reinforced by Paul in his letter to the Romans.[13] If a leader in the context of a church music ministry is going to truly lead God’s people in an example of unhindered, unencumbered worship, he or she must realize that the worship leadership happens “off the platform” more so than it does on the platform, and that is through loving the people he or she has been called to lead.[14]
The best leaders are those who are known for their love of the people they are leading. When a leader actually loves those whom they have been called to lead the response of submission and trust increases exponentially.[15] Anyone would be far more likely to put their trust in a leader who has proved his or her love for them than a leader who is only concerned about power and wealth.[16] Leaders who have a servant’s heart are more concerned with the needs and desires of those whom they have been called to serve, but even more so, they are concerned with the desires and will of God the Father, and seek to put His will above every other thing in their life.[17] Allowing God’s will to supersede their own is the driving force of their servant-hearted leadership.
Jesus exemplified this perfectly when he left his glorious throne in Heaven to take on the pains of humanity. Jesus, the Son of God, and heir to the universe left his position of royalty to be a servant among those whom He was called to lead to salvation by His Father. His willingness to set aside everything and sacrifice literally His life for the ones He loved is an incomparable example of servant-hearted leadership.
Another very important aspect of servant leadership is the humility required to wait upon the Lord. Truly one of the hardest things for any human being, exercising patience is a key component to allowing one’s self to be used by the Lord for the purposes of leadership as a servant. Unlike leaders who seek offices of authority for the privileges and pleasures that can accompany such positions, servant leaders must be willing to wait on the timing of the Lord and allow God to be the one who determines if and when certain dreams and desires will come to pass.[18] The leader who allows God to determine his or her steps, and exercises great patience for the desires of their heart to pass will truly learn the meaning of servant leadership.
There are quite a number of personalities in the scriptures that model this important aspect of servant leadership. For the sake of the study, Joshua and Asaph will be used as models. Both Joshua and Asaph had a clear anointing on their life for leadership, and for the work of the Lord. Joshua was anointed at a very young age and marked as a leader of the people of God.[19] The seed was planted in his heart long before the prophesy would come to fulfillment, and yet he wanted many years until God exalted him into a position of leadership and authority over the Israelite people. Even in today’s society amongst young believers, this concept is seemingly lost.
Many young people want to see themselves in positions of spiritual authority and leadership but are too impatient to wait on the Lord’s timing. This dilemma actually poses a potentially damaging situation to the leader in question, and those whom he or she may be trying to lead. Serving under the leadership of someone who is ill-equipped for the tasks they are responsible, and lacks the love and grace to lead their followers with a heart of compassion and servanthood is a very difficult thing to say the least. Some of the most trying leaders to serve under are the ones who will do anything to maintain control. It is not uncommon for these individuals to use manipulative actions to maintain some level of control over the people they are leading and the circumstances they find themselves in.[20]
Waiting on the Lord’s timing is hard because it requires submission and relinquishing of control. In the case of Joshua, he had to wait many decades before the Lord was ready to place him into the position of authority that he had been called to.[21] The period of waiting on God’s timing is always a period of preparation. God is perfect in His timing and does not waste anything.[22] The time that is spent in preparation, before He exalts someone into a position of authority is precious time indeed. Time which should be spent fervently seeking after the heart of God, and seeking the satisfaction which He brings to those who love Him.
Worshipping the Lord through Sacrificial Leadership
Throughout scripture there is a common theme amongst the worshippers of God. They are consistently called to offer a sacrifice of praise to the Lord.[23] The idea of giving up something that is cared about, for the sake of the Lord’s glory and kingdom is a truly rousing act of worship, one that most definitely brings joy to the heart of the Father. For those in positions of spiritual authority, there is an opportunity to worship the Lord by exercising servant-hearted, or sacrificial leadership. As worshippers, let alone leaders of worship, one of the most important foundational concepts for establishing truly sacrificial worship is that of lifestyle worship.[24] As previously mentioned, Romans 12:1 articulates that all believers are to offer themselves as a living sacrifice.[25]
Lifestyle worship is the daily posturing of humility before the Lord and asking Him to take over.[26] Submitting to His sovereign authority and supremacy, and ultimately acknowledging the need for complete and utter dependence on God to do anything that will glorify and please Him. Aside from the strength and power of the Holy Spirit, it is impossible to offer one’s entire self as a living sacrifice to the Lord.[27] The flesh and evil temptations of the enemy cannot be controlled and overcome apart from the power of the Holy Spirit.
In the avenue of exercising spiritual leadership, these principles play an integral part in making that too, an act of worship. Sometimes, spiritual leaders can have the tendency to think that their ministry starts when the walk onto the platform, and finishes when they walk off.[28] Unfortunately, these leaders could not be further from the truth, and probably shouldn’t be called leaders if that is where they are exercising the majority of their “spiritual authority.” The truth is that the majority of a pastor’s time is spent off the platform. In fact, only a small fraction of an average pastor’s time is spent on the platform.[29]
With this in mind, the necessity for leading a lifestyle of worship, as an example for others at all times is of the utmost importance. This is part of the sacrifice of spiritual leadership. Spiritual leaders are help to a higher standard, and they will be held accountable for the ways in which they lead the people of God.[30] The Lord has made His desire clear in scripture, He is to be worshipped in spirit and in truth, with a broken and contrite heart, and a life that is committed to His will.[31]
The priorities of any worship leader should be that of the kingdom of God.[32] First and foremost, the Love of Christ should shine brightly through the worship leader in their actions, in the ways they talk to others, and the ways they talk about others, worshipping the Lord with their lives, off the platform. In many ways, this sacrifice of praise exhibited by the worship leader through his or her leadership style will greatly impact the overall health of a church congregation.[33] Because the position of the worship pastor is regarded with such respect, there must be great care taken to seek after the heart of God with all the diligence one can muster.
One very important part of exercising spiritual leadership, and certainly a sacrifice in more than one sense of the word, is the act of discipling other believers. Making disciples is the command within scripture of all believers and it must be something that is modeled by church leaders.[34] It is not an easy task, and it is certainly something that requires a sacrifice of time and energy, but the rewards are so great. Being a disciple maker is truly something that requires the patience and humility of a servant’s heart, and it takes a leader to help someone find their way.
Ethnodoxology & Critical Contextualization: Understanding the Role of a Worship Leader in a Multicultural Church Setting
Potentially one of the most humbling aspects of worship leadership is the realization that it does not fulfill a musician’s dream of being a famous rock star that everyone knows and wants a picture with. In fact, worship leadership can be quite the opposite experience. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for people to enter in to the career of worship leadership because they see it as a glamourous job where they can stand in the spotlight and be adored, and perhaps be an avenue of gaining popularity for personal gain.[35] As discussed already, the worship leader’s true leadership happens off the platform where their hearts can truly shine the light of Christ. For the sake of understanding servant leadership from the perspective of a worship leader, this paper would suffer greatly if it did not discuss the unique challenge of serving a diverse congregation of human beings and the importance of understanding ethnodoxology and critical contextualization in the church and the mission field, all in the humbling light of the reality that it “isn’t about you.”
Ethnodoxology is the study of church music across cultures.[36] It is a study that can bring about a great deal of humility because it reveals the beautiful diversity of the body of Christ.[37] Ethnodoxology illuminates the intricate differences in music between cultures all across the world, and how the differences all reflect unique aspects of the creativeness of God the creator.[38]
Critical contextualization is a concept that requires an open mind and carefully attentive spiritual eyes to the world around. Many worship leaders serve congregations of people that cover a wide array of cultures, and almost all worship leaders serve congregations that consist of people across the spectrum of age.[39] Both of these circumstances lend themselves to a unique challenge that requires a servant’s heart to overcome. As worship leaders, it is important to remember that the objective is to cultivate an environment where God’s people are not only free to, but encouraged likewise to worship Him in spirit and in truth, without any hindrance or distraction.[40] Furthermore, it is the worship leader’s job to engage the congregation in offering a wholistic sacrifice of worship.[41] Engaging every part of their being, their emotions, their senses, their intellect, and their soul.[42] Critical contextualization can greatly increase a worship leaders’ effectiveness as a servant in this regard if they are willing to take the time to understand the varying cultures of people they serve within a single congregation.
Even serving a church with a large population of seniors and a large population of minors can be incredibly challenging because those two groups of people, even if they are from the same neighborhood represent completely different cultures. Learning to be attentive to the way people interact with one another and the varying avenues of worship that they connect with the most can be very effective in the success and longevity of one’s ministry.[43]
Serving in a church where the congregation represents countries from all over the world can present some amazing opportunities for God-glorifying, sacrificial worship, but it can only be done if the worship leader is willing to set aside his or her own musical desires and tastes in order to serve the congregation members in their church.[44] The act of considering the cultural backgrounds and heritages of the congregation members is truly a selfless act, and it shows a great deal of care and compassion for the emotional and spiritual needs of the individuals in the congregation.[45]
Imagine that you were the worship pastor of a large church in America and there is a growing percentage of your congregation that is from East Africa. Say you knew absolutely nothing about their culture and to date, your church had only sung songs that were from Elevation and Hillsong. How much would it mean to that group of East Africans if you were to invest time in getting to know them and understand their culture, and maybe understand what it was that brought them to your church? It would certainly mean a great deal to them. But why is that important or even necessary? The answer is simple, God has brought them into your congregation, and under your care. You have a responsibility to serve them as part of your congregation.[46] Does that mean you need to change your setlist to only sing songs in Swahili? Certainly not; you still have many other Americans to serve. But how amazing would it be if once a month you had someone from their group who was a gifted vocalist present a worship song from their culture? That act of understanding and compassion would speak volumes to the entire congregation. Not only would it be a blessing to the East Africans to worship the Lord with a taste of their own culture, but the American’s in the room would be blessed to hear, and be reminded that the body of Christ is so much bigger than their own imagination or eye sight. God’s bride is cross-cultural, cross-denominational, cross-lingual and so beautifully diverse.
It could be so easy for a worship leader to only pick songs that connect with their own musical desires and tastes, and easily engage their own soul in worship. The fact is, taking the steps necessary to understand another individuals culture and background is time-consuming work. Learning the cultural differences of someone from a different country is not something that can be done overnight. It takes time to develop relationships with people and sometimes it takes months for people of different cultures to feel like they can open up about their own heritage with someone to whom it would be completely foreign. As with any relationship, vulnerability requires trust and respect.[47] Generally, trust and respect must be earned. This would also be an appropriate time to state that when the time comes for someone to open up about their cultural heritage, the highest levels of Christ-like love and respect must be shown. Sometimes other cultures can be so different from what is considered normal and inappropriate responses can accidentally be given. Just remember, the worship pastor’s role is to serve and to love God’s people.
Sometimes, servant leadership can be a simple act of relinquishing the microphone to someone else. The act of giving someone else an opportunity to bless the congregation with a gift that you do not have is not only an act of humility, it is an act of true servanthood.
Working for the Lord, Not for Men: The Fear of Man vs. The Fear of God.
People are difficult to work with sometimes. Sadly, church people can be especially difficult to work with. It is important to preface this section of the paper with the fact that it is not the worship leader’s job to please the people, it is the worship leader’s job to serve the people.[48] This section does not intend to neglect the fact that God absolutely cares about the feelings of His children, and He wants to satisfy the desires of His children with good gifts.[49] But it must be reinforced that it is not the worship leader’s responsibility to make sure that everyone in the congregation is happy at all times during worship, or that they are satisfied with the musical selections, or even that they felt like the worship team was good or not.[50] It is the worship leader’s job to set the example of worship by setting his or her heart on the Lord and clearly focusing all attention on God, and directing the congregation to do the same.[51]
This concept may in fact be one of the most deceptive and damaging issues for all worship leaders. It is so easy to fall into the trap of trying to please people, especially for artists and musicians who are trying to create a beautiful piece of art and putting it on display for people to engage with. The natural tendency is to seek the approval of the people the art is being presented to. Because of the unfortunate construction of many modern church worship facilities, it often feels, looks, and sounds like the “art” is actually being presented to the congregation of believers who have gathered, instead of God almighty. This concept is called, “The Fear of Man vs. The Fear of God.”
When someone is more concerned about what other humans think of them, then what God thinks of them, they are bound by one of Satan’s evil schemes, and that is the fear of man. Scripture does not call on God’s children to be fearful of what others may think of them. In fact, the scriptures say that the world will look on the children of God and find their ways foolish.[52] They simply do not understand. Even in the context of the gathered church though, there are still immature believers who gather in the assembly of the congregation and will be quick to cast their judgement on the worship pastor.[53] There will always be those who give looks of disapproval, anonymous notes of complaint and dissatisfaction, the passive-aggressive plugging of the ears as they walk by the sound booth, the subtle back handed comments about the song selection, and the list goes on. The bottom line is that it is impossible to please people, and if the worship leader spends too much time figuring that out, they will be abundantly disappointed when they realize how much time they wasted trying to please the congregation instead of trying to please the Lord.
The only person whose opinion matters is Gods. If God is truly sovereign, and if He truly has nothing but good plans for those who love Him, which He does, then there is absolutely nothing to fear regarding one’s reputation. The best course of action for any worship leader to take is that of seeking after the heart of God, and seeking to please Him in all things, not just the song selection, but also the way he or she interacts with their spouse, or the way they talk about their pastor behind his or her back, or the way they express love to the congregation members of the church.[54]
Conclusion
Being a servant leader of God’s people is not something that is necessarily easy. In fact, it will probably be the hardest thing anyone ever tries to do, but not for the reasons one might expect. The enemy is always out to get God’s people, especially the leaders of the church, and those who lead God’s people in worship. Spiritual warfare is real, and is intense. For those who seek to serve the lord as spiritual leaders, it is extremely important to take the time to study these common issues and challenges, and take even more time asking the Lord to reveal His love in new ways, asking God to take themselves to new levels of spiritual awakening and maturity. These are qualities that will benefit any spiritual leader, with any level of experience or success.
Humility and patience are key in the economy of God, and rest assured, it is God’s economy that matters most. For those who believe they are called to a position of spiritual leadership, it is so important to remember that the waiting period is part of the journey, and it is a special time when God encounters His children in new ways and gives them insight into His love for them.
Operating as a servant leader within the church is a challenging task to say the least. It is something that happens when God’s love is felt and understood. Servant leaders are not the kind of leaders you are likely to find in places where greed, jealousy, elitism, hatred, and slander abound. Servant leaders are the kind of people who fight those things and trust that God will end it, without being concerned about the feelings of some who may or may not be offended by something that is said.
It is my prayer that I practice this in my own leadership over others, my family, and my ministry. I don’t dare think that I have it all figured out or even lead with success all the time. I fail often, but being a servant-hearted leader is something that I am aiming for in my life.
Let me know your thoughts below and feel free to engage with me through questions!
[1] Exodus 1:11, NASB.
[2] Exodus 9:16, NASB.
[3] Exodus 1:16, NASB.
[4] 2 Kings 17:7, NASB.
[5] Peterson, David. Engaging with God: A Biblical Theology of Worship. Downers Grove:
InterVarsity Press, 1992.
[6] Ibid.
[7] Matthew 20:28, NIV.
[8] John 3:16, NIV.
[9] John 3:16, NIV.
[10] Romans 12:1, NASB.
[11] Matthew 26:39, NASB.
[12] Matthew 4:1, NASB.
[13] Romans 12:1, NASB.
[14] Kauflin, Bob. Worship Matters: Leading Others to Encounter the Greatness of God. Wheaton: Crossway, 2008.
[15] Fromm, Chuck. The Worship 2.0 Well. Worship Leader Magazine.
[16] Noland, Rory. The Worshiping Artist: Equipping You and Your Ministry Team to Lead Others in Worship. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan. 2007.
[17] Maxwell, John C. The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1998.
[18] Tozer, A. W. The Knowledge of the Holy. New York: Harper San Francisco, 1978.
[19] Number 27:18, NASB.
[20] Maxwell, John C. The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1998.
[21] Joshua 4:14, NASB.
[22] Tozer, A. W. The Knowledge of the Holy. New York: Harper San Francisco, 1978.
[23] Roberts, Vaughan. God’s Big Picture: Tracing the Storyline of the Bible. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2002.
[24] Ross, Allen P. Recalling the Hope of Glory: Biblical Worship from the Garden to the New Creation. Grand Rapids: Kregel Academic, 2006.
[25] Romans 12:1, NASB.
[26] Tozer, A. W. The Knowledge of the Holy. New York: Harper San Francisco, 1978.
[27] John 14:15, NASB.
[28] Kauflin, Bob. Worship Matters: Leading Others to Encounter the Greatness of God. Wheaton: Crossway, 2008.
[29] Rumrill, Paul, How Great Is Our God: Responding In Worship, (Lynchburg: Liberty University Publishing, 2005).
[30] Romans 14:12, NASB.
[31] John 4:24, NASB.
[32] Navarro, Kevin J., The Complete Worship Leader, (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2001), 126.
[33] Maxwell, John C. The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1998.
[34] Whaley, Vernon M. And David Wheeler. The Great Commission to Worship. Nashville: Broadman and Holman. 2012.
[35] Redman, Matt. The Heart of Worship Files. Ventura: Regal Books, 2003.
[36] Ewell, Terry. Ethnodoxology: What Is Christian Music?. Leadership University Publishing, 1998.
[37] Collinge, Ian. A Kaleidoscope of Doxology: Exploring Ethnodoxology and Theology, 2010.
[38] Man, Ron. Ethnodoxology: The Great Commission & The Great Commandment. Reformation & Revival Printing, 2000.
[39] Noland, Rory. The Worshiping Artist: Equipping You and Your Ministry Team to Lead Others in Worship. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan. 2007.
[40] Whaley, Vernon M. The Dynamics of Corporate Worship. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2001.
[41] Cherry, Constance. The Worship Architect: A Blueprint for Designing Culturally Relevant and Biblically Faithful Services. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2010.
[42] Ross, Allen P. Recalling the Hope of Glory: Biblical Worship from the Garden to the New Creation. Grand Rapids: Kregel Academic, 2006.
[43] Bell, Skip. Servants & Friends: A Biblical Theology of Leadership. Berrien Springs, MI: Andrews University Press, 2014.
[44] Collinge, Ian. A Kaleidoscope of Doxology: Exploring Ethnodoxology and Theology, 2010.
[45] Ewell, Terry. Ethnodoxology: What Is Christian Music?. Leadership University Publishing, 1998.
[46] Navarro, Kevin J. The Complete Worship Leader. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2001.
[47] Bell, Skip, Servants & Friends: A Biblical Theology of Leadership, (Berrien Springs, MI: Andrews University Press, 2014)
[48] Kauflin, Bob, Worship Matters: Leading Others to Encounter the Greatness of God, (Wheaton: Crossway, 2008)
[49] Matthew 7:11, NASB.
[50] Navarro, Kevin J., The Complete Worship Leader, (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2001)
[51] Redman, Matt, The Heart of Worship Files, (Ventura: Regal Books, 2003)
[52] 1 Corinthians 4:10, NASB.
[53] Noland, Rory, The Worshiping Artist: Equipping You and Your Ministry Team to Lead Others in Worship, (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2007)
[54] Edwards, David M., Worship Three Sixty-Five: The Power of a Worshiping Life, (Nashville: Broadman and Holman Publishing Company, 2006),