200 Words (or Less) About Being a Worship Musician: The Worship Musician as Teacher

As worship musicians—vocalists and instrumentalists—part of our ministry is teaching. We teach the congregation what it is to participate in corporate worship:

• If we clap or raise our hands, that encourages and gives permission to others to so the same.
• If we sing and play with joyous abandon, that will spill out.
• If we worship every bit as fervently “offstage” as we do “onstage,” that teaches.

And if we offer an unprepared set of music with our heads buried in the music stands, we are also teaching: our actions tell congregation that offering second-rate sacrifices to God is OK.

As a worship musician who has, too often, walked on stage unprepared, apathetic, and/or distracted, I swallow pretty hard when I read James’ admonishment to the twelve tribes:
Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. (James 3:1)

What would our ministry look like if we were prepared spiritually and musically to say to congregation the same thing that Paul told the Corinthians:

Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. (1 Cor. 11:1)