Linchpin or Liability?

When it comes to the worship ministry at your church, are you a linchpin or a liability?

A linchpin is indispensable. Wait, I know. The right answer that’s been drilled in our heads, especially in the church, is this: no one’s indispensible. OK, so the earth might not break its orbit of the sun if you quit the worship team. But would there be a gaping hole and would you be missed for a long, long time? If the answer is yes, then you’re a linchpin. And don’t forget that there are two parts to that question. We’ve all seen people depart who leave a big hole, but weren’t particularly missed.

A linchpin not only does the work, but does it in a way that we want to be around them. To use a quote from a Jack Nicholson movie (that ranks only slightly lower than, “You can’t handle the truth!”), linchpins make us “want to be a better man.” Or woman. If that’s your gender.

On the other side of the spectrum there’s the liability. And a liability is someone who brings the team down either musically or emotionally/spiritually. Unless your team is inordinately dysfunctional, rarely do we have a member who’s both a lousy musician and has a terrible attitude. We often get a not-so-great musician because “he’s such a great person.” His heart outweighs his talents. And, depending on where we’re at in our growth as a team, we’re willing to work with that.

The person who is most often a bona fide liability is the one with the attitude. It might be arrogance. Entitlement. Negativity. Harshness. Whatever it is, talent can only trump toxic for so long.

The problem with the original question, “Are you a linchpin or a liability?” is that a person rarely recognizes himself as such. Most people aren’t intentionally toxic. It’s the default they arrive at after being hurt/wounded/disappointed one too many times.

The linchpin, on the other hand, is intentional. If I’m not intentionally trying to create great art within my team, and if I’m not purposely building others up, then I’m probably not a linchpin.

In truth, I’ve been both. And somewhere in the middle. And that’s where most of us are--sitting somewhere on a long line between indispensible and intolerable.

So forget the original question. Here’s a new one: which way are you moving?




*Want to learn more about being  indispensible, buy Seth’s Godin’s book, Linchpin. (affiliate link)

200 Words [or Less] About Being a Worship Musician: Key Elements >> Passionate

(Read the other Six Key Elements articles:
Intro; Talent; Surrendered Part 1; Surrendered Part 2)

 

200 Words [or Less] About Being Worship Musician:
Key Elements >> Passionate

“Passion” seems a little fluffy to be part of the foundation of the six elements, don’t you think? Yeah, it’s important, but passion can be so misguided. The first few episodes of any season of American Idol are great examples of deep desire, deeply deluded. Holy cow, someone should have told those kids they really CAN’T sing before they camped out for three days in Cleveland.

To a hopefully lesser degree, we’ve all encountered misguided passion on our worship teams. [insert your horror story here.] And so passion scares us.

Passion has to be subject to a surrendered heart – both to Jesus and those He’s delegated leadership to – and conjoined with true gifting and talent. And the fervor for music and ministry should always be a subordinate passion. David (as in: giant slayer, king, roof-top voyeur) no doubt had a passion for music. But it was a tool to express love to his True Passion.

Consider the alternative to having passionate musicians: volunteers who happen to play an instrument and are willing ‘sacrifice’ a Sunday or two a month. I just threw up in my mouth.

Passion is worth the risk.

200 Words [or Less] About Being a Worship Musician: Key Elements >> Surrendered, Part 2

(Read the other Six Key Elements articles: Intro; Talent; Surrendered Part 1) 

Submission, Subordination and Other Things that Suck

Submission is one of those words that make people bristle. Cringe. Wince. Barf. Or otherwise react adversely. I’m not going to make a case for mutual submission and submission to authority because scripture already does that, a little too well for most of us. If a key element for us is submission to Christ, then we have to look at submitting to the spiritual authority He places over us.

One of the tough lessons I had to learn is that God’s delegated authority comes from the position, not from the leader’s ability to lead. I once worked for someone who I thought I could “out-lead.” This man’s ability to lead was NOT the issue God was concerned about for me, but my willingness to submit to the authority above me.

What does it look like for volunteer worship musicians to submit? It doesn’t mean never suggesting changes. Or challenging decisions. But the attitude and manner in which suggestions/challenges are delivered is what causes us to cross a line. Another way to detect subtle rebellion to God-appointed leadership is how I talk about a leader or his/her decisions to others.

If you find you can’t in good conscience submit, quit.

200 Words (or less) About Being a Worship Musician: Key Elements #1--Talented

(Read the intro to Six Key Elements here.)

You’d think this element would go without saying, but we’ve all been to (or attend) that church that has a less than talented musician helping lead music. A few things about talent:

1. It’s relative. A church of 5000 will likely require a different level of talent than a church of 50. Each ministry needs to determine what is needed. As a team grows and changes, so does the demand for better talent.
   
   

2. It’s developable. Whatever hard-wired ability you have, it has to be cultivated through practice, hard-work and experience. And if you’re using this talent for ministry, you’re obligated to develop it.
   
   

3. It’s not a spiritual gift. Musical talent is a tool used in conjunction with the spiritual gifts. My chief reason for making this point is not to argue a gray area, but to keep people from elevating their talent to a place of entitlement: e.g. “It’s my “spiritual” gift, so I need to be on this team…or sing this solo…etc.”
   
   

4. It’s not enough. John Maxwell wrote an entire book on this subject. We start here with talent, because it IS necessary. But it can’t be the only element that matters for a worship musician.

Next installment: Surrendered