THOUGHTFULLY DRIVING THE PORCELAIN BUS

A Column by John S Schroeder

May 25, 2002

One of the more troubling aspects of contemporary worship, at least in my never to humble opinion, is the way the so-called "worship leaders" end up being treated like rock stars. If you are not familiar, worship leaders are not preachers; they are the ones that lead the singing, which is most of the service.

Proponents of contemporary worship say they are just leading, not "starring," but consider some facts. Contemporary worship demands new sound systems, even in buildings that have stood with acoustical clarity for a hundred years or more now require amplification. Sanctuaries seating over 1000 people where the pastor could be heard preaching from the pulpit without benefit of electronics suddenly require tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of dollars in sound equipment. It is argued that the reason is to achieve proper sound "balance." That is to say that the instruments used in contemporary worship are so disparate in the volume and tone of sound that they make that electronic intervention is required to properly blend them. There is some truth to that, buildings designed to carry the human voice will preferentially carry some instrumental sounds over others, and thus the drums may make it hard to hear the acoustic guitar.

But consider this, now an entire entourage is required to simply sing in church. Instead of a single organist, there is now a band and several sound technicians, at least one of which must be specially trained on how to use a mixing board more complicated than the space shuttle controls, and have a sufficiently musical ear to use it properly. Can you say "Up goes the payroll?"

But wait, we're just getting started. Consider the lighting. Where a few spots, designed to make the pulpit and lectern a little brighter were once sufficient, now entire banks of theatrical lighting are necessary. Once again, five and six digit amounts of dollars are needed. Once again, it is necessary to have a virtual army to properly use this stuff. And, as someone who sometimes speaks from that pulpit or lectern, the only effect of all that expense that I can find is it makes it impossible to read one's notes. Trying to see text on a sheet of paper after looking up to make eye contact with the people out there, when what really happens is a blinding flash akin to having your picture taken is an impossibility.

As I write all of this I have a vaguely reminiscent feeling. Ah yes, it's just like when I have done actual stage work, high school musicals, and things like that. The more this goes on, the more it takes on the aspect of a "good show." With all the stagecraft in place, all that remains is to find a "star" for the show. Up steps the worship leader. This is someone with a charismatic "presence," a "wonderful singing voice," and they are invariably good looking. And people talk about them like some sort of Christian "Tiger Beat." Often there are rotating worship leaders and attendance will wax and wane depending on who is scheduled. Something dangerously close to a fan-base develops. If you really want a wake up call sometime, search the Internet and you will find reviews of these people. A few manage to go "free agent" and command very large salaries to bring their particular fan-base to a church.

Some will say that all this means is that the star power is transferring from the pulpit to the music. There is some truth to that, but there are also some disturbing differences. People who fill pulpits, until recent times, were formally trained to try and avoid the whole "star" thing. There is no doubt that many of them fell to the temptation regardless, but the effort was to avoid it. Now churches work to capitalize on it.

And that is where I get really upset. To capitalize on the 'star effect' as opposed to fall into it is just a little too close to idolatry. It puts the priorities in the wrong place. Yeah, it puts butts in the pews, but the price is awfully high. When we work so hard to make the people in the front of the church look good and be attractive, they can also become a screen blocking the view of the Lord.

The best leaders I know somehow manage to let me see God by pointing me in the right direction. It seems to me that this thing called "contemporary worship" wants us to see God through the leadership. This is dangerous indeed, for none of us is a vessel sufficient to hold the glory of the Creator, and what can be seen through us can only be the merest fraction of what is truly there.

Have you ever noticed that when a small child first looks through a telescope they often think the thing they are seeing is inside the telescope? That is the danger of this sort of star power leadership. We might end up mistaking the magnifier for the thing it is magnifying.

God help us all to be smarter than that.