Qualifications of a Worship Pastor, Part 2
Barry Keldie
with Matt Boswell
Qualifications of a Worship Pastor: Click | View Series
Sober-Minded or Disciplined
(1 Timothy 3:2 & Titus 1:8)
Many worship leaders are stereotypically labeled as "over-emotional." Many times this is not the fact, but when it is it needs to be addressed. Being emotionally-driven is not a personality type, but an immaturity needing repentance. Pastors should be driven by the Truth. You can be loving, gentle, soft, and caring, but not "driven" by emotion. James 1:6 describes it as being "like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind." Worship pastors must be stable men who stake their lives, their joy, and their soul on Truth. The most effective worship leaders stir people's affections for God through being rooted and grounded in Truth.
Respectable, Well Thought of by Outsiders, Not a New Convert
(1 Timothy 3:2, 6-7)
The core issue here is the reputation of the gospel. This qualification draws a connection between a man's respectability and his spiritual maturity. The assumption is that the longer we walk with Christ, the more respectable we get and the more highly we're thought of by others. This means a worship pastor must be disciplined to foster respectability among the community. Letting his yes be yes and his no be no (James 5:12b) is crucial to people trusting him. Does this man do what he says he's going to do? Is he on time when he's supposed to be somewhere? All of these things, while they seem small to us, foster respect among those we minister to. Worship leaders should not be characterized by a persona or their "stage charisma," but by their spiritual maturity.
Hospitable
(1 Timothy 3:2 & Titus 1:8)
The first-century idea of hospitality was hosting foreigners or non-believers. A worship pastor is called to be an evangelist. This type of evangelism should be practiced on- and offstage. Onstage, is our music Christ-centered? Do we sing correctly to God? Do we present the gospel regularly in our services? Offstage, do we intentionally befriend and invest in non-Christians? All pastors should be doing the work of an evangelist: leading people to Jesus through corporate worship services and through regular interaction with the lost.
Able to Teach
(1 Timothy 3:2 & Titus 1:9)
Many worship leaders do not feel comfortable teaching or speaking. While this is not a requirement to be able to preach, it is a requirement to know and be able to communicate truth. Teaching pastors teach through preaching, and worship leaders teach through singing. Songs chosen for corporate worship services teach doctrine, theology, even methodology. Worship leaders must be able teachers in this regard so that the songs being sung in the church reflect the convictions the church has been built upon.
The mandate for worship leaders is to ensure the songs a church sings are faithful to the Scriptures. Worship leaders become a vital voice in the theological understanding of a church and should take this responsibility very seriously. Leading worship is a sacred trust and must be done under the authority of the Scriptures. If there are any questions to the content or nature of a song, they should be directed to the senior pastor for his approval and oversight. A worship pastor must be able to correctly handle and communicate the truth of God.
To be continued.
Pastor Mark:
preaching pastor at Mars Hill Church. See More.
