Recently, some people stayed
at our house overnight. One of them immediately noticed the scuffed antique Gerhard
Heintzman standing against one of the living room walls. Music-lovers tend
to connect to one another, so he asked who played the piano.
This led into a
conversation about playing at church. Which led into what kind of education did
I have for music. Which led into not-so-subtle hints about the blessing of professional
musicians in the church. Which led into comparing relatives and friends with natural
musical talent and the amazing, wonderful, bountiful blessing they are.
I answered the questions
as honestly as I could. But with each answer, our houseguest’s excitement visibly
faded with the realization that I was an imposter. No lessons past an intermediate
level. No college degree in music. Minimal “playing by ear”. I could see the wheels
turning as he tried to understand how in the world I was playing for church
when I was clearly not a professional musician.
Finally, he asked the
dreaded question, “Would you play something?”
By now, I’m feeling no
bigger than an earthworm in the garden out back. Flashbacks of being 10 years
old at a Christmas recital playing a Level 2 version of “Joy to the World”. Of
being 15 years old at a family reunion and asking a cousin to sit beside me on
the bench to “turn the pages” even though my piece doesn’t require it. Of being
a grown woman and crying in the bathroom after an embarrassing electric keyboard
malfunction in the middle of church.
And now in my living room,
whatever confidence I did have is now smashed to pieces. Shame rises to the
occasion, stuttering, “I only play the basics, it’s not that great, I’d rather
not.”
Awkward silence. Then our
guest smiles and changes the subject.
At that moment, I’m so ashamed.
Even though I love playing the piano, I have no qualifications or natural talent
to boast in. And I retreat in silence.
EXPECTATIONS
This isn’t the first time these
insecurities have pushed me down. Any time I visit other churches or hear
another pianist play, I watch whether they play chord style or by the hymnal;
if they improvise the prelude or have a stack of piano arrangements nearby; if
they change keys half-way through; if they sing as they play; and on and on it
goes.
I’ve tried to imitate what
I’ve heard because that must be how you’re supposed to play in church. Which
leads to frustration because I’m simply lacking in education and talent and
confidence. Which leads to wondering if my unprofessional ability factors into the
reason visitors don’t return. Which leads to viewing myself as temporary until
someone better comes along.
Which skews the bigger
truth of who God uses to serve in His church.
You see, the problem isn’t
me or my abilities. The problem is my assumption that because professionals do
it better, then that must be how it should be in the church too. But God doesn’t
work like this. God’s kingdom is completely upside-down to our worldly
expectations.
1 Corinthians 1:26-31 puts it well,
For consider your
calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not
many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of
the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the
world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world
and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may
nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God. [emphasis added]
Why am I trying so hard to
be the opposite of who God chooses to work with? The idea that only “professionals”
can preach, or play the musical instruments, or teach children’s Sunday School,
or help in the nursery, or do the bookkeeping, or set up chairs in the
sanctuary, is not only unbiblical but also falsely represents God’s character.
Don’t get me wrong here. I’m
NOT saying that people with natural or professional talent can’t serve in
church. I’m incredibly thankful that many Christians with degrees and experience
also use those blessings to the glory of God within the church! I’m also NOT
saying that because God is impartial in saving and sanctifying sinners He also automatically qualifies men and women for equal roles within the church.
God has designed different roles within the church just as He has designed
different roles within marriage.
What I am saying is that any
form of preferential treatment within the church blatantly opposes the gospel.
Anything we have to offer in and of ourselves, including natural talent, should
never automatically qualify service within the church.
I wonder how many people hesitate
to serve in the church simply because the atmosphere is one of professionals
leading the way. As Christians, I believe we are too quick to step aside
because of our insecurities and lack of natural talent.
These past few years of
playing the piano full-time during the worship service have taught me some
valuable lessons about what it means to serve within the church. Here are three
things to remember:
1.
It’s not
about me.
We often forget that the
church is God’s church, not ours, and that He has created the church to be a
body of many members dependent on each another in submission to the Head in
order to function well (1 Cor. 12). God has called each one of His people to
serve within the church as He sees fit (Eph. 4:11-13; Gal. 5:13; Heb.
10:24-25). The church is not about boosting our personal career or building an
identity around a church leader or preferred music style. The church is not
about us.
Rather, serving within the
church is about the glory of God alone. As 1 Peter 4:10-11 says,
As
each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good
stewards of the manifold grace of God. Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who
is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is
serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be
glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion
forever and ever. Amen. [emphasis added]
I’m naturally a “background”
kind of person and will set up chairs, vacuum carpets, clean tables, and entertain
children in the nursery all day long. But welcoming visitors I might never see
again? Showing hospitality to strangers? Playing the piano in front of the
church? Leading a women’s Bible study? Organizing meals for a sick family? There’s
definitely a need for someone to do these things, but surely not me. I’m not naturally
gifted in these areas. I’m fine way back here.
The apostle Paul also
experienced this tension between natural gifting and God’s call to serve. I’ve
always assumed he was a natural public speaker because he was so bold, but I’ve
come to realize that often the most gifted writers and apologists are also some
of the least naturally gifted. Yet by faith, Paul obeyed God’s call to preach
the gospel even though it was “in weakness and in fear and in much
trembling, and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of
wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith
would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.” (1 Cor.
2:3-5)
Do you realize how freeing
this is? God isn’t limited to our natural talents. He isn’t limited to our bank
accounts or college education or physical abilities. God calls His people to
serve and supplies their ability to do it. Stepping out in faith and obedience to
serve in areas we might not be naturally gifted in (under the guidance of the
elders, of course) causes us to rely on God’s wisdom and God’s
strength. Which is exactly where we need to be.
Instead of deferring to
the professionals, God chooses to honor weak, insignificant, uneducated
nobodies as key servants in His kingdom, because it’s not about us.
2.
Just
because someone more “gifted” comes along doesn’t necessarily make our service obsolete.
Often people who are
naturally gifted in certain areas automatically assume that this is also their
special area of service within the church. And there’s nothing wrong with using
those natural talents to the glory of God. The problem comes when the naturally
gifted assume a position while simultaneously pushing others to the side, as
though they have a right to serve in this area simply because they can do it
better.
God confronts this form of
pride within the church. In Mark 10:42-45, Jesus says,
“You know that
those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them; and their
great men exercise authority over them. But it is not this way among you,
but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant; and whoever
wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did
not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” [emphasis
added]
Jesus was the most
qualified, “naturally talented” individual to ever live. He walked on water,
miraculously multiplied food for 5,000 people, cast out demons, healed the sick,
raised people from the dead, and procured our salvation. Yet He emphasized what
true greatness in the kingdom of God looked like through His example as a suffering
Servant.
For those who serve, when we serve half-heartedly “until someone more
gifted comes along to replace me”, we are reverting to the old way of trusting
in our abilities rather than serving as to the Lord. When service becomes “a burden
we must bear”, our motivation has changed from serving Christ to serving self
For the recipients
of other people’s service in the church, when we view unskilled servants as temporary “until someone more
skilled comes along” we’ve placed unbiblical and even hurtful expectations on
the sacrifice behind their willingness to serve. Treating other Christians as disposable
is a self-centered approach to church body life and we are no better than those
in James 2:1-7 who pushed the poor aside in favor of the rich.
It is so important that
the primary expectation for serving within the church is a personal, humble walking
with the Lord in repentance and faith, not talent or experience. As 1
Corinthians 12:24b-25 reminds us, But God has so composed the body,
giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, so that there may be no
division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one
another.
God gives “more abundant honor”
to those who lack. He doesn’t replace them. He doesn’t push them to the side. And
neither should we.
3.
Serving in
the church is often a means of grace (and that’s the point).
Our heart’s desire should be
to serve God in serving His people. This is His church, His strength, His
grace. The music ministry is just one of many places where His people can
serve. Deep down, I cling to the truth that I am nothing without Christ, yet so
easily my heart deceives me into thinking that “I am nothing without this ministry”.
And I know I’m not the only one.
Contrary to popular church
culture, the term “music leader” isn’t a biblical title or office. There are
only two offices within the church: elder and deacon (1 Tim. 3:1-13). As sheep
within the larger flock, we are under the guidance and protection of our elders
and are called to “obey our leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch
over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy
and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you” (Heb. 13:17).
It is a special temptation
for musicians to deceive themselves into thinking they’re the only ones qualified
to lead in music ministry; they’re the only ones who truly understand God’s
vision here. Musicians are naturally opinionated about music because
music is often an outlet for the very depths of our emotions. It communicates
who we are.
But when our church
leaders exercise authority even here, the truth of a musician’s heart is
revealed. If their heart is secure in truth, the musician willingly defers to the
authority of the church as to Christ. But if their heart feels threatened, suddenly
the many idols of pride, self-promotion, personal agenda, selfishness, and all
the short-tempered dragons of My Little Kingdom rear their ugly heads.
Where is your heart? Where
is my heart? Evaluate it for yourself by asking the following questions. How do
I respond:
·
When a pastor
requests different songs than the ones I prefer to play?
·
When a pastor
steps into “my” sphere and directs the music ministry even though he has little
musical education or experience?
·
When a pastor
welcomes other members to serve in the music ministry and my role changes or
lessens?
·
When my superior
talent is given equal opportunity with lesser talent?
·
When I’m asked to
step down because of ongoing unrepentant sin in my life?
·
When different
music styles or instruments threaten the way I’ve always done it?
·
When I’m tempted
to go find another church who will appreciate my abilities?
Don’t get me wrong here.
There’s nothing wrong with healthy discussion and keeping those avenues of
communication clear. Sometimes church leaders don’t understand everything
involved in playing music for the congregation and it’s healthy to bounce those
perspectives and concerns off one another.
But if your response is
immediate anger or resistance or conflict because you perceive a line has been
crossed, this should be a red flag. A transformation has taken place. Something
good has morphed into an idol, and this idol has become the motivation rather
than the glory of God.
God cares more about our
hearts than our positions in ministry. Numbers in the fan club, shiny
technology, and fame meant nothing to the Savior who welcomed lepers, slept on
fishing boats, and associated with outcasts. When we place a higher priority on
our position than the condition of our heart, we hypocritically forsake the
very gospel we proclaim (Jam. 4:1-6).
Jesus frequently rebuked
the religious leaders who “outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly …
are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness” (Matt. 23:28). Serving in the
church is more than whatever we’re doing. It’s also a means of grace in which
God exposes our hearts and reminds us of our need for the gospel. How we
respond to this exposure reveals which kingdom we’re laboring in.
The kingdom of God isn’t
built on natural talent. If you’re not serving in your local church because you
don’t know what your spiritual gifts are, then you’re doing it backwards. Serve
where there are needs, and God will reveal your spiritual gifts as He
supplies what you lack.
CONCLUSION
As I waved goodbye to our
overnight guests later that morning, I was suddenly reminded of the rest of the
context:
But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became
to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so
that, just as it is written, “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.” (1
Cor. 1:31). [emphasis added]
For a brief moment, I had
been crushed by the world’s expectations. But in grace, God reminded me that “we
have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the
power will be of God and not from ourselves” (2 Cor. 4:7).
May God give me the
courage to boast in Him alone.
May we as musicians be humble
in serving the church, as unto the Lord.
May we as the congregation
be quick to praise the Lord’s wisdom when His “unprofessionals” aide our
worship, whether musicians, song leaders, pastors, deacons, sound technicians,
or anyone between.
Psalm 150
Praise the Lord!
Praise God in His
sanctuary;
Praise Him in His
mighty expanse.
Praise Him for His
mighty deeds;
Praise Him according to
His excellent greatness.
Praise Him with trumpet
sound;
Praise Him with harp
and lyre.
Praise Him with timbrel
and dancing;
Praise Him with
stringed instruments and pipe.
Praise Him with loud
cymbals;
Praise Him with resounding cymbals.
Let everything that has
breath praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord!
FURTHER STUDY:
Read Romans 12 in
its entirety. This chapter is a
wonderful reminder of a Christian’s place within the body of Christ. We are not
redeemed to sit back and leave the work of the ministry to the “professionals”.
Verse 6 reminds us that “we have gifts that differ according to the grace
given to us” and “exercise them accordingly”.
Where can you serve? Maybe
you’ve never thought about the fact that spiritual gifts aren’t necessarily
natural talents. Maybe you see a need in your church that no one has stepped in
to fill. God often blesses humility when we step out in faith and serve wherever
there are needs (in submission to our pastors, of course).
RESOURCES:
Getty, Keith & Kristyn
Getty, Sing! How Worship Transforms Your Life, Family, and Church
Mack, Wayne, Life in the Father’s House: A Member’s Guide to the Local Church
Piper, John, Brothers, We are not Professionals: A Plea to Pastors for Radical Ministry
Priolo, Lou, Pleasing People: How Not to be an “Approval Junkie”
Tripp, Paul David, Instruments
in the Redeemer’s Hands: People in Need of Change Helping People in Need of
Change
Welch, Edward, Shame Interrupted: How God Lifts the Pain of Worthlessness and Rejection
Welch, Edward, Running Scared: Fear, Worry, and the God of Rest
All Scripture is taken
from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) unless otherwise noted.
All Photos are Public
Domain, unless otherwise noted.
