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This page was last updated April 20, 2000.
Dan Bare: Music Minister
1. THE CALLING OF EVERY CHRISTIAN
I am called by God out of darkness into light (1 Peter 2:9), to be free
(Galatians 5:13) and yet to belong to Christ (Romans 1:6), so I may
fellowship with Him (1 Corinthians 1:9) and be saved through the
sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth (2
Thessalonians 2:13,14). Because He has called me, He has also justified
me (Romans 8:30) through my faith in Him (Romans 3:28) which is proven by
good works (Romans 5:2; James 2:24). I am not justified by observing the
law (Galatians 2:16), but by His grace (Titus 3:7). As a Christian, I am
called to be holy (1 Corinthians 1:2, 2 Timothy 1:9), to live in peace (1
Corinthians 7:15; Colossians 3:15), and to be compassionate and humble,
not repaying insult with insult (1 Peter 3:8,9). My one hope (Ephesians
4:4) is eternal life (1 Timothy 6:12) in His eternal glory (1 Peter
5:10), for to this also I was called!
If my calling is to heaven, then I can make it more secure by adding to
my faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge,
self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance,
godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly
kindness, love (2 Peter 1:5-11). May I be counted as His called, chosen
and faithful follower (Revelation 17:14)!
2. THE BIBLICAL LEADERSHIP
When the Bible talks about being "called," it is a statement
encompassing all individuals who bear the name of Christ. However, Paul
often speaks of himself as "called to be an apostle." The
apostles'
qualifications were stated in Acts 1:22-primarily they had to have seen
Jesus after the resurrection. Paul associates his apostleship with
having seen Jesus (1 Corinthians 9:1), and speaks of himself as one
"abnormally born" (1 Corinthians 15:8).
The position of the apostle was foundational to Christianity, as well as
that of the prophet (Ephesians 2:20). These offices were temporary in
the life of the church, just as Christ, the cornerstone of the
foundation, was here for only a short while-these special callings were
necessary to establish an authoritative base to work from.
The recognized leaders of the church in the first century were apostles,
prophets, evangelists, and pastor-teachers (Ephesians 4:11), and if the
first two were foundational, it makes sense that the others still
continue today. These four roles were each similar to that of a
parent-to teach, protect, and disciple the church as one would a child
(Ephesians 4:14).
Timothy fulfilled this parental role during his ministry in Ephesus, but
it is apparent he was neither an apostle nor prophet-he would not have
needed the authority of Paul to back him up. Just as Timothy could rely
on Paul's authority, so we can rely on the authority of the apostles'
writings: namely the Bible. Timothy was a disciple of Paul, and, like
others, considered an evangelist. To understand what an evangelist's
responsibilities are, we can study the letters written to this young man.
In addition, the position of pastor-teacher is synonymous with an elder
or overseer. The pastoral epistles (Timothy and Titus) give instructions
for this job too. If God had wanted some of us in the twentieth century
to be apostles and prophets, wouldn't he have left some clear guidelines
for this great responsibility? While the Bible says little about those
occupations, it says quite a bit, in no uncertain terms, about the other
two.
If those who were apostles and prophets received special revelation from
God, then they knew without a shadow of a doubt what they were called to
do. But how does an evangelist or pastor-teacher know? Paul said
that
if anyone "set their heart" on being an elder (overseer), they desired
a
noble task (1 Timothy 3:1). So the calling is basically a "want
to."
In Timothy's case, he apparently had a "gift" which was given through
a
prophetic message when the body of elders laid hands on him (1 Timothy
4:14). This gift may have been preaching or teaching, but we really
don't know. It is implied, however, that elder recommendation is a big
plus for a young man aspiring to be an evangelist, and from what we can
tell, an evangelist is the biblical occupation that most closely
corresponds to the located minister we find in churches today.
3. MY PERSONAL STORY OF A CALLING INTO MINISTRY
Since I was little, folks thought I'd grow up to be a preacher. My mom
knew from the get-go that I'd be in an occupation where I could run my
mouth-at birth I screamed so loud the whole hospital heard it, and that
was before I was even fully delivered. No one needed to slap me to get
me to make a ruckus. In grade school I'd lead a crowd of children around
the playground singing "We Are the World" at the top of my lungs, and
in
high school I discovered my love and talent for music. In music I found
a way to voice my passions-of which the first was, of course, love for
God.
With Highest Praise (a high school choir) I finally found others who had
the same desire. Our worship services gave expression to our young,
zealous spirits, and they always had a way of changing things. When you
worship Jesus, you suddenly become aware of the grudges you're holding,
and immediately want to leave the altar and go forgive. You become aware
of the inconsistencies in your false morality, and you're convicted of
the immorality you'd previously excused. In our culture, it's very
important to feel truth, and I must admit that I really do like to feel
what I believe. What is great about corporate worship is that if I
really want to feel good about it, I'd better get things right with the
Lord. And when I do that, I'd better not call Him a liar and not accept
His mercy. Nothing feels better than being clean and getting motivated.
I also used to work at a radio station in Minnesota whose primary focus
was worship music. They were not concerned with what was on the top of
the charts, but what would really fill people up. Each hour of music was
designed like a worship service, and we announcers were encouraged to
become worship leaders. I would still like to go into radio someday if I
can work for a station like that again.
A lot of people in high school had cliques. The world has cliques.
There were jocks, motorheads, potheads, cowboys, nerds, the drama
weirdos, and so on. I could never really "click" into one group.
The
interesting thing is, the guys who are jocks spend their time thinking
about sports-they go to bed watching it, they wake up in a bedroom with
posters on sports, they dress in jerseys. The "motorheads" (no
offense
meant) are the same. They'd get out of school and go work on their car.
These people had an obsession, and when they graduated they would follow
their obsession into a lifetime career. They'd eat, sleep, talk, and
think about their obsession.
I am a Christian, and it's my passion and obsession to know God. But it
goes further than that: it is my primary interest. Because of that, I
have no choice but to make it my career. And because God has offered me
wonderful opportunities like Ozark Christian College, I will follow my
obsession all over the world for the rest of my life. I may preach
sermons someday, but for the time being, I'm content just to preach. If
God has given me an ability musically, I will use it for His glory.
Because I will go into located church work, I will do my best to be an
evangelist. But for the most part, I am a deacon of music, who is paid
simply because well-planned and lead worship services are so vital to and
desperately needed by today's churches that a full-time administrator is
vital.
However, God forbid that I ever become just a Music Minister. I am a
Worship Minister, and if I think I can lead people to a place I never
go-the throne of God-I am sadly mistaken! The fact that someone like me
is a minister is a true testimony of God's grace.
Let me share some of my convictions about worship and the ministry I
will fulfill-a ministry I believe God has equipped me for (just as He'll
equip me for whatever else may come my way-I may not always be in
"worship ministry").
4. MY RESPONSIBILITY IN MINISTRY (THE "WORSHIP MINISTER")
The Bible gives a lot of credit to music within our worship. According
to Ephesians 5:19, our corporate worship actually helps us contradict the
evil days in which we dwell. It is described as "wise living."
There is
a command to do it.
Seasons of prayer were important for the church in Acts 2:42, 4:31, 12:5,
and in 1 Corinthians 14:26, the prayer, prophecy, and singing
strengthened the church like k-rations strengthen an army. On the other
hand, we must keep in mind that music, although a big part of the worship
experience, was still only a part. We cannot simply have a two-fold
Sunday meeting-song service and sermon.
Here are some fun verses in the Bible which address music within
corporate worship: Colossians 3:16, Ephesians 5:19, Exodus 15:21, Numbers
21:17, 1 Samuel 18:7, Ezra 3:11.
There was a definite need for some structure in worship in 1 Corinthians
12-14 with the tongues catastrophe, and today we still need some wise
planning when it comes to our services.
Then I read Jeremiah 23:1-4 and Ezekial 34:2-10-Those who fail to feed
the flock are unfit to be shepherds. I also want my ministry to teach
people the Bible. Probably the number one way to memorize scripture is
to put it to music.
Music has a strange way of being able to speak without words (and still
remains one of those intangible nouns that no one can really define).
The heavy metal or punk music of this day, without its words, which are
unintelligible anyway, communicates violence, chaos, anarchy, and
perversity. But something akin to Beethoven's "Ode to Joy"
communicates
freedom, joy, and even peace. This is why it was played by symphonies
countless times all over Europe the same year the iron curtain fell.
We worship ministers strive to be our best musically, just as a preacher
strives to be a good word-crafter. We present the Word of God in a clear
and beautiful way that will befit it well. Our music is not so much a
work of art, but is simply a very effective way to speak the Word. It is
a language everyone understands and likes. This concept holds true on
the mission field too: If you can talk to people in the music of their
culture, they'll listen.
I would like to, in my ministry, make music so beautiful and worship so
irresistible that people must repent and get it straight with God. It's
our "free the conscience" time. God is too awesome to be
ignored, and if
you want to have a good time praising Him, you'd better open up your
sinful self and be ready to get changed.
Worship is a lifestyle, and it is disgusting to God if we honor Him with
our lips but our hearts are far from Him. On the other hand, when it's
offered with a sincere heart, God enjoys our worship-it is the intimate
part of our relationship with Him. In a marriage, there are different
love languages in which to communicate to each other: gifts, physical
touch, quality time, words of affirmation, and acts of service. There
are similar love languages in our relationship with Jesus, and worship is
one of them. Too many Marthas still haven't learned from Mary, who chose
the better, and too many disciples still criticize the silly looking
woman who pours perfume on Jesus' feet.
Whether we feel like it or not, we give our songs of affection to God,
as an offering. You may not always feel like cuddling up with your wife
and having a conversation (although that's usually not the case with me),
but because your vow was given to God, the marriage can't just appear to
last. You know that intimacy is the only way to keep a marriage whole.
Intimacy with God is the only way to keep that relationship whole.
CORPORATE WORSHIP:
In one sense, it is true that every action of life should be in worship
to God. But the word worship is always used to describe a special act of
adoration, fear, or awe either in the presence of the Lord or when
considering His good works. If the Psalmist made a big deal about the
works of God's fingers, how much more should we celebrate His mighty work
(Ephesians 1:19)!
The congregation must know that they are the participants in, and not
the recipient of worship. This is why special music must be approached
carefully. Often in churches today, the sad truth is if the girl singing
can swoop her voice high enough, she'll get the reward of a good applause
afterwards. It looks less like worship and more like cheerleading.
Soren Kierkegaard gives this model: the congregation as actors, worship
leader as prompter, and God as the audience. "Worship" is from
the
Anglo-Saxon weorthscipe, which means "to assign ultimate value."
Another
of the Greek words for worship meant "to testify about God."
WORSHIP AN END TO A MEANS:
Worship leaders cannot presume that a congregation knows they are
worshipping when they sing. But if people see their singing as an
offering to God, they might sound better too!
If we're really worship leaders, not just politicians of musical style,
we will not seek to change what people sing so much as how they sing it.
The way to get the little rural church to worship is not by introducing
choruses-for our goal is not change, but worship! I like to call it the
secret weapon: Explain to people the scriptures behind their Kiamichi
hymns and encourage people to focus on God. After a while, you'll get
more ladies volunteering to teach Sunday School, and elders discussing
where we could find some music for the kids.
Worship is the ultimate goal of the church, for God predestined sons in
Christ "to the praise of the glory of His grace" (Ephesians 1:4-6,
11-12). Because worship is a goal to be reached, an end to the means, a
minister of worship could never be alone at a church, but must work
alongside the other ministers. If anyone gets to reap what's sown, it's
the worship minister. Often children and youth ministers plant the
seeds, the preacher works the ground, and then the worship minister gets
to reap the harvest. There's nothing like looking out over two hundred
faces, some turned upward to heaven in gratitude and some downward with
tears of humility, and knowing that the Holy Spirit is teaching and
changing people. To think that God would use you as a part of this is
humbling to the core.
If worship is the ultimate goal of the church, then this makes it a big
responsibility for worship leaders. To lead people in worship, to
adequately take people to the throne and then get out of the way, is a
big task which calls for the utmost humility on the prompter's part-for
he dares not only to enter the throne room of the great King on a daily
basis, but he dares to bring other sinners there as well. If he comes
without head-bowed, and without the most delicate words of reverence, he
may as well have a rope tied to his feet so that those waiting outside
can pull his dead body out from the Holy of Holies. Charles Spurgeon
said:
If we magnify ourselves, we shall become contemptible; and we shall
neither magnify our office nor our Lord. We are the servants of Christ,
not lords over His heritage. Ministers are for churches, and not
churches for ministers�Take heed that you not be exalted above measure,
lest you come to nothing.
To be a worship minister, I have to practice what I preach. If I don't
worship the other six days of the week, how can I expect to lead people
in it on Sunday? And because worship is an end, not a means, it makes it
more God's work than mine. It is my responsibility then, not so much to
make people worship, but to allow them to worship. To guide them like a
shepherd, not prodding from the rear, but leading gently out front.
In addition, may I never say, "If I don't do it, it won't get done."
Very few things should be done alone, because my business is that of
training and equipping. It's about people, not programs. Musical
"mediocrity" is too often harped on while ignoring spiritual
mediocrity.
It simply is not possible to be Liberace and Mother Theresa at the same
time. Musical quality must often be sacrificed in order to encourage a
more values-centered lifestyle and a more people-centered ministry.
And lastly, I hope I will never forget: fruitfulness in ministry depends
not on man's wisdom but on God's Word and His Spirit (Romans 1:16-17, 1
Corinthians 1:22-25, 1 Thessalonians 2:13, Romans 15:13, 2 Timothy 1:8).
Your unworthy brother in Christ,
Dan
Delicia Bare singing in the Praise Band.
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