What the Music Leader Does part 3

What the Music Leader Does part 3

            I have absolutely no philosophical problem with the use of a praise team as long as they are function as music worship leaders, are dressed modestly, and do not usurp the role of the chief musician.  I also want to make it clear that I am not intimating that leading music worship is not extremely important to public worship because it most certainly is.  At the same time I wish to make it also very clear that the use of music in public worship, although vitally important to the work and responsibility of every public ministry, is only part of the work of that organization’s music ministry. Because of the time and space it would take, I will not discuss thoroughly the other very important aspects of public worship at this point in our discussion.  For a more thorough discussion of this topic, I suggest that you read chapter two (pp. 28-37) of the book Church Music Matters. 

            Church leaders, educational administrations, and the musicians involved must realize that the music educator and the minister of music has many more philosophical responsibilities than those worship service leadership.  I fear that many Christian organizations are trying to travel first class but only pay coach fare.  Christin elementary and secondary schools as well as Christian colleges are not preparing their students to enter adulthood with the necessary musical literacy i.e. being able to read, write, and perform, and evaluate music.  Churches have also abdicated their historic and biblical responsibility to musically and philosophically educate their own.  (Read I Chronicles chapter twenty five)  In ancient Israel the church historically trained its own musicians.  So, public music worship leadership is vitally important, but it is only the part of the music iceberg that one can readily see.  However, it is the part beneath the surface which one cannot readily see that gives the music ministry its real substance.