A Plea for the Local Church

My heart is heavy for the local church. I am having coffee with a local pastor later this morning looking for someone to step up and lead music in the local church. This will be the 12th such conversation in a week. At the same time I have spoken with six former students and other colleagues in that same time period whose churches have decided to move in a different direction and whom will likely be calling soon for help filling their vacancies. The “worship wars” may have ended, but friends, Worship in the local church is not healthy. Worship in the local church has to be more than style and technology. Music leaders have to be more than musicians. Worship pastors must be more than well trained theologians. We desperately need leaders well trained In both theology and music. Leaders that understand the foundational philosophy of why they are doing what they do. Proverbs 29 says “Where there is no prophetic vision the people are discouraged, but blessed is he who keeps the law.” For the love of the church can we please get back to focusing on that prophetic vision: what Scripture says to set our minds to in worship— read Scripture, explain Scripture, pray, sing, give, baptism, and communion.