This is Not a Stage


I’ve been involved in church music for years. I am now married to a worship pastor/music director/sacred hymn and contemporary praise leader….whatever you want to call him.

In this I have learned some things about people and about the heart of God…and while this is mainly related to the musical bunch initially, I think it will apply to all of us….hopefully this comes out like I want it to…

First of all, I think music is a touchy subject for Satan. It’s almost a personal assault that God would gift and call someone else to do his job…

Not only that, but music is absolutely universal. I may not understand all of the words of a song in another language, but I know whether it’s happy or sad. I can tell whether the musicians are rehearsed or not—whether I like it or not. It’s an amazing tool that can be used in ministry…

So it’s kind of a double whammy and explains a lot about why Satan would have such a big deal with it.

Taking that into account, I have learned that every person that is a “worship leader”—whether in a large vocal group or behind a guitar, in the spotlight or hiding behind their music stand—everyone is either insecure now or has been at one time…in a very big way.

Really? Yes.

For those who are trained—maybe they went to school for it or took lessons their whole life to learn their voice or instrument—it is a constant battle of internal critiquing. It’s like they are standing on stage waiting for their professor to jump out and yell at them for forming a chord incorrectly or not dropping their jaw enough. They don’t want to perform. But it’s almost like they have to—if they don’t use their training, what good is it, right? You’re supposed to be excellent in all you do…right?

For those who don’t have any “formal training”—maybe they’ve only sang in the choir for a while, or they just picked up drum sticks one day and kept a beat—it is a constant battle of internal critiquing. It’s like they’re standing on stage waiting for someone to finally realize that they really have no idea what they’re doing. They don’t want to perform. But it’s almost like they have to—they have to keep up with the people who know what’s going on, right? You’re supposed to be excellent in all you do…right?

Yes. The Bible does specifically say to “play skillfully” (Ps. 33:3). So don’t read what I’m not saying. We are called to be excellent…

But do you see what has happened in both of these internal struggles?! It has become about ME. About how good or bad I am.  About whether I formed MY vowels right or I had the “correct” posture.

NEWSFLASH.

It’s not about me.

It’s an altar, not a stage. Treat it as such.

I say this because I need to hear it.

Every day of my life I need to hear it.

At school. At work. At church. At home.

It’s not about how good (or bad) I am at something. It’s not about what people think, what they say, or don’t say.

It’s about doing the thing that He has called me to do, regardless of the opposition that is guaranteed to come.

It’s about making Him known.

My life is an altar, not a stage. I should start treating it as such.

Worship Service


11 responses to “This is Not a Stage”

  1. Very well stated, and I completely agree with you. Maybe you should set this one up to automatically re-post every month— for those like me who need frequent reminders 🙂

  2. Very well stated, and I completely agree with you. Maybe you should set this one up to automatically re-post every month— for those like me who need frequent reminders 🙂