Mere Worshippers

When the Desire to Preach Overshadows the Call to Worship

Many worship leaders are forsaking their call as worshippers and are chasing the pastoral call. Worship has been overtaken by the desire to “preach the gospel”, as if being a worshipper robs one of being a “preacher”. A preacher is the one who brings good news, whether in song or word.

As a worship leader and a minister of the Word, I am well aware that worship leaders CAN become pastors. Many believers are predisposed to serve in music departments within their respective assemblies because of their musical abilities. This can, at times, make them oblivious to the Lord’s purpose for their lives. Hence, many who can sing or play an instrument would first chase a music career and only later realise that God’s agenda for their lives is in the pastoral office.

Coveting to become a pastor whilst the call is not there can be very detrimental.

There are quite a number of pastors who began their work in the Kingdom as worship leaders. The likes of Benjamin Dube, Jabu Hlongwane, Donnie McClurkin, Marvin Winans, and many more started out as mere worshippers before answering God’s call and later becoming pastors. However, being a music minister does not necessarily mean that one is qualified or called to be a minister of the Word or a pastor in charge of a flock.

When Worship Becomes a Platform for Preaching

Ministering in song is one of the most powerful experiences ever.

To have an audience listen to you intently is an overwhelming and fulfilling experience. This experience may at times be so powerful that we even forget that our responsibility is to lead worship and not to teach.

The pastor is the one whom God has chosen for preaching generally.

Yet, at times, upon realising the attention and the authority we command on the podium, we tend to deviate from our roles. We monologue or preach instead of leading worship.

If not careful, this later leads to the resentment of being a mere worshipper, as it develops an unhealthy ambition for the pastoral office.

The Call Matters More Than the Platform

For many worshippers, the desire to “preach the gospel” has greatly deceived them into thinking that they are called to the pastoral office. Being on the podium does not give the worship leader the liberty to preach, but rather to bring the awesome presence of God into the midst of His people. If there’s a pastoral calling over a person’s life, not even music can stop them from fulfilling destiny.

Coveting to become a pastor whilst the call is not there can be very detrimental. The pastoral call does not supersede the worship call. The work of a worshipper is equally important, if not more. The Bible says God judges the intent of the heart; to be a worshipper means the Lord is pleased with the state of your heart.

For the one who can ascend the hill of the Lord and stand in His holy place is the one with a pure heart (Psalm 24:4). The Bible says God hears a worshipper, and He answers his petitions (John 9:31). The Lord blesses His people every time a true worshipper is leading them into His presence. One psalmist said, “when the praises go up, the glory must come down.”

The Honour of Being a Mere Worshipper

In my humble opinion, it would be very hard for any assembly to have a worship experience without the services of mere worshippers. It is mere worshippers who, through their praise and sacrifice, are able to chase away evil spirits and fill the house of the Lord with the presence of the Holy Spirit. When King Saul had an evil spirit tormenting him, it was a mere worshipper who delivered him every time.

The fact of the matter is that we are losing true worshippers and gaining more false prophets day by day. Let us, who are mere worshippers, fulfil our destinies with pride, honour, jubilation and appreciation. There is no greater honour than to humble ourselves and serve Jesus Christ with pride wherever He may have placed us. It is truly an honour to be a mere worshipper.

---

Originally published in the print edition of DIVINE Magazine, Issue 02.