A LOT OF LEADERS, NOT ENOUGH PASTORS
Written by Marcus
The influence of the church is growing day by day in so many ways. Our pastors are gaining more notoriety, our members all have podcasts and blogs just like this one, and the music coming out of the church is being platformed more than ever before.
There was once a time when you’d walk into a church and cringe more than you’d clap. But today? The skill level and sound quality of the teams we see has grown exponentially over the last 20 years. Thanks to the rise of tools like YouTube and the advancement of tech, we now run backing tracks and simplify the art of producing quality music within a worship service.
That’s a win—and I’m grateful for it.
But while I’m encouraged by our growth in skill, I’ve sadly noticed a decline in our ability to spiritually lead a team and a room. We’ve become more focused on manufacturing the moments we hope to see… pressing the right buttons, performing for our congregations—instead of relying on the One who gave us our gifts in the first place.
We were made to create space for His name to be exalted, not just experiences that feel anointed.
There are a lot of reasons I could point to for this problem, but I want to focus specifically on us worship leaders—and the role we play in all of this.
Here are three key factors contributing to this growing epidemic of performance:
1.Our Priorities Have Changed
We’ve created environments that are more suitable for people than they are for God.
Galatians 1:10 says:
“For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.”
Whether you’re trying to please your pastor or get the guy in the room sipping coffee to lift his hands—because you know singing “that one song” will get the response—you’ve likely felt the drift.
Our focus has shifted from the One seated on the throne to everyone else in the room.
I’ll be honest: I’ve fallen victim to singing God’s name in worship while giving my attention to everything but Him.
Our setlist is meant to be a sacrifice of praise—one that stirs desperation for His presence. It’s not a greatest hits playlist designed to bring back the butterflies from the first time someone heard their favorite song.
Now, this isn’t to say that “Bubba in the back” isn’t important. And honoring our pastors and leaders is something we’re called to do.
But our first priority is to minister to the heart of the Father.
Our song is meant to be pleasing to His ear—and if it also blesses people in the room, praise God even more.
2. Gifting Without Accountability
I’ve seen plenty of gifted singers and musicians who could play circles around me put on a glorified concert every Sunday.
Why?
Because we’ve failed to hold them to any kind of spiritual standard Monday through Saturday.
We’ve encouraged the sharpening of their talent, but not the sharpening of their character.
Too often, we elevate people into roles before they understand the mantle they carry as leaders.
We ignore the yellow flags in their behavior—because we’re more concerned with filling our PCO slots than we are with loving them well and pastoring them off the platform they may desire more than the presence of God.
It can’t be more important to have a beautiful voice or crazy chops than it is to have clean hands and a pure heart.
We are called to usher people into God’s presence, not perform in front of them.
3. Leaders, Not Pastors
There is a dire need for spiritual mothers and fathers in the worship community—one that’s gone unmet for far too long.
We’ve treated this role like a job, not a calling.
But if God has entrusted you to lead His people in worship, then He’s also calling you to raise up the next generation of worship pastors.
Not just worship leaders.
Not just setlist curators.
Pastors.
We’re called to teach them how to lead rooms, not just songs.
To teach them spiritual disciplines before we teach them production strategies.
To walk with them through the hard things—and help them listen for the voice of the Lord in everything they do.
We don’t earn our paycheck when the pastor says “good set” or the congregation sings extra loud.
We earn it when we—and those we lead—start living out Romans 12:1:
“…Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”
It’s not too late.
We have the Word as our guide and the Holy Spirit within us.
If we begin to prioritize His presence over our preferences,
And disciple our teams to live surrendered,
We’ll start to see the Lord move through us instead of in spite of us.
Let’s be the kind of leaders who pastor.
Let’s create space for God to move—not just try to manufacture what we think people want.
—Marcus