Voddie Baucham on Worship

Q. Why do you place so much emphasis on Who leads worship at the events in which you participate?
A. I have a very high view of the role of the worship leader. I view leading worship as a sort of pastoral responsibility to which one must be called, and for which one must be equipped. Unfortunately, we live in a time when every kid who knows five chords and ten songs thinks God has called him or her to be a worship leader. Hence, there is a flood of young, inexperienced, untrained, and often biblically illiterate worship leaders who have done nothing more than learn the top songs off of a few worship CD’s. This is a travesty!
These guys go on to steal songs from men and women whom God has anointed and gifted to write songs, and use them to make CD’s of their own. All of this is done in the name of having “product” to sell on the road, or to promote ones self as a worship leader. Imagine John Mayer going into the studio and saying, “forget the hard work of producing an original album, lets just take the top ten songs from last year and put them all on my new CD this year.” That would be unthinkable! Nevertheless, that is what is happening every day with so-called worship leaders in this current generation; and they think that paying someone a few cents per copy makes it ok. I would rather not be a party to that.

I also do not think it is a good idea to work with people with whom I do not share a ministry philosophy, or theology of worship. I do not think that a worship leader and a preacher should just be thrown into the mix together because they are both “good at what they do,” and they both “love God.” That’s like putting a wishbone quarterback on a run-n-shoot team and expecting him to do well because he has great athletic ability!
A good voice and a love for God is not the sum total of a worship leader’s qualifications. Nor is it the ability to “move a crowd.” There is the question of the depth of one’s theology and how that depth is communicated in the songs one chooses to use, and how one chooses to use them. There is the ability to choose songs that are appropriate for the given audience and occasion. There is the ability to sense where God is leading and moving during a service, or a series of services (I.e. choosing response songs that suit the manner in which God is calling people to respond to what they’ve heard).

These are just a few things that must be taken into consideration. Unfortunately, they rarely enter into the decision of whom one will invite to lead worship. Often, the only questions asked are, “does he do the songs our people like?” and “does he sing well?” That is the type of shallow, carnal approach to ministry I try to avoid.

Faithfulness

Faithfulness- "firmly adhering to the observance of a duty, keeping your word, fulfilling your obligations. It involves being loyal, constant, and reliable." - From Worship Matters by Bob Kauflin pg 57.

It is always nice for a pastor to have folks who want to be involved in the ministry of the church. One thing I am becoming more and more convinced of is that if you are not faithfully committed to the church, faithful in reading your bible, faithful in prayer, faithful in your relationships with others...you will not be faithful serving in ministry in the church.

Be faithful. Stop causing the leadership of your church to think, "I wonder if so and so will show up today?"
Numbers 12:7 Not so with My servant Moses; He is faithful in all My house.

Deuteronomy 7:9 "Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments;

1 Samuel 2:35 Then I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest who shall do according to what is in My heart and in My mind. I will build him a sure house, and he shall walk before My anointed forever.

1 Samuel 22:14 So Ahimelech answered the king and said, "And who among all your servants is as faithful as David, who is the king's son-in-law, who goes at your bidding, and is honorable in your house?

Nehemiah 7:2 that I gave the charge of Jerusalem to my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the leader of the citadel, for he was a faithful man and feared God more than many.

Nehemiah 9:8 You found his heart faithful before You, And made a covenant with him To give the land of the Canaanites, The Hittites, the Amorites, The Perizzites, the Jebusites, And the Girgashites-- To give it to his descendants. You have performed Your words, For You are righteous.

Nehemiah 13:13 And I appointed as treasurers over the storehouse Shelemiah the priest and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah; and next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah; for they were considered faithful, and their task was to distribute to their brethren.

Psalms 12:1 To the Chief Musician. On An Eight-Stringed Harp. A Psalm of David. Help, Lord, for the godly man ceases! For the faithful disappear from among the sons of men.

Psalms 78:37 For their heart was not steadfast with Him, Nor were they faithful in His covenant.

Matthew 25:23 His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'

Luke 12:42 And the Lord said, "Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season?

Luke 16:10 He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.

Luke 16:11 Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?

Luke 16:12 And if you have not been faithful in what is another man's, who will give you what is your own?

Luke 19:17 And he said to him, 'Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.'

Acts 16:15 And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay." So she persuaded us.

1 Corinthians 1:9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

1 Corinthians 4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.

1 Corinthians 4:17 For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.

1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

2 Corinthians 1:18 But as God is faithful, our word to you was not Yes and No.

Ephesians 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus:

Ephesians 6:21 But that you also may know my affairs and how I am doing, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make all things known to you;

Colossians 1:2 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are in Colosse: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Colossians 1:7 as you also learned from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf,

Colossians 4:7 Tychicus, a beloved brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me.

Colossians 4:9 with Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will make known to you all things which are happening here.

1 Thessalonians 5:24 He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.

2 Thessalonians 3:3 But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.

1 Timothy 1:12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry,

1 Timothy 1:15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.

1 Timothy 3:1 This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work.

1 Timothy 3:11 Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things.

1 Timothy 4:9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance.

2 Timothy 2:2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

2 Timothy 2:11 This is a faithful saying: For if we died with Him, We shall also live with Him.

2 Timothy 2:13 If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.

Titus 1:6 if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination.

Titus 1:9 holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.

Titus 3:8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.

Hebrews 2:17 Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.

Hebrews 3:2 who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was faithful in all His house.

Hebrews 3:5 And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which would be spoken afterward,

Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.

Hebrews 11:11 By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.

1 Peter 4:19 Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.

1 Peter 5:12 By Silvanus, our faithful brother as I consider him, I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God in which you stand.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Revelation 1:5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood,

Revelation 2:10 Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Revelation 3:14 "And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, 'These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God:

Revelation 17:14 These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful."

Revelation 19:11 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.

Revelation 21:5 Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful."

Revelation 22:6 Then he said to me, "These words are faithful and true." And the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things which must shortly take place.

God & Politics

Isaiah 40:15 Behold, the nations are as a drop in a bucket, And are counted as the small dust on the scales; Look, He lifts up the isles as a very little thing.

Politics are on everyone’s mind these days. While I never talk about politics in the pulpit, I believe the church should take stands on issues of morality and sin. The church should deal with issues as they are dealt with in Scripture - rather than endorsing candidates and holding campaign rallies in your building.
But, I would say two things about America and politics:

1. Spiritual decline always brings about moral decline.
2. Christian government cannot solve America’s problems.

A decline in worship of the true and living God who is holy, righteous, good and just will bring about immorality and unrighteousness which will destroy a nation. Psalm 115 makes this very clear. Read it. Verse 8 comments on what happens to a people who exchange the worship of the true God for idols. “Those who make them are like them; So is everyone who trusts in them.” We become like the gods that we worship. America is becoming like what we worship.

Josiah was a great OT king. He tried to shake up everything in the nation that was unholy and remove all idolatry. And while the nation followed suit, (because he demanded it) their hearts were never changed; and they passed on their hard hearts to their children. Only one generation later, God abandons them and uses pagan Babylon to punish them. Repentance is needed in people and the pew, not just preachers and presidents.

For god(s) or for Country?

Should being drafted by Lions keep player out of Iraq?

The Lions drafted a football player from West Point. Normally, all graduates must completetwo years of military service before being allowed to play in pro-sports. But the Army has

changed their policy to allow an exemption to all cadets who sign a pro contract with professional sports.

The REASON the Army does this is very easy to understand. Nobody is beaten down the Army recruiter's door to get signed up for the military these days. Not with a 1-way ticket to Afghanastan or Iraq virtually guaranteed. So if the Army is having a hard time getting recruits, why let one of the 'best of the best' skip out for a pro-ball career.

Simple: America worships pro sports. The Army realizes this. If an army soldier becomes a successful pro-athlete, children will worship him and then he can use his influence to convince the kids to join the Army. (And be like Mike or Payton or Eli or Brett)

The kid the Lions drafted is required to spend time recruiting for the Army while he is not directly working for the Lions. The Army realizes something the Scripture notes.
Psalm 115:8 "Those who make them are like them; so is everyone who trusts in them."

Romans worshiped pigs, Americans pigskin. They assemble in huge Coliseum's every Sunday, and delight in the Midweek Thursday and Monday night gatherings. Gazillions are donated for the 'offering,' in fact, you are not even let in the building unless you donate the amount they determin, and people are always turned away. Scalping tickets is big business.

People love the service, raise their hands, sing loudly, cheer, cry and celebrate throughout. They LOVE IT when the service runs late. (Overtime) People get there early and getting an invitation to come by a regular is received with great joy.

The 'ministers' are payed obscene amounts even if they fall into gross immorality, as long as they 'put on a good show on Sunday.'

And heaven, of which worshipers can never be a part of, is the immortality of the Hall of Fame. Which worshipers pay to attend and plan vacations around visiting.

There are book studies otherwise known as Rotisserie leagues

constant devotionals in the form of Sports Magazines, newspapers, books etc.

And they have there own stations devoted to them on cable TV.

Millions of devoted followers have their 'devotions' morning, noon, and night and any other time they can fit it in. They are exporting their services to Mexico, England, China, & Japan.

God bless America

Worship

The following is an excerpt from Worship Matters, a book by Bob Kauflin Crossway

“In a letter written from prison, Paul requested Timothy to bring him “the books” (2Timothy 4:13). Charles Spurgeon, the 19th century “prince of preachers,” expressed amazement at such a request from Paul: ”He was inspired, and yet he wants books! He had been preaching for thirty years, and yet he wants books! He had seen the Lord, and yet he wants books! He had a wider experience than most men do, and yet he wants books! He had been caught up into the third heaven, and had heard things that it was not lawful for a man to utter, and yet he wants books! He had written a major part of the New Testament, and yet he wants books!”

Spurgeon then reminds us, “He who will not use the thoughts of other men’s brains proves he has no brains of his own.”

Music

Music in the church. What an important subject in the church today. I would hazzard a guess that more people make a decision on where to go to church based on the music, more than any other feature. I am looking at the whole concept of worship and music with another gentleman in the area. I am beginning my study with this preconceived idea. When our heart is where it needs to be, loving the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength, the zeal and passion of our heart will overflow with worship and our singing will be wonderful.

I used this illustration before in our congregation. After a football game at Corunna High School, especially after a hard fought victory, we would gather together as a team and powerfully sing the school fight song. Everybody knows that high school boys are not the power voices in most churches but when we were singing about victory in football, we didn't care who heard us and we didn't care if we couldn't carry a tune. We had something to sing about! If the coach saw someone not singing, he would be right over in his face, yelling at him, "What's the matter with you?" And nobody would have thought the coach was out of line. So I contend that when the hearts of God's people realize the victory and future of a life with Christ, the singing wil be one of victory and loud rejoicing.

True Worship

Sunday School 10:00
Worship Service 11:00

We see this all over the place. On church signs and cards, bulletins and newspaper ads. So what is this worship that takes place on Sundays from 11-12. (anything past 12 ceases to be worship and becomes a long winded preacher full of himself and loving the captive audience.)

When I try to wrap my mind around subjects such as this, I usually start by looking at what worship is NOT, and then looking at what attempts at worship God rejects and why he rejects it and perhaps most importantly, how do I/we make the same errors in our worship so that God would rather have us just cease and desist.

The examples are numerous throughout the Bible of men attempting to worship God and God sending fire to consume them or leprosy or some form of curse to let them know as he says in Leviticus 10:3 "By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; And before all the people I must be glorified."

Churches and especially pastors are always trying to create worship. Worship teams, Praise leaders, praise and worship services are all the rage now. So does singing worthy, scriptural songs like Holy, Holy, Holy and preaching messages on glorifying God alone fulfill what God requires from us in worship? I would submit that IT MAY but just as easily it may not. Any "formula" for worship is just a formula. We cannot produce worship or a worshipping people.
Assaulting true worship is pride. Pride is the antithesis to glorifying God. Going through motions of worship is not worship. We honor with our lips but my HEART is not moved by what I am saying. This then becomes mocking God rather than worshipping Him. Not savoring and loving and cherishing and being filled with the wonder of God's holiness is really an attitude of unthankfulness and being consumed with self, this prevents true worship.

Lord, teach me to worship you in spirit and in truth. That others may see my good works and not praise me but glorify my Father in heaven.