Following the Pastor’s Instructions

What do you do if the pastor says, “I want three hand-clapping songs and two slower, lead-into-prayer songs”?

I knew there would be one at least one easy-to-answer question here. My answer is simple: I would do three hand-clapping songs and two slower, lead-into-prayer songs.

The writer of the book of Hebrews tells us, “Obey your leaders and submit to their authority” (Hebrews 13:17). The words “obey” and “submit” in this verse are not suggestions. They are commands. This can be a hard pill to swallow in a culture that tells us to “question everything,” but—biblically—it’s still the right thing to do. The pastor is in charge.

Although I may not always see eye-to-eye with him, he is still the boss. He is the one whom the Lord has seen fit to place as the overseer of the congregation. If I oppose his authority I am also opposing God’s decision. I’m not sure I can think of anything that would be less productive than being in opposition to the Lord.

Because of this, as worship leaders, we should always have a servant attitude toward the pastor.

The relationship between the pastor and the worship leader in a church can be likened to a husband and wife. There’s the POP—pastor of the people—and MOM—minister of music. (Work with me here. 🙂 ) Just as a husband has authority over his wife (Ephesians 5:22), so does a pastor have authority over the worship leader. Whereas the wife (worship leader) has authority over the children (congregation), at the same time she must be in submission to her husband. Obviously this analogy (like nearly any analogy) has limitations. However, the truth is still there: as worship leaders we should obey and submit.

“Let me get this straight, pastor. You want us to do three hand-clapping songs and two slower, lead-into-prayer songs, is that right? No problem. We would be happy to.”