At some point or the other, people active in on-stage ministries like preaching or worship struggle with the performance spirit. Many worship sessions are ruined by giving in to it.
On stage, with the spotlight on, with all the excitement, songs, music, people clapping and cheering etc. it’s so easy to get carried away and turn the session into a musical concert riding on people’s emotions. That’s when the session doesn’t anoint but annoys.
Signs of yielding to the performance spirit
- I want to be doing the worship leading all the time and do whatever I can to ensure other worship leaders do not get opportunities.
- I forget compliments are just a way of confirming my calling and instead look forward to compliments only to feed my ego.
- I feign humility when receiving compliments while gloating on the inside.
- I want only MY songs to be used in the worship session.
- I monopolize the stage as much as possible.
- I can’t stand it when another worship leader is complimented.
- I dislike small crowds and enjoy only big crowds and bigger programs.
- I wear flashy, attention-grabbing clothes or accessories.
- I make exaggerated gyrations and movements when playing my musical instrument (guitarists are particularly susceptible to this!)
- I need all kinds of add-ons like multi-colored strobe lights, smoke bombs etc. to get into that “worship” groove.
- I manipulate the people and their emotions to create feel-good “worship.”
A few tips that help me to overcome the performance spirit
- Be open and encourage frank feedback on my sessions.
- Always have an hour of personal prayer every day.
- Work with my worship team closely, mentor them and share the stage as much as possible with them even if it means ‘my' time is reduced.
- Remember worship is all about the Lord and His people, NOT about me.
- Learn to enjoy all crowds, big or small—this keeps my heart in its proper place.
- Never forget that God is the real audience.
- Never run after an opportunity to lead worship. Trust God and joyfully take whatever He provides.
- Never forget that we can only attract people with the flashy, but cannot keep them without integrity.
In short, worship should always be awe-filled not awful. “He must increase, but I must decrease.” - John 3:30
Do you struggle with the performance spirit? How do you handle it?
Image: Flickr
