I realize what you're about to read borders on a slippery slope argument, but bear with me. I think it's a logical question to ask. To those (worship leaders particularly) who would say this phrase, I ask: What does matter? And, then why are you leading worship?
If [it] doesn't matter as long as people are worshipping, why do we have a live band? Worshipping to a recorded CD would ensure that EVERYBODY knows EXACTLY how the song goes EVERY time. If [it] doesn't matter as long as people are worshipping, why do we have music? Silence and/or reading scripture are just as important acts of worship. If [it] doesn't matter as long as people are worshipping, why do you learn your instrument, take voice lessons, or sing pre-written songs? If [it] doesn't matter, why do you do anything you do as a worship leader?
People worshipping is the goal of every worship leader. So does it matter how you get there? I would argue yes. I would argue that if it doesn't, the role of worship leader is actually pointless.
If you've been leading worship for any period of time, you've most likely experienced that moment of split-second decision: do I end the song here or repeat the chorus? Do I build back up again into the bridge? Should I throw out my fifth song and take more time on the third one? Do I entirely swap my last song for a song the band may not know? I make these kinds of split-second decisions almost every set. Why do we have to make these choices as worship leaders? Because our role is to use music to help facilitate a group of people worshipping God--to help minimize distractions and pave a road for people to follow into the presence of God.
I believe every decision and non-decision we make as worship leaders either furthers this goal or hinders it. We use music because God has built (most of) us with a peculiar sensibility to music that other mediums can't quite reach. We sing pre-written songs with lyrics available (most often) so that everyone can join in (facilitating a group). We learn our instruments and have rehearsals so that we play well and play together (to minimize distractions). Everything you do as a worship leader should serve this purpose, or perhaps you should rethink it.
I have a handful of soapboxes as a worship leader. These are things I've preached for all my seven years of mentoring younger worship leaders. And they all serve this purpose. In no particular order:
- Learn your music and lyrics and be "off-book" as much as possible. (I am peculiarly gifted in this in that I pick up songs very quickly and memorize very easily. I recognize that not everyone has the ability memorize quickly or easy--especially playing and singing at the same time. Also in my experience, it's easier for guitarists to memorize chords than it is for pianists. If you are not so-gifted to memorize easily, I'm not saying give up worship leading. I'm saying do as much as you can. If you can't memorize, don't. But if you can, don't rely on sheets simply because you can.) This not only minimizes potential distractions (paper shuffling between songs or the dreaded forgetting of lyrics!), but also makes you a better worship leader. A leader by definition goes before and has followers. A song leader simply lets the people s/he's leading know where the song's going. A worship leader is letting people know where the worship is going. And in order to lead you must also be there. Getting rid of dependence on chord sheets (as well as better-learning your instrument) gives you the freedom to worship as you lead. Because if you're not worshipping, you're not really leading worship. In addition, this allows you to be more spontaneous. If you feel like God is calling you to play a specific song that's not on your set list--or even just feel like it's appropriate for the sermon topic or where you think God wants to take the people--you can play it without having to send someone to the computer, file cabinet, folder or, worse, your car!
- As well as possible, make your set seamless. This is obviously much contested. I know many worship leaders that don't, I know a handful that do, and I know a few that did at one point and don't anymore. (I know a worship leader in each of these categories I would consider to be an effective leader. It's not a make-it-or-break-it type deal. But it helps minimize distractions.) To me, this doesn't always look like playing a whole set in the same key (though that's the easiest and simplest way to do it and is what my sets usually look like). Playing in relative keys is a possibility (such as D and G or E and A). If you're playing with a band, have the synth player/pianist/lead guitarist/backup acoustic play something while you move your capo around. But never have silence because you had to move your capo. Intentional silence is a tool that, well-placed, can bring an extraordinary moment to a set. But silence simply because you have to move your capo is distracting and sometimes awkward. I feel similarly about prayer. Prayer is a gift and a tool and has its place in a worship set as well, but should be intentional, not as a mask for an awkward song transition. This removes distraction and creates a path of worship, rather than stairs or several boulders to be climbed over.
- Learn songs as close as possible to the way the original artist did it. (Or, in some cases, whatever recording your congregation is most familiar with.) If every worship leader at a church plays a song the same way, no one will ever be confused. You're leading a group of people. If the worship leader before you doubled the verse every time, double the verse or you'll lose your people. Not that losing your congregation means you're a bad worship leader. But if you can avoid it, do. Have you ever experienced that awkward moment where you're not the worship leader and you thought s/he was going somewhere s/he wasn't and were left singing out the wrong part while nobody else was singing? I know I have. Try to avoid doing this to your congregation. Remember, you're leading. So lead. If you're doing something out of the ordinary (such as repeating a line that's not usually repeated), let them know.
- Play only songs that are in line with your church's (and hopefully your) theology and, as much as possible, songs that you can worship to. Think very carefully about the words you're asking your congregation to sing. Just because it has a catchy melody or makes people cry doesn't necessarily mean it has solid theology. Again, you're leading people, so make sure you're leading them correctly. You have authority as a worship leader. People will sing what you have them sing. Let them sing truth. Playing songs that you can worship to, similar to being off-book, makes you a better worship leader. You can't lead people somewhere you're not and playing songs you can't worship to makes this very difficult. Brian Doerksen, I believe, calls it "owning" songs. Make sure you can "own" the songs you play. Occasionally you'll have to play songs you don't necessarily "own"--if another worship leader has introduced a song, sometimes you should be a team player and play it for the sake of the people or if your pastor has specifically requested a song you don't necessarily "own". But in the songs you choose, choose songs that you can lead well.
- Trust your band (if you have one). Give them a general idea of where the song's going. If you have a specific idea in your head, communicate it. But trust them to do what they do best. Micromanaging your band will only exhaust and frustrate you. I'm not saying don't train them. If you have a new drummer, you may have to tell him/her exactly where you want the kick (1 and 3 or 4 on the floor?); if you have a vocalist that's never sung background, tell him/her where in the song to come in or if you think the other harmony would sound better in his/her voice or give the song more dynamic. But eventually, if you've trained them well and they're a good fit for your team, you should be able to let them do what they do best--they trust you to lead, don't they?
Some if this may sound very harsh or even impossible. These are things that are important to me and, yes, I've broken just about every "rule" I have at some point. But these are simply examples of my intentionality in leading worship. Yes, I do believe the songs we choose matter because we're teaching theology, authoritatively inviting people to sing with us, and leading people into the presence of God. I do believe that whether or not the leader can sing on pitch matters because some people in the congregation will be distracted if s/he can't. I do believe that playing and singing a familiar song in a familiar way matters because we're asking people to join in with us.
All that to say, learn your craft, be intentional, and, though not necessarily indicated by the disproportionate amount of harping on mechanics, most importantly, ask God what He's doing with your people. As much as you care, He cares more. And He knows where every person is at that will be hearing your worship set. And He can tell you. And He often will if you give Him the chance. All the rules and guidelines in the worship handbook can't hold a candle to following the voice of God--even if He does ask you to play a song you haven't played in four years in the middle of a worship set.
