Worship: Central or Skewed?

Our culture is celebrity mad.

I'm not making a value judgement on that, I'm merely making an observation that the times we live in have a serious obsession with celebrity and status. Whether it be TV shows with minor-celebrities desperately trying to get more attention by living in a jungle or talent competitions enticing members of the public with the promise of stardom. At the end of the day we're fascinated by celebrities, their lives, their styles.

But what happens when the celebrity culture begins to seep into areas where it is neither helpful nor wanted? What do we do when our obsession with making much of people hinders the very job they are trying to do? How do we address the issue of 'celebrity' worship leaders?

Firstly, let me say that I recognise that there are certain worship leaders who are extremely good at their job and that God has clearly anointed with new songs and abilities. It is the culture and industry that has been built around them that troubles me.

Over the summer I looked to buy a CD from one of these high-profile worship leaders and the website selling the album, who shall remain nameless, were offering 'signed copies' of the album. Alarm bells began to ring - why would I want the signature of a worship leader on a CD? The whole point of a worship leader is to point to Jesus and become virtually invisible. I can appreciate that the artist is proud of his work and pleased with how the album has turned out. But signed copies of a worship album somewhat miss the point surely?

There is no room in worship for celebrities other than God. And even within the Trinity, no one member of the Godhead ever puts themselves about the others. There is no self promotion. The Father does not exalt himself but instead he is glorified through the Son. The Son does not exalt himself but seeks to glorify, and is glorified by, the Father. The Spirit likewise does not seek to draw attention to himself but is glorified in his works with the Father and the Son.

I'm involved in leading worship; I have been for some time. I've had the privilege of working and worshipping with some of the high-profile worship leaders. I now have a certain level of responsibility to lead a worship team at the church I'm part of. The responsibilty is to lead the others in the church in worship; to take them to a place where they can engaged with God. The is absoltuely no room for me to turn it into the Jimmy Orr show.

Worship is to God, for God and about God. And all the time we let this celebrity culture invade our worship world I can't help but fear that we're robbing God of part of his worship.

To be continued...