Coaches & Facilitators – BT2:  We should NOT consider ourselves “worship leaders” either

 

 

 

Video:  Coaches & Facilitators - BT2:  We should NOT consider ourselves “worship leaders” either

 

 

Coaches & Facilitators – BT2:  We should NOT consider ourselves “worship leaders” either

 

 

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Based on the world’s definitions of leader we saw in the previous BT1 BLOG, I don’t much like the term “worship leader” either, which so many are quick to label themselves in churches.  I certainly don’t see myself as a leader, but more as a “coach” and “facilitator” who organizes what others have taught in the NT – see Bible Info – BT3 and BT4, so that the actual “players” – “the saints who do the work of ministry” (a) – can get more easily and accurately taught directly by the Holy Spirit. <Notes> a) Ephesians 4:12.

 

The apostle Paul was very upset about Christians following so-called humanleaders,” even himself, arguing that this actually causes division in the Church, instead of simply being “followers of Christ” (a), especially “because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in His steps” (b).  After all, isn’t “Follow Me” the consistent call of Jesus to be His disciple or “follower” (c)?  Jesus said there is only 1 kathegetes “leader to follow” and that was The Anointed One, Christ, Himself (d) <Notes> a) 1 Corinthians 1:10-13, b) 1 Peter 2:21, c) Matthew 4:19, 8:22, 9:9, 10:38, 16:24, 19:21, 28; Mark 1:17, 2:14, 8:34, 10:21; Luke 5:27, 9:23, 59, 18:22; John 1:43, 8:12, 10:27, 12:26, 13:36, 21:19, 22, d) Matthew 23:10.

 

Then why are we being “followers” or disciples of mere human beings in the Church?  Paul would certainly correct much of the Church today similarly as:  “Each of you says, ‘I follow Paul’ or ‘I follow Apollos’ or ‘I follow Cephas (Peter)’ . . . Is Christ divided?” (a).  “I could not address you as Spirit-kind-of people but as flesh-kind-of people, as infants in Christ . . . you are still fleshly and/coupled walking/living as mere men.  For when one says, ‘I follow Paul,’ and another, ‘I follow Apollos,’ are you not being merely fleshly (c)?  What then is Apollos?  What is Paul?  [They are] servants . . . WE are God’s fellow workers.  YOU are God’s field, God’s building. . . . Do you not know that YOU are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in YOU?”  (b). <Notes> a) 1 Corinthians 1:12-13, b) 1 Corinthians 3:1-16, c) see Identity.

 

We saw in the BT1 BLOG that this division between “special people” as clergy or leaders and the rest of us “commoners” as laity or congregational members is straight from the pit of hell!  Paul exclaims:  “I appeal to you, brethren, . . . that there be no schisma ‘splits, clefts, gaps, rents, or tear [as in cloth] metaphorically divisions or dissensions’ among you, but that you be united in the same mind” (a).  “I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse.  For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you” (b).  “But God has so composed the Body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it [as we erroneously treated it], that there may be no division in the Body, but that the members may have the SAME care for one another” (c). <Notes> a) 1 Corinthians 1:10, b) 1 Corinthians 11:17-18, c) 1 Corinthians 12:24-25.

 

Divisions are listed in “the works of the flesh that are evident” (a).  Who it is that “causes division, [but] worldly people, devoid of the Spirit” (b)?  “As for the person who stirs up division, . . . have nothing more to do with him” (c).  As we’ve seen in the BT1 BLOG, the Catholic Church introduced the division in the Body-of-Christ by creating the “clergy versus laity,” but many Protestant churches have carried on this division, simply changing the name/office/title of their “clergy” to a hierarchy of Head Pastors, Associate Pastors, and “Lead” this, that, and the other thing!  This makes the rest of the church no longer “special” but simply “common.”  See the Body Ministry and Teach One Another pages. <Notes> a) Galatians 5:19-20, b) Jude 1:19, c) Titus 3:10.

 

But Paul tries to guide Christians out of this: “Be imitators (followers) of me [only] to the degree (a) I also [am] of/belonging-to [thus following] Christ” (b).  He correctly lumps himself in with ALL other followers who belong to Christ!  None of us should be following any aspect of anybody unless those “aspects” are imitating Christ!  Paul also says, “You ought to imitate us . . . giving you an example to imitate,” but in what way?  They preached the gospel without an expectation for payment, because they “earned their own living” – and it wasn’t from ministry!  This was the Lord’s command and Paul said it twice!  But evidently not many ministers believe this, because they rather require a salary to preach – see the Donations & Ministry Finances page.  So again, Paul is essentially saying, “Follow only what you see ‘of Christ’ in us.”  <Notes> a) kathos: down-from/according-to the manner in which, b) 1 Corinthians 11:1, c) 2 Thessalonians 3:6-12.

 

But this means you have to actually be a “follower of Christ” in order to discern what in other Christians is actually “of/belonging-to Christ” and what is simply human ambition – see New Covenant Ways – BT16.  You have to personally know “the real thing” to spot the counterfeit.  But that requires actually “perceiving and hearing with understanding the actual Voice” of Jesus!  Again, Jesus has the final word and the Greek isn’t metaphorical but very literal:  “He (the Good Shepherd) goes before them (His sheep), and the sheep follow Him, for they already have [with ongoing results] mentally ‘seen’ to perceive/know (a) His actual Voice (b).  A stranger they will absolutely-in-fact-NOT and in-possibility-NOT follow, but they will flee from him, for they have absolutely-in-fact-NOT, already [with ongoing results], mentally ‘seen’ to perceive/know (a) the actual voice (b) of strangers . . . My sheep ongoingly hear/listen to understand (c) My Voice (b) and/coupled ongoingly I experientially, relationally know (d) them, and/coupled/thus they ongoingly follow Me” (e).  So if you get sucked into following a false leader, it’s because you simply aren’t learning directly from Jesus! (f).  <Notes> a) eido, b) phone, c) akouo, d) ginosko, e) John 10:4-5, 27, f) see the Prophetic and Knowledge pages.

 

Reflections:

 

 

As Christian musicians, are we stuck in the Catholic Church and subsequent Protestant Church’s worldly definitions of a “worship leader” with “followers” that continues to create division in the One Body-of-Christ?  Aren’t our “special positions, offices, and titles” simply separating us from the other “commoners or laity?”  Or do we see ourselves as “fellow workers” with ALL of God’s saints in God’s One “field or building?”  Shouldn’t we ALL being following Christ’s Voice, yet still recognizing this part within EVERY Christian and only ever following that particular part?

 

 

 

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Spiritual Education, Worship leaders isn’t a biblical term, equippers are coaches & facilitators, the saints of the ministers, Only 1 leader who is Christ, We are to only follow Christ, Only follow Paul if he is following Christ, Creating special people and terms shows favoritism and causes division, division is from Satan, Clergy & Laity are prohibited divisions, Only knowing Jesus keeps us from following strangers, His sheep hear His voice