Being someone who participates in a worship service has a very special honor associated with them. To help people enter into a
    state of worship, to tell the Lord of the Universe that we love and appreciate Him. I believe that musicians and singers that lead in
    worship have a certain obligation that no other type of musician has. Let me explain why.

    I have played a few high school dances. Seeing all the people responding to the music that I play is a very moving experience.
    For people to enjoy the music and to let the music bring the a break from the worlds trouble is a wonderful thing. The let down is
    that the people that were there, the people collectively do not give a sack full of beans about who I was or what I am doing now.

    Playing for the Lord is quite different. God is forever. He will never die. Each day is like eternity to Him and the past, present and
    future is all one to Him. So, what I do during worship has profound eternal impact. The mistakes I made yesterday and the one's I
    will make tomorrow are all ever present before the Lord. Same with the joyous times with no mistakes. Since God does not
    operate in Time it behoves us to give Him tremendous respect and to make every single moment count and to give it our all.

    That is the whole purpose of this page- to help us bring into sharp focus what our roles and responsibilities are and to operate in
    an area the best we absolutely can get. If you are a singer then sing like you would for opening night on Broadway. A musician
    should play like he is playing for royalty. A worshipper must give more of what he or she gives up during an athletic event. It is all
    about the heart and where it is.
Judges 5:3

"Hear this, you kings!
Listen, you rulers! I will
sing to the LORD, I will
sing; I will make music
to the LORD, the God
of Israel.
NIV
    1 Chronicles 6:31-32

    31 These are the men David put in charge of the music in
    the house of the Lord after the ark came to rest there. 32
    They ministered with music before the tabernacle, the Tent
    of Meeting, until Solomon built the temple of the Lord in
    Jerusalem. They performed their duties according to the
    regulations laid down for them.
    NIV
1 Chronicles 25:6-8

6 All these men were under the supervision of their fathers for the
music of the temple of the Lord, with cymbals, lyres and harps, for
the ministry at the house of God. Asaph, Jeduthun and Heman
were under the supervision of the king. 7 Along with their relatives
— all of them trained and skilled in music for the Lord-they
numbered 288. 8 Young and old alike, teacher as well as student,
cast lots for their duties.
NIV
Eph. 5

17 Therefore do not be
foolish, but understand
what the Lord's will is.
18 Do not get drunk on
wine, which leads to
debauchery. Instead,
be filled with the Spirit.
19 Speak to one
another with psalms,
hymns and spiritual
songs. Sing and make
music in your heart to
the Lord, 20 always
giving thanks to God
the Father for
everything, in the name
of our Lord Jesus Christ.
NIV
Psalms that Indicate that they are to be sang with music:

4,5,6,8,9,11,12,13,14,18,19,20,21,22,27,31,33,36,39,40,41,42,44,45,46,47,49,51,52,53,54,55,56,57,58,59,60,61,62,64,65,66,67,68,69,70,
75,76,77,80,81,84,85,87,88,92,95,98,108,109,139,140,144,147,149
Churches that hold to non-instrumental worship are just flat wrong in their understanding of worship.
These churches are based upon an idea that because the New Testament is silent on the issue they must
be silent on it. The truth is that it eliminates an important ingredient of worship that God enjoys. The
scriptures speak for themselves. Never did God take instruments away from worship!

    I was once asked what my feelings were on contemporary Christian music. Up and to that time I never really even
    thought about it. But as I did and still do I have become somewhat grounded in a view that I would like to share.

    Let me start with this: There are Christians everywhere. They are doctors, lawyers, policemen, salesmen, and
    musicians, and much more. I think that as a Christian we should note that we are a Christian first and then a what-ever
    secondly. Meaning that the branding that Christ put on us to make us His should be evident in any and everything we
    do. We should attempt to honor Christ in everything so that others will take note. Ultimately we want the opportunity to
    share Christ and what better way to do so than to display His character as much as we can in our lives.

    OK, now that part is out of the way let's taking a look at Christian music. From what I explained so far, Christian music is
    to exalt and honor Christ, both the music itself and the performers. Now having said that, we can throw out a large
    percentage of Christian music you hear played on the radio, because it isn't Christian. It is secular music repackaged
    for Christian consumption. I want to point out that if you listen to most Christian radio and then flip the channel to a
    secular pop station you will hear a bunch of similarities. Why? Because the current ‘latest thing’ in secular music that is
    making money can also make money from the Christian crowds. So, that is what they do. I have been a musician since
    1982 and I have listened to a variety of music and appreciate most of it. But very little in contemporary Christian do I
    appreciate.

    Let me make a distinction between contemporary Christian music and contemporary Christian worship music. Worship
    music is a means by which music is used to express our love to God. As a worship musician I am not playing for my
    glory. I am not playing to please the congregation; rather I am playing to honor God with the talents and the abilities He
    has given me to serve Him with. I in a sense help lead believers into the throne room of God. It is a tremendous honor
    and is quite an awesome a task. I play my heart out so that He can accept the gift I am offering Him. I will not sell
    records to make me rich, you will never have a t-shirt with my name on it, and you will never hear a radio announcement
    of me touring the world. It can’t happen that way. But, I hope that after listening to the music I play you will feel drawn to
    God or it will minister to you in a way God can use. Now, on the other hand there are Christian musicians that will have
    all of these things associated with them, these are they that fit in the CCM category.

    These individuals are out to make money with the talents that God has given them. And, that is not wrong. But a bunch
    of the music they do has noting at all to do with Christ. So, I would not say they are Christian artists but rather they are
    Christians, supposedly, that are performers/ musicians that make a living doing so. They should never tour or make an
    album under the banner of Christ just so they can make money. They should do what they do and leave Christ out of it
    since most of what they do already leaves Him out any way. And while I am on that note I am embarrassed by Christian
    artists that live an anything but Christian life. You see, I believe as a talented gifted person in this area, God has by
    default given you a leadership role. If you are in the public eye and you are going to influence people, particularly
    young people. If you screw up and fornicate with someone or you steal or do drugs or whatever, you should do the
    honorable thing and that is to repent publicly and step down from your position. Show humility and brokenness. Let the
    Lord work through that. Let Him restore you to another position, you have no business being in the limelight again. By
    the way, this applies to worship musicians too as you have been called to an even higher position.

    OK, what do I think about CCM? Well I wish it would go away- The title that is. I wish that if they are going to carry the
    title Christian artist the music and lifestyle better be in check otherwise best wishes to you in the secular market and I
    pray you do have a positive influence there.

    Not too long after I became a Christian our church attempted something new. They began having contemporary services
    that were meant to be more modern with new styles of music. Our church hymnal or we used the overhead projector and
    transparencies and the only instrument was the piano. So, some of the talented people of the church got together and
    started a band. They even gave themselves a name.

    The biggest most obvious problem with this was the egos. Boy were there egos. Two of the singers gave off heirs that
    we were blessed to hear them sing. They sang from center stage and when they were off the stage they did not present
    the life they promoted in their songs. In fact, when the church began going through some changes and the music
    direction shifted- they bolted. Why? Not sure, but I believe it was that ego thing.

    Application To Me

    As a musician there is always a degree of competitiveness in me. I have to keep it in check and I seem to do a good job
    at it. But, I think it is always a good thing too. It keeps me on my toes and drives me to do better and better. I know that
    there are so many musicians better than me, more qualified than me and I have to accept that if such person comes to
    our church and is felt lead to serve in my station- I must concede. Perhaps at that time it is the Lord's will I do something
    else.

    I also know that if I am too bold and offensive to God that He can just simply remove me. Pride is a terrible poison of a
    person. Pride is what brought about sin in the first place. Pride has to be mastered and there must be such a state of
    humility embedded in you that sin can't possible enter in.

    Application To Us

    When you mix together all sorts of people who are creative in a like manner there is a chemistry that is formed. When
    the chemistry is good and the harmony is there and the groove is right it then becomes very important to bring back to
    mind what we are there for. Otherwise we may become lost in the music and make it a show rather than a God honoring
    sacrifice. Being in a church building and playing during the time of worship does not mean that what you are playing is
    holy by proxy. God looks right through us and knows what we are about.

    As a group that performs for the Lord, that is what we do, we have to encourage each other and hold one another
    accountable for our actions. If we see someone getting carried away in a way that may affect the worship service we
    need to address it right away. We also have to remember that music styles have to be respected. In the band I am in
    there is literally a plethora of music styles and preferences. One of the types of music we do is quartets and some
    Southern style gospel music. I would rather eat a rotten egg than listen to that music outside of service. I rate it right up
    there with rap music. But, when my brothers and sisters in Christ, in our own little church family does it - it is beautiful
    and precious. I know it comes from their hearts. You'll never catch me at a Gaither concert, but I have enjoyed a few of
    their songs when members of the band perform them- it's awesome.

    Application To Them

    Men do not have that ability to see our hearts so they look at what we do. I have seen and met people who go to certain
    churches just because of the worship service. The music, the dance, the effects, the production is all about entertaining
    the congregation and thus possibly increasing the offerings through audience approval.

    We have to be examples. We must display that we know what we are talking about when we praise the Lord. We have to
    be morally clean, have a pure heart, and an attitude of thanksgiving and sacrifice. As a worship musician, if you can't or
    do not have the will to strive for these qualities then you are probably serving only yourself and you need to move on.
Band Logo created by Jeannie Stine
Jesus Christ is Lord! No one comes to the Father but through Him!