Do you have to be important to be a praise singer!

[pelathais]

How about a thread expressing concern over the insensitive nature of this thread starter's username and pointless grousing?

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by areyourucky

Is it possible to not, be important, and just love the lord to be a praise singer in large churches. Seems like only barbie's make the list in the larger churches.

You can be a praise singer standing right in the congregation!

But I haven't seen that only "Barbies" make the list. Usually you have to be a good singer first and foremost. Can you sing???

Plus, I think you might be assuming a lot about the reasoning behind who's on the platform and who's not. And it's kind of condescending to refer to slim, attractive women as "Barbies."

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by Jason

i rather agree with the original poster, let it be done unto the Lord. They are not talking about playing, but singing. And praise singing at that-which is usually done in a small group.

Give me sincerity over carnal talent any day and all day!

Not all talent is carnal, Jason. I find a lot of carnality in people who constantly desire to be up front, and get angry when they aren't allowed those positions. The desire for being in a position is an attitude problem to begin with. The idea is to serve the congregation with your gifts and talents in whatever capacity you are needed.

I'm usually suspicious of those who only want the spots on the platform, and those in the choir who get upset when they don't get the solo.

[EA]

Originally Posted by Edward Anglin

Five questions:

1. Are you faithful?
2. Can you actually sing?
3. Have you ever participated in actual "work" in the church that didn't include face time?
4. Are you loyal to the vision and leadership of your church?
5. Are your motives pure?

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

I find a lot of carnality in people who constantly desire to be up front, and get angry when they aren't allowed those positions. The desire for being in a position is an attitude problem to begin with. The idea is to serve the congregation with your gifts and talents in whatever capacity you are needed.

I'm usually suspicious of those who only want the spots on the platform, and those in the choir who get upset when they don't get the solo.

Yeppers.

Case closed.

The end.

[MissBrattified]

In Psalms, the "Chief Musician" is repeatedly referred to. That lets me know that the whole congregation wasn't participating in the music, but there were some set aside to do that job, and someone was leading it.

Also, Psalms says:

Psa 33:1 Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.
Psa 33:2 Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.
Psa 33:3 Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.

ANYONE can praise the Lord. Not everyone can or should be leading the congregation in doing so.

I find that often accusations are made against those in leadership about ego, when in fact it is just the opposite. Most good leaders (and ministers, musical or otherwise) have servant's hearts, and are not up front because they necessarily love to be the center of attention.

I agree with the Bible--everything that has breath should praise the Lord. That is not the same as leading the congregation in praising the Lord.

[*AQuietPlace*]

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

Not all talent is carnal, Jason. I find a lot of carnality in people who constantly desire to be up front, and get angry when they aren't allowed those positions. The desire for being in a position is an attitude problem to begin with. The idea is to serve the congregation with your gifts and talents in whatever capacity you are needed.

I'm usually suspicious of those who only want the spots on the platform, and those in the choir who get upset when they don't get the solo.

You rarely have people complaining that they weren't included on the cleaning team that month.

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by *AQuietPlace*

You rarely have people complaining that they weren't included on the cleaning team that month.

Yep! LOL!!!!

[MissBrattified]

It's also problematic that the thread author asked, "Do you have to be important...?", and then added that only Barbies seem to make the list.

Is looking like a "Barbie" seen as making one "important?" I have to assume that means slim, pretty, maybe blonde? (And with impossibly long legs)

[Jason B]

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

Not all talent is carnal, Jason.

i agree

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

I find a lot of carnality in people who constantly desire to be up front, and get angry when they aren't allowed those positions. The desire for being in a position is an attitude problem to begin with..

i mostly agree. But I disagree on one point, I have been discouraged from preaching in the past because my "delievery" wasn't pentecostal enough.
I have since been used in preaching regularly, and done just fine, though I was never able to preach again for the one who told me about my "delivery".
That is my issue, there are people in the congregation who have some desire to do something for God, something that God has called them to do, and to not be able to do that can be both discouraging and confusing.

Furthermore, I believe that when someone is preaching, they ought to preach the Word, preach about a REAL relationship with God, about a genuine Christianity, about loving people, and being a light in the dark world, about true repentance, about teh desire that God has to heal and to be active in the church, about church people who actually love one another. Not cliques, not churches and camp meetings that have become nothing more than a fashion show and a preaching contest, and a put on this white t-shirt and when you put it on you will have the joy of the Lord.

The apostloic preaching wasn't done with gimmicks and props and eloquence, but in the power of the Spirit. That's all I'm saying, it wasn;t right for me to be sat down because I didn't scream, while my preaching had more substance to it than alot of the messages I heard that I forgot (or never even knew) what the point was by the time I got home.

Yet the preachers who had the right "delivery" were those who used props such as styrafoam containers from restuarants, and put them on the alter and scream, come and get your blessing to go!!!!! And run around flailing their arms and throwning their suit jackets all over the place, and having all sorts of gimmicks, but never really preaching on anything.

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

I'm usually suspicious of those who only want the spots on the platform, and those in the choir who get upset when they don't get the solo.

i agree. and I agree with basically your whole post, but my contention is that sometimes those who have the most talent, or the best bloodline/last name are not necessarily the right persons to be used. There are people who may be less talented who can help lead the congreation into the presence of God.

One final thought. I had belonged to a church in the D/FW metroplex, we for a long time only sung out of a hymnal, and sometimes only with a tambourine. We had a good time. We later had someone who helped the church, who couldn't really sing much at all. As they said, "Give me a b and I'll flatten it." And He meant it, but when the singing got to going, there was a genuine and spontaneous spirit of worship. One Sunday night, there was so much worship going on, 2 mormons working the neighborhood, walked into the church to see what was going on-no lie. That couple has started a work in Arkansas that is thriving, and the said church now has very talented musicians and professional music. Some of it on CD's that most on the board would recognize if I mentioned the name. But the worship is not the same, the music is great to hear, but no longer is there dancing, and running and shouting. The worship service is no longer spontaneous, but instead professional. Great to hear on CD while driving, but not like those spontaneous worship services we used to have with folks singing from their hearts.

Now whether this thread was started amiss or not, I don't know, nevertheless, such things do happen in some of our churches. And whether the posters motives were true or not, I'm not sure about that, but the point remains talent ought not to be the #1 factor used in churches to decide who is on the platform or "worship team", and sometimes it is. Bretheren, these things ought not to be so.

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by Jason

...i agree. and I agree with basically your whole post, but my contention is that sometimes those who have the most talent, or the best bloodline/last name are not necessarily the right persons to be used. There are people who may be less talented who can help lead the congreation into the presence of God.

True. It's important to try to integrate people other than the "tried and true" into the church, and allow them to use/express their gifts. However, sometimes it's just as simple as who's available, and it's not thought out anymore than that. Right or wrong, there have been times I've picked someone for a solo because I knew they could learn the material in an hour, and I didn't have an extra 3 hours in my schedule to help someone less skilled learn the music.

One final thought. I had belonged to a church in the D/FW metroplex, we for a long time only sung out of a hymnal, and sometimes only with a tambourine. We had a good time. We later had someone who helped the church, who couldn't really sing much at all. As they said, "Give me a b and I'll flatten it." And He meant it, but when the singing got to going, there was a genuine and spontaneous spirit of worship. One Sunday night, there was so much worship going on, 2 mormons working the neighborhood, walked into the church to see what was going on-no lie. That couple has started a work in Arkansas that is thriving, and the said church now has very talented musicians and professional music. Some of it on CD's that most on the board would recognize if I mentioned the name. But the worship is not the same, the music is great to hear, but no longer is there dancing, and running and shouting. The worship service is no longer spontaneous, but instead professional. Great to hear on CD while driving, but not like those spontaneous worship services we used to have with folks singing from their hearts.

Now whether this thread was started amiss or not, I don't know, nevertheless, such things do happen in some of our churches. And whether the posters motives were true or not, I'm not sure about that, but the point remains talent ought not to be the #1 factor used in churches to decide who is on the platform or "worship team", and sometimes it is. Bretheren, these things ought not to be so.

There needs to be a good balance of raw talent in the process of being trained, and skilled people helping them along. Also, we need to be prepared to minister to the congregation, but sensitive to God leading us a different direction in the service.

I've been in some GREAT services where folks sang simple songs with simple, untrained voices, and God did great things. I've also been there when someone who wasn't anointed got up and butchered a song, and while the congregation was polite, it was just something they tolerated--not something that was a blessing to everyone. I have very little patience with mic grabbers. I grew up in a singing family, and I have a sixth sense almost, when it comes to knowing who just loves to sing and has devoted their talent to God and who is showing out (talented or not.)

I also don't understand why people push so hard to be singers and musicians. Quite frankly it's hard work to become a skilled musician, and it's hard work to learn new music and sing it beautifully. Some people are bad singers/sloppy musicians because they want to be up front but don't want to put in the time to develop a skill or they don't want anyone telling them how to sing.

*sigh*

My 50 cents worth.

If "areyoulucky" is blessed with musical ability, then he/she should work hard to develop that skill, let the pastor know he/she is available in certain areas in particular, be available WHEREVER needed in the meantime, and let God provide the opportunities. When God wants to use someone for something, He will open the door. There's no need to push or shove, or to resent those who are already doing what you desire to do.