“In holy and divine matters one must first hear rather than see,
first believe rather than understand,
first be grasped rather than grasp,
first be captured rather than capture,
first learn rather than teach,
first be a disciple rather than a teacher and master of his own.
We have an ear so that we may submit to others,
and eyes that we may take care of others.
Therefore, whoever in the church wants to become an eye and a leader and master of others,
let him become an ear and a disciple first.
This first.”

-Martin Luther, (1513) First Lectures on the Psalms II, Works II.245-246.

I think that there’s a tendancy in fellowship to build up the next generation of leaders, and in so doing, we neglect our first and foremost mission that is to make “disciples.”  We puff ourselves up to be “leaders” as if we have something to teach and change others.  If we do this long enough via trial-and-error, I’ve personally found myself to be a failure at leadership.  (Excuse me, as I write mostly from reflecting upon my own behaviour!)    People don’t listen or pay attention for one, and thus don’t learn anything, and even don’t embrace the Spirit sanctified truth that is in the words spoken–no matter how pretty, poetic or dramatic.  I think what God requires of you and me is what Luther said so plainly–we need to become disciples first, before we even remotely consider becoming a leader. 

A close seminarian friend put it quite succinctly this way, when messaging me about being a leader: “Good leaders try to get their agenda on the table, but GREAT leaders show the example and influence others.”  The power that is in our gentle persuassion of authority exists not in us telling & teaching people what works best or what is the right way of doing things, but rather it is the Holy Spirit within us that illuminates our hearts and souls so that the Light that shines in us can be clearly seen.  I haven’t recently read any *book* discipleship (see Ling-Ling for these)… but one thing I’ve learned from my own experiences this year serving, “leading”, worshipping, and being lead by you all, is that leadership is enabled most greatly when we ARE true-life examples of what we claim to teach.  All the words are pretty are useless and futile in leading others towards a glorious life if there is no life FOUNDATION support it.

And so, if there’s any area of improvement in my life… if there’s any suggestion of what can be improved in terms of the “Worship Ministry” at Ryerson, I think it is becoming disciples ourselves.  Let’s not even think about “leading” others for a moment right now, but let us rather consider what we need to learn from God, and how we can learn such truths through each other (especially Committee members).  From the friendships God has built in my life this year, it is in our own being discipled that is of utmost importance in leadership.

“I have no use for cranks who despise music,
because it is a gift of God.
Music drives away the Devil and makes people gay;
they forget thereby all wrath, unchastity, arrogance, and the like.
Next after theology,
I give to music the highest place and the greatest honor.”

-Martin Luther, quoted in Martin Marty, Martin Luther, 2004, p. 114.

We sing so many songs & have so many “worship practices” that sometimes it seems like worship does not happen apart from music.  Yet more recently, we SAY a great deal about making worship our life, life-style outside of music…so often that it’s become a very popular topic of many Christian books in this postmodern era.  As “labelled” leaders we must BE a genuine example of that praise habit ourselves.  This is not an option; music is–but a life that honours God isn’t.  Worship through music is very, very, very important, yes definitely–just as Luther notes above–but such importance is secondary to theology, second to us understanding God’s nature/character and then living out this knowledge.  (Picture what an overflow of othordoxy into orthopraxy looks like in day to day terms…)  When the evidence of WALING our TALK is revealed to others (discipleship), those around us will see it, know it to be the real deal and follow our example (leadership).

An effective corporate worship leader,
aided and led by the Holy Spirit,
skillfully combines biblical truth with music
to magnify the worth of God and the redemptive work of Jesus Christ,
thereby motivating the gathered church
to join him in proclaiming and cherishing the truth about God
and seeking to live all of life for the glory of God.

-Bob Kauflin