Worship Pop Stars and a Celebrity Church Culture?

From Vicky Beeching's blog...

Its been an amazing week for me... I spent time at "Re:Create" a think-tank gathering for worship leaders from across the US and abroad. Great to meet new friends - "Re:creaters" please join my Blog and keep in touch! (A big hello to Rick and Laura Muchow and the gang from Saddleback CA, Carlos and Heather Whittaker from Buckhead ATL, Brian and Alicia Chandler from Fulsom CA...and too many other names to mention all the GREAT people I met, but you were all such a breath of fresh air to me : )

Here is my Blog thought for today... It's a conversation I'm excited to start with you guys, as I love your insights....

We need to get great songs out to the wider church, and we need worship leaders and songwriters. But how do we ensure we are not creating a 'celebrity culture' within the Church? How do we as worship leaders approach marketing and imaging, without trying to look like Worship Pop Stars? Where are the lines and are we crossing them?

Are we creating an unhealthy division between local church worship leaders or people who play guitar in home group (who are the true unsung heroes!) and what we now refer to as 'worship recording artists'?

Read more of this post and other great stuff from Vicky at her blog...

What are your thoughts on what Vicky has to say?

Comments

[Bridget Willard]

unfortunately, a bit of truth

catch 22 for a wl/songwriter

love

[V]

Thanks for posting my Blog about Celebrity Culture here! WorshipTogether rocks : )

[Jeff]

I appreciate your honesty in saying this. I believed people within the church begin to worship the artist more than the God that they are singing about.

I lead the music at my church, and all I want is to point people to Christ so they can encounter Him.

[Ben Yu]

As with most judgment calls, it's case-by-case. I've seen music worship leaders drawing too much attention to themselves without an ultimate goal of glorifying His name (I've caught myself guilty of this as well), even if unintentional. I've seen congregations that inadvertently elevate the music worship leader/team/music itself above God Himself as well. But I've also see awesome moments of great musicians playing great music and God is the center focus of what's made great! :D

Not that this is how everyone should do it, but I have high respect for music worship recording bands/artists that don't have their personal name in the title. I've even seen some of these (e.g. - Sonicflood) where the band has switched members completely over the ages, but fans may not even know. Awesome. :D

[Robb]

This is certainly an issue that anyone in leadership needs to address. I worked in Christian radio for a few years and there was a tricky line between ministry and business. The key, as worship leaders is prayerful and humble service.