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Qualifications of a Worship Pastor

An adaptation of leadership qualifications from 1 Timothy 3& Titus 1

 

Understandingthe biblical role of a worship leader in the local church is central to thehealth of a church body. While the task of leading people in worship isoutlined in varying ways, the implementation and function of the modern“worship leader” isn’t found anywhere in the New Testament. What we do find isthat pastors or eldersare mandated with the job of leading the people in worship.  (2 Chronicles7:6 describes priests leading David and Israel in worship) Thistells us that the primary function of worship leaders should be “pastors” notjust artists. 

 

Therole of a worship leader in a local church is first a call to “shepherd the flock”(1 Peter 5:2) and secondly, to be the creative voice behind their collectivesong. Worship leaders should be pastors who have a deep love for the people theylead.  So, not just anyone with aguitar can lead worship and not just anyone with a voice should be called aworship leader.  It is a specificcalling and has specific qualifications. In 1 Timothy 3:1-13 and Titus 1:5-16, wefind qualifications for pastors and elders outlined.  If we believe worship leaders are primarily pastors, thenthey are held to the same qualifications as pastors. We believe that anyone wholeads the church of God long term should be qualifiedbiblically to do so. Healthy, God-honoring churches must have qualifiedleadership at every level. Hopefully, a look at these qualifications, particularly for a worshippastor, will help us all grow into maturing and increasingly qualified leaders.

 

Abovereproach (1 Timothy 3:2 & Titus 1:6-7)

Thismeans a worship pastor should be spiritually maturing. This qualification isset apart from having a good reputation or being well thought of.  Being “above reproach” goes deeper thanpeople liking him.  The maturityspoken of here is a life and walk that is worthy of imitation.  A worship leader must maintain aconsistent character with those both inside and outside the church. A worshippastor must sing in a way that people want to participate, lead in a way thatpeople want to engage in, and live in a way that people love to followhim.  Leading worship involves allthree components.

 

Husbandof one wife (1 Timothy 3:2 & Titus 1:6)

Aworship leader must be a “one woman man.” He must maintain integrity inrelationships with the opposite sex, and go to great lengths to protect himselffrom sin. This man must have a godly, growing, and strong marriage.  He must not be addicted to pornographyor have wandering eyes.  He is agreat lover, friend, and leader for his wife and she honors him in public andin private. He must provide for her financially, and lead her spiritually as atestimony of the Gospel (1 Tim 5:8).If he is single, (and not called to celibacy) he must be working toward marriage bygrowing personally, spiritually, and emotionally.

 

Soberminded or disciplined (1 Timothy 3:2 & Titus 1:8)

Manyworship leaders are stereotypically labeled as “over-emotional.” Many times thisis not the fact, but when it is, it should be addressed. Being emotionallydriven is not a personality type, but an immaturity and should be repented ofand fought.  Pastors should bedriven by the Truth.  You can beloving, gentle, soft, and caring but not “driven” by emotion.  James 1:6,describes it as being “like a wave of the sea,driven and tossed by the wind.” Worship pastors must be stable menwho stake their lives, joy, and soul on Truth. The most effective worshipleaders stir people’s affections for God through being rooted and grounded in Truth.

 

Respectable,well thought of by outsiders, not a new convert (1Timothy 3:2, 6-7)

Thecore issue here is the reputation of the Gospel.  This qualification draws aconnection between a man’s respectabilityand his spiritual maturity.  The assumption is that the longer wewalk with Christ, the more respectable we get and the more we’re thought of byothers.  This means a worshippastor must be disciplined to foster respectability among the community.  Letting his “yes be yes” and his “no beno” is crucial to people trusting him. Does this man do what he says he’s goingto do?  Is he on time when he’ssupposed to be somewhere? All of these things, while they seem small to us,foster respect among those we minister to. Worship leaders should not becharacterized by a “persona” or their “stage charisma” but by their spiritualmaturity. 

 

Hospitable(1 Timothy 3:2 & Titus 1:8)

The1st century idea of hospitality was hosting foreigners ornon-believers.  A worship pastor iscalled to be anevangelist.  This type ofevangelism should be practiced on stage and off stage.  On stage, is our music Christ-centered?Do we sing correctly to God? Do we present the gospel regularly in ourservices?  And off stage, does heintentionally befriend and invest in non-Christians? All pastors should bedoing the work of an evangelist - leading people to Jesus through corporateworship services, and through regular interaction with the lost.

 

Ableto teach (1 Timothy 3:2 & Titus 1:9)

Manyworship leaders do not feel comfortable teaching or speaking. While this is nota requirement to be able to “preach”, it is a requirement to know and be able tocommunicate truth.  Teachingpastors teach through preaching, and worship leaders teach through singing.Songs chosen for corporate worship services teach doctrine, theology, evenmethodology. Worship leaders must be able teachers in this regard so that thesongs being sung in the church reflect the convictions the church has beenbuilt upon.  The mandate forworship leaders is to ensure the songs a church sings are faithful to the Scriptures.  Worship leaders become a vital voice inthe theological understanding of a church, and should take this responsibilityvery seriously. Leading worship is a sacred trust, and must be done under theauthority of the Scriptures. If there are any questions to the content ornature of a song, they should be directed to the senior pastor for his approvaland oversight. A worship pastor must be able to correctly handle andcommunicate the truth of God.

 

Nota drunkard (1 Timothy 3:3 & Titus 1:7)

Ourworship pastors should not have un-battled addictions.  This can be alcohol, drugs, pornography,or even fame or the praise of men. We must be driven by the Spirit of God and influenced primarily by Him.  Any addictions rob us of thisconnection and should be dealt with by confession and repentance.

 

Notviolent but gentle, not quick tempered (1 Timothy3:3 & Titus 1:7)

Aworship leader/pastor should not seek to get involved in arguments. Pastorsteach and correct, but we don’t “fight” (verbally, emotionally or physically)if it can be avoided. Pastors should be known as men of peace. Ourrelationships and social leadership should imitate the peace of Christ.  This peaceful countenance should bemodeled by worship pastors for the worship team, church, and community for themto imitate and follow.

 

Notarrogant or conceited (1 Timothy 3:6 & Titus 1:7)

Biblicalworship is rooted in humility.  Nomatter how gifted or talented a worship leader is he must not be arrogant orconceited.  The devil loves thissin and uses it to destroy lives, ministries and churches.  A maturing worship leader has a trackrecord of winning this fight.  Thattrack record is seen in his genuine humility.  Standing in front of people every week, singing, leading andhelping them worship, can turn into performing and putting on a show in asecond.  The psalmist says, “In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek him;all his thoughts are, "There is no God." (Psalm 10:4) Theprideful man is one who “does not seek him” and his heart refuses the presenceof God. Pride begins with us thinking more highly ofourselves than we ought.  It is theenemy of worship because pride is an inaccurate assessment of our own worth,agenda and desires.  Fora worship leader, not only is this personal sin, but it makes him corporatelyineffective. Genuine worship and reveling in the presence of God is necessaryto lead people in worship and teach them to also revel in the presence of God.

 

Nota lover of money (1 Timothy 3:3 & Titus 1:7)

Aworship pastor does not do his job primarily for money.  He provides for his family well, buthis primary motivation is his calling, not his paycheck.  He doesn’t lead worship and write songs for the sake of money,but to express his love and knowledge of Christ. The motivation of a worshipleader should be the good of the people he is called to serve, not his owngain.

 

Goodhusband and father (1 Timothy 3:4-5 & Titus 1:6)

Thehome life of a worship pastor is the most important part of his ministry.  The home is where church begins.  If you’re not leading your wife andyour children well, you should not be trying to lead the church.  The organization of the church is builton the organization of the home. The great commandment was first given to us to teach in our homes, notour churches.  Deuteronomy 6 tells us that God gave thegreatest commandment (love God most) to the husbands and fathers to teach theirwives and children. Before you think about, pray for, and plan for yourministry for the church, do so for your family.  Give your wife the greatest love story of all time; giveyour children the hero they deserve. They are our primary flock and you are their primary pastor.  Do that job well! The home of a worshippastor should be one worthy of admiration and should stand as a livingtestimony to the Gospel.

 

 

Loverof good, upright and holy (Titus 1:8)

Aworship pastor should be a man of joy. A joyful disposition and an infectious hope in God are essential forsuccessful and qualified leadership. A worship pastor should communicate the joy and hope of God in song,prayer and life.  Our goal inmeeting corporately is to “stir one another tolove and good deeds” (Heb. 10:24) and the worship leader has tochampion that cause and be “stirring.” He should continually be growing inGodliness and in his own sanctification, as he also calls the church to do so.

 

Conclusion

Therole of a worship pastor goes much further than leading songs on Sunday. Theworship leader is a culture-setter and champion for our affections to the Lord.  He gives our souls the words we need tosing to God.  Few people have theopportunity to affect people in the way worship pastors do. I have an elder whotells me that his favorite thing is when he catches himself on Sunday eveningsinging the songs that we sang Sunday morning.  He judges the effectiveness of our service not by how hesang then, but how he sings later. His recollection brings him close to God all over again.  Without a band, a stage, a screen orany people, he is again brought to the throne of God by the faithful service ofa worship leader.  What a great andprofound privilege and responsibility! May this list of qualifications andexposition bring great challenge, conviction, and encouragement as we continueto grow together in biblical ministry.

 

 

Co-Authored by

Barry Keldie,Lead Pastor, ProvidenceChurch

Matt Boswell,Worship Pastor,Fellowship of the Parks