As I working on the last two posts on our worship department values of Authentic Worship and Mentoring & Coaching, I've thought about how some of us may have been challenged in the reading. I've been challenged in the writing! Challenged in a way that reminds me that I don't have it all figured out and I'm still learning. That reminded me of my need for humility. The need of Embracing Humility, which is our next value.
There are many passages about humility in scripture. I'll point out a couple. James 4:6 says "God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble." Seeing as he is an all-powerful God, I'd rather not oppose him. I'd much rather have his favor. I don't want to be prideful about myself. After all, anything I am that is worth boasting about came from him in the first place, so I'd rather boast about him. Just a few verses later James says in verse 10 "Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will lift you up." These passages remind me that I should be humble before the Lord and since he's all-present in every situation I'm in, perhaps I should be humble in all situations. Even if that's in the face of someone who is challenging or testing me.
Often times when it comes to being challenged by someone, we want to get defensive. Let's face it... as musicians and technicians... as artists... we can put our own abilities and skills up on an internal pedestal and get rather defensive, or protective, about what we do in our craft. Do you get a little defensive when someone is correcting/coaching you? Or are you humble in that correction/coaching? Ephesians 4:2 says that we must be completely humble and gentle, being patient and bearing with one another in love. When your craft is being critiqued are you patient and humble? Do you treat the one who is critiquing you in love? (Hopefully the person who is doing the critique is giving it in love!)
All of us, myself included, need to be open to improvement. And we need to bear it in love. Sometimes that challenge to improvement can come from unlikely people. Often I'm challenged by students who aren't as skilled as me, not just those who are more skilled. Seeing a student growing quickly and being passionate about what they are learning... that challenges me. I learn from that. But only if I'm humble enough to do so. As musicians we don't always like to be "corrected" or "coached". I've been blessed as a worship pastor to work in a department who overall is rather humble. Not every church's worship department has that blessing.
If you are a worship leader or worship pastor encourage this value in your teams. Be gracious and loving to those who aren't humble. But I would caution you to not allow pride to go far. If you see it displayed in someone address it immediately. Do not let it infect your team. You've heard that old saying, "Pride comes before a fall"? It's not just an old saying. It's scripture. Look to Proverbs 16:18.
Let's not stop working on Embracing Humility. You never know when that old pride can pop up again. Pray along with me that the Lord will continue rooting out any of that pride we have and continue developing humility in us.
worship Him 24/7...
Scott
There are many passages about humility in scripture. I'll point out a couple. James 4:6 says "God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble." Seeing as he is an all-powerful God, I'd rather not oppose him. I'd much rather have his favor. I don't want to be prideful about myself. After all, anything I am that is worth boasting about came from him in the first place, so I'd rather boast about him. Just a few verses later James says in verse 10 "Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will lift you up." These passages remind me that I should be humble before the Lord and since he's all-present in every situation I'm in, perhaps I should be humble in all situations. Even if that's in the face of someone who is challenging or testing me.
Often times when it comes to being challenged by someone, we want to get defensive. Let's face it... as musicians and technicians... as artists... we can put our own abilities and skills up on an internal pedestal and get rather defensive, or protective, about what we do in our craft. Do you get a little defensive when someone is correcting/coaching you? Or are you humble in that correction/coaching? Ephesians 4:2 says that we must be completely humble and gentle, being patient and bearing with one another in love. When your craft is being critiqued are you patient and humble? Do you treat the one who is critiquing you in love? (Hopefully the person who is doing the critique is giving it in love!)
All of us, myself included, need to be open to improvement. And we need to bear it in love. Sometimes that challenge to improvement can come from unlikely people. Often I'm challenged by students who aren't as skilled as me, not just those who are more skilled. Seeing a student growing quickly and being passionate about what they are learning... that challenges me. I learn from that. But only if I'm humble enough to do so. As musicians we don't always like to be "corrected" or "coached". I've been blessed as a worship pastor to work in a department who overall is rather humble. Not every church's worship department has that blessing.
If you are a worship leader or worship pastor encourage this value in your teams. Be gracious and loving to those who aren't humble. But I would caution you to not allow pride to go far. If you see it displayed in someone address it immediately. Do not let it infect your team. You've heard that old saying, "Pride comes before a fall"? It's not just an old saying. It's scripture. Look to Proverbs 16:18.
Let's not stop working on Embracing Humility. You never know when that old pride can pop up again. Pray along with me that the Lord will continue rooting out any of that pride we have and continue developing humility in us.
worship Him 24/7...
Scott