I’ve been surfing around and I came across a link to Bob Kauflin’s blog called Worship Matters.

In this entry he examines Bruce Springsteen’s statements in an interview about why he loves playing his music in front of thousands of people.  Here’s a clip:

“It’s good to be a rock star,” Pelley says. 

“I would say that yes it is,” Springsteen says. “But the star thing I can live with. The music I can’t live without. And that’s how it lays out for me, you know. I got as big an ego and enjoy the attention. My son has a word, he calls it ‘Attention Whore.’ But you have to be one of those or else why would you be up in front of thousands of people, you know, shaking your butt. But at the same time, when it comes down to it, it’s the way it makes you feel. I do it because of the way it makes me feel when I do it. It gives me meaning, it gives me purpose...”

I just have to agree with what Bob Kauflin highlights as the differences between the rock stars and worship leaders and I’d encourage you to read his post.  I think worship leaders are not immune from liking the attention they get from being up in front, nor are they immune from making worship a matter of how they feel, or what they experience, rather than focusing on the Lord who should be the one receiving the glory through our music.

Ultimately, our worship leading should direct the congregation’s attention away from ourselves and towards Christ.  The way the rest of the rock and roll music universe operates is completely opposite. 

Worship leaders, take a quick read of this post, I pray you’ll take it to heart.