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Another tidbit-- Cyrano and I have been in those churches where the musicians aren't very talented, the piano is badly out of tune... My dad gladly served a little podunk congregation even though he was a professional musician for 30 years, one of the best in the area. He didn't care, he had learned that in the service of God you cannot force professionalism out of anyone. God doesn't care about it. I certainly understand the demand for excellence in secular arenas, don't get me wrong. And it's good to strive for excellence in all we do. But it is not criteria for what pleases God, or those with no talent would be left out in the cold. It all depends on the attitude of worship before God. I have always enjoyed willing hearts in worship, rather than talented voices. Sure we get together and practice and try to improve or add things, but mistakes are made, people plateau or just can't learn that fast, and in the end at least we offered our best - this is where the relationship part comes in - another thing Warren emphasises in the wrong way. I want to develop rapport with people by working on music together. I enjoy it, even if they are not catching on that quickly or sing out of tune. I would never want anyone to think we have to be perfect up there. Cyrano was the music director at our ex church, and I was on the worship team every other week. We were capable of being more professional, but to what end? To the end of hurting and excluding those who, by no fault of their own, didn't measure up to the demands of the whiners who figured everyone should be as good as what they hear on the radio? And why did they want that kind of music? To move their emotions, that's why. In my view, if the plain and simple truth of Scripture doesn't move your emotions first, then trying to concoct it with good music is an illusion. If the plain truth does move you, you won't be distracted by some bad music.

speaking of emotions, I'm sitting here getting all overcome with emotion, frankly, with tears and deep sense of love for all you believers here who are wrestling with me over this. You are all so precious. I don't deserve the amount of patience you are giving me, please know that I know that.

"I want to develop rapport with people by working on music together. I enjoy it, even if they are not catching on that quickly or sing out of tune. I would never want anyone to think we have to be perfect up there. Cyrano was the music director at our ex church, and I was on the worship team every other week. We were capable of being more professional, but to what end? To the end of hurting and excluding those who, by no fault of their own,"

Im sure, just by reading your posts, you and Cyrano did not let these people wallow in mediocrity but had them practice, practice, practice. Of course you wanted them to strive for perfection, they were offering to God. They strive for perfection in their jobs and family life, why expect less in church? Now if they are like me they will never reach it here but there is always an opening for an usher, away from the music.

By the way, did I say thank you for this thread?

When you are on a worship team, your primary goal is not to worship God. Your primary goal is to "lead" worship. When you do things that distract and take peoples focus away from worship and towards you (be it through grandstanding or musical incompetence, or raising your hands while singing, pulling the microphone away from your mouth), you are hampering worship.

Bad playing is not a good thing, be it in secular music or worship services. But in each case, it is bad for a different reason. And everything is about "why".

We were capable of being more professional, but to what end? To the end of hurting and excluding those who, by no fault of their own, didn't measure up to the demands of the whiners who figured everyone should be as good as what they hear on the radio?
And why did they want that kind of music? To move their emotions, that's why. In my view, if the plain and simple truth of Scripture doesn't move your emotions first, then trying to concoct it with good music is an illusion. If the plain truth does move you, you won't be distracted by some bad music.

Amen sister!