Cross-Centred Worship
Christian singing is a means of grace. When we gather to sing, the Holy Spirit ministers directly to the people of God in a unique way. A person can be saved during the song service as the gospel is rehearsed and the Holy Spirit ministers. But a song service is also an opportunity for us to serve one another with our singing and musical talents. Keeping the cross in view can help us to do this better. Let’s consider how.
Being a cross-centered worshiper does not exclude being a Christ-centred worshiper or a God-centred worshiper, but there is something to be said for applying our understanding of the cross to how we approach our singing and service planning that can be helpful for our growth as worshipers of God. In Philippians 2:5–11 we find one of the most beautiful doxological statements in all of Scripture. It grounds the exaltation of Christ in the humble obedience of Christ as he embraced the way of the cross:
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
The context for Paul’s statement about Christ is found in the two preceding verses: “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Phil 2:3–4). He presents Christ as the ultimate example of what humility really looks like.
Let’s apply Paul’s understanding of humility and the cross to how we approach our song services, whether we’re coming to participate, serving as a musician, or planning and leading. I would argue that laying aside our preferences is a great way to start.
THE CROSS COMPELS US TO LAY ASIDE OUR PREFERENCES AS WE COME TO SING
First, to the gathered; those who have come together to participate in a time of musical worship, whether it is on a Sunday, at a small group study, a D-group, or perhaps at a campus fellowship gathering. The cross compels us to lay aside our preferences as we come to sing. Often our personal music preferences serve as a filter that tempers our participation in a song service:
Like the song? > Sing it! (or at least mouth along approvingly).
Like the style? > That was “great worship.”
Not your jam? > Tune out. See what’s next.
Key is too low/high > “Not even going to try singing that.”
When we gather to sing, we have an opportunity (unlike any other that I can think of) to serve one another; all in the same way, all at the same time. The lyrics of a song may not reflect your current spiritual state, but they very likely do for someone else nearby. So sing loud as a way to minister to them. Do you come to a time of worship to be blessed (served) or to seek to bless (serve) others? “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve” (Matt 10:28). And if you finish that verse in Matthew, what’s the context? The cross.
If the style of music or the song selection isn’t what you’d typically add to a playlist, sing anyways. In fact, why not sing all the louder? If the song glorifies the Father by exalting the work of the Son on the cross, belt it like an anthem. Good citizens willingly sing the National Anthem at public events, not because of the particular musical style, but because of what it represents. Focus on the lyrics: Are they Christ exalting? Do they preach the gospel? Yes? Then hang your preferences, take a big breath and serve the gathering with that gospel anthem.
THE CROSS COMPELS US TO LAY ASIDE OUR PREFERENCES AS WE COME TO PLAY
Next, musicians who serve (feel free to jump to the end if that’s not you!). Being a cross-centred musician means dying to yourself in terms of how you use your gifts to serve. If you walk into a rehearsal and place limitations on what you will attempt to play based on your own preferences of style and technique (or even just your personal opinions as a trained musician) there’s a good chance that the leader will find you difficult to work with.
Now, there are times when a leader may ask you to play something and you legitimately can’t accommodate because of limitations in your technique or just a lack of knowledge. That is, you either can’t play it or haven’t learned it yet. In cases like this, there are a few thoughts to consider. First, be honest about it and recognize that it has more to do with your ability at that moment than with the leader “asking for the wrong thing” (or any better ideas you may think you have). Second, commit to learning what you couldn’t play today in order to better serve the ministry tomorrow. Third, explore in that moment what you can do to serve your leader as best you can, without making it about your preferences.
Want to grow in this? Look to the cross. As we mature in Christ and glory in the cross, we become more interested in seeking for Christ to be exalted in our serving and less interested in seeing ourselves commended and recognized for our efforts. This is liberating because we are increasingly freed from the idolatry of self.
The music in a song service should serve the lyrics and serve the congregation. The musicians provide the foundation for the congregational singing. Only engineers walk into a beautiful building and think to commend the foundation they’re standing on (engineers…right?). Everyone else looks up at the building as they walk all over the foundation, without giving it a single thought. Are you willing to be walked upon, receiving no acknowledgement, so that the focus is on Christ and the body? Growing in this will affect how you play.
THE CROSS COMPELS US TO LAY ASIDE OUR PREFERENCES AS WE PLAN
Finally, those who are tasked with planning song services. You also have an opportunity to lay aside your preferences. I would like to suggest two particular applications.
First off, the songs you enjoy listening to (and perhaps singing along with) may not be the songs that a particular gathering needs to sing. Consider the primary need of the group. The primary need of the group is to rehearse the gospel. So serve the members of the group by providing them with the songs they need in order to do that. The people walking in the doors are all coming from different places spiritually. The one thing that will serve all those people to the same degree at the same time is the gospel. I love listening to Hillsong worship anthems as much as the next guy, but let’s lay aside those songs that minister to our felt needs and program a song service that will exalt Christ’s work on the cross.
Second, the keys in which you choose to lead songs can be a good diagnostic for your growth as a worship leader. I used to pick the best key for my voice (for me that often meant the key that gave me the best odds of not embarrassing myself!). But who are we serving with our key choices, ourselves or the congregation? If the goal is to facilitate the singing, then let’s choose keys that are best for the congregation, even if they’re not the best for us as vocalists. (Guidelines for how to do this are beyond the scope of this post, but resources are available).
A key diagnostic question after a song service that I now use is, “how well did the people sing?” Even just four or five years ago, I would evaluate song services based on diagnostics such as how well the band gelled and the quality of the audio mixing.
I’ve tried to make a very intentional adjustment in this area so that I’m not just leading the songs I like to lead, in the keys I like to sing them, with the “killer arrangements” I prefer to listen to, etc.
THE CROSS COMPELS US TO LAY ASIDE OUR PREFERENCES AS WE SERVE
When we gather to worship, the Holy Spirit ministers in a unique way, but we also have an opportunity to serve one another in a unique way. So whether you’re a song leader planning a worship gathering, a musician serving at a gathering, or someone simply attending a gathering, look to the cross for your example of how to approach your service to the body of Christ.
