Apr 05 2012

Am I Too Old to Lead Worship? Posted 1 years 76 days ago ago by Tom Kraeuter     10 Comments

For many years at the Worship Seminars I teach, I asked people to write down questions in the morning session and hand them in when we broke for lunch. Then, after lunch, I would address as many as we had time for. One of the most memorable questions I ever received is this one:

With the “graying” of many worship leaders, is there any such thing as retirement? The younger people seem to believe they have a corner on worship and they’d rather I wouldn’t be on the team. I believe I have a calling from God to raise up and train worshipers and worship leaders, but they don’t want to hear it. They see services more as a “gig” than a calling for which they need to be equipped.

Here’s how I responded:

Not long ago I heard about a couple of different churches where all members of the worship ministry who were over thirty were asked to step down. The pastors (who, by the way, were both well over thirty) wanted just younger faces up front to draw younger people into the church. Unfortunately, no one was left to mentor those younger folks. They were left on their own to lead worship as they saw fit. I wish I could tell you that I woke up and it was just a bad dream, but it wasn’t. This really happened.

Although our society seems to be obsessed with youth, God apparently has a different perspective. His Word talks much about elders and those with gray hair. The Bible has a great deal to say regarding the godly character traits the Lord desires to grow in us over time. Someone once defined wisdom as “knowledge tempered with age.” Though I would never downplay the energy and enthusiasm of youth, for ministry leadership positions I’ll take the older folks any day. No amount of energy or enthusiasm can replace experience and wisdom.
 
A missionary ministering among native Americans tells how an elder once observed that old people were more important in their culture than in “white” society. He explained, “If there were one last flight out of here, you would take the young and leave the old, but we would do the opposite.” “Why would you do that?” asked his friend. “Simply because,” the elder replied, “it only takes nine months to make a baby, but sixty years to make an elder. In our culture, we have elders; but you only have senior citizens.” Gordon Keddie, Children and the Future, Tabletalk, January 2003, Ligonier Ministries, Lake Mary, Florida

Every history teacher will tell you that history is bound to repeat itself because we refuse to learn from the past. The church is no exception. Unless we recognize our need to learn from those who have walked before us, we will simply repeat their mistakes.

In Peter’s first letter in the New Testament, he is talking about younger people and he says, “be submissive to those who are older” (1 Peter 5:5). That seems pretty clear. Don’t just run out and do everything on your own. Submit to those who are older.

The younger generation needs mentors, those who can guide the way. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the music ministry. There are people with mega-talent in music who have no grounding in the Scripture. I’ve encountered young folks who, musically, can play circles around the older people in their church, but refuse to discipline their lives. Without the training of someone with more wisdom and experience, their energy and enthusiasm will be of little long-term value.

Please, take your role as leader seriously. Don’t be dissuaded by those who do not appreciate your attempts to train and to help. Keep going. They don’t realize how badly they need your help. The future of the Church is at stake. We must train the next generation.

When it comes to the topic of worship,Tom Kraeuter is one of the leading voices in the Church today. For more information on Tom, his books, his teaching, or his Worship Seminars, contact Training Resources, 65 Shepherd’s Way, Hillsboro, MO 63050, 636-789-4522, staff@training-resources.org, or www.WorshipSeminar.com

• Cathy Kelso 1 years 71 days ago
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  I am a woman, brown-haired (thank you Miss Clairol), "fluffy", and about to turn 59. Definitely not too old to lead worship. I find more and more that age has nothing to do with years. Is fun to run into the young bucks who are very condescending almost to the point of outright ignoring me. Their attitudes change when they hear me play or see my CD's. Teens are wanting me to lead worship at youth camp because they say I know how to do new stuff they like and do the old stuff really cool, and I am not "old". I consider that a great compliment. Adults are the problem as they (a few) want me to just "lead singing". I don't fit in that box. I often tell the young guys who think they know it all to talk to me in five years after they've been through hell, then we'll see if they're worth anything. Until then they may be good musicians with some skill in leading, but they lack some credibility for what they are singing. I love all music and can do it all, I understand and teach "generational heart-song" to ALL ages, just really like to rock out with the kids. About to buy guitars for g-kids who are worship leaders and players in training. Of course, the other issue is the guy or gal who should have gotten out of leadership years ago and can't be moved (sigh).
  
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• Bob 1 years 74 days ago
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  Doug, Great post on churchcentral.com. Thanks, too for the links. I enjoyed hearing your choir. When we have two different services for the sake of satisfying stylistic preferences it is as though we have taken a knife and cut Romans 12 right out of the Scriptures. We no longer need to "honor one another," "serve one another," or "prefer one another" because we are no longer one. How convenient. The Evangelical Movement badly needs a renewed ecclesiology. We need pastors to act like pastors who will shepherd the flock of God rather than CEO's whose primary intent is to gain market share of religious consumers.
  
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  • Vern Sanders 1 years 74 days ago
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    Bob, its like you've been reading my post Funny How Time Slips Away: cmag.ws/y - in other words, my sentiments exactly.
    
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• Roy Aldridge 1 years 74 days ago
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  While attending a revival in a small northeastern Oklahoma town, God asked me at 63 years of age to put together a mobile praise band and get outside of the church walls. I tried to second guess God because He was telling me to use a contemporary genre. Growing up in Southern Gospel, I wondered why God was leading me in this direction, but finally opened my heart and my eyes and began to obey. I assembled 3 couples with the same calling creating the group "Sufficient Grace Ministries" and we are extremely busy helping mostly small churches who have needs that we can fill. We shouldn't use the addage "I've paid my dues" because like Abraham, God has much for all of us to do, if we will allow it. God Bless Roy Aldridge
  
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  • Vern Sanders 1 years 74 days ago
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    Great sentiments, Roy. It sounds as if your new ministry is not just blessing those you serve, but those who are serving.
    
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• Bill Knowles 1 years 75 days ago
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  Tom; I as well as Bob thank you for bringing this issue to the top. I have been in at least a half a dozen churches while here in Chattanooga as interim minister of music. I have seen this same issue over and over. Most of time the church wants a seasoned leader, but simply doesn't know how to deal with his/her leadership in terms of quality music no matter what the style. When we as trained musicians try to bring a higher quality in the program the musicians simply do not think it is needed. Their idea is to simply put something together for Sunday and leave it at that. I too am a "old grey" however I do not believe I no longer have anything to offer the church. I have some very good students who are excellent musicians, and they listen and try to hone their skills. But I'm afraid the church is t willing to accept more the mediocrity in their music. Thanks Bill Knowles
  
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• Douglas Lawrence 1 years 75 days ago
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  I just wrote a blog (on another network!!!) about the whole confused issue of labeling our worship which affirms what you're saying...only you said it better! http://www.churchcentral.com/blog/7713/1-nation-under-God-but-2-worship-services
  
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• Bob Burroughs 1 years 75 days ago
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  Tom: Thank you for bringing this issue to public view...although, as usual, this is 'preaching to the choir!" I, too, know church after church that has released the current MoM for no other reason than age - gotten someone younger with not near the experience or skill, and have been sorry because of the fall out - that being congregants departing the church, older people walking out of the music ministry, no choir, and much, much more! Send this article to Bob Allen, Editor, Associated Baptist Press at - I think he would like to see this article and maybe release it through his press. Again, thank you. Bob
  
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• Bob 1 years 75 days ago
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  Tom, Thanks for addressing this issue. It is perhaps the most painful issue that I have faced in the last ten years, starting when my youth-pastor colleague told me that I wasn't relevant. Personally, I don't doubt myself and know my value to the church as an "elder." But the message I constantly hear, even sometimes in veiled comments by my senior pastor, is that I am too old. He was "forced" to hire me because I can do both contemporary and traditional. I am so weary of this. I am a proven leader, teacher, well-formed in my theology and ecclesiology. I am actively seeking a lead pastor position. I'm done. I've had it. There are many things that I like about contemporary praise and worship, but frankly, I almost despise the culture. A good read on this subject is Eerdman's new book this month, "The Juvenilization of Ministry" by Tom Bergler.
  
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  • Vern Sanders 1 years 75 days ago
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    Thanks for sharing what I'm sure is an ongoing "thorn in your side" Bob. Know that you aren't alone (although perhaps that doesn't make you feel better...). I find it interesting that more and more church musicians in your position are moving into the pastoral ranks, in part because of the theological background that we all have developed as a result of planning and leading worship. I'm sure Tom might have more to say about that (and Chris Alford, a ThME writer who is now pastoring a church plant).
    
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