Book Review/Critique – PaulThompsonBlog

Last night (4/19/16) I met up with John Martinez, Steve McMullin and Bradley Kinch again to process through and think about the whole of the worship gathering of the Lord’s people and what is required of those who lead out in the gathering. We gathered at one of my favorite places in town, Chick-fil-A, to enjoy the fellowship of brothers and discuss the important duty we have to God in leading His people to worship Him.

The next chapter we reviewed was the Qualification of a Worship Leader.

Matt Boswell, presented a respectful view that those who lead out in the worship gathering are required to meet a biblical standard first. The music skill is important and should be increased, but criteria number one is, what does the Bible say about the qualifications of those leading.

I like that Boswell does not label worship as only music. It is a duty of the pastor to lead, or disciple, the Lord’s people in what is to be said, sung, done in relationship to worshiping God. God informs us in how to do this and He is fair to establish standards of those who will lead.

His examination came from classic Text of Scripture of what the apostle Paul has to say to Timothy, Titus and what Peter has to say. The Bible does inform the church on who is to lead out. The church has a duty to obey the Lord.

After reading this chapter and the Scripture qualifications we all agree that it is an amazing work of God’s grace that there is anyone able and qualified to lead His people in worship. It is indeed a work of grace for His glory.

Who should Lead?

First, the leader should be a man. This does not mean that women can not assist and participate, but it is clear that God has established men to lead His people. We were all in agreement on Boswell’s first point. This may be considered unfair by some and may even put some churches in danger of being disobedient.

Once this starting point was settled he began short observations of the classic text. The leader of worship should be…

Male
Above reproach
A One-Woman Man
Sober-Minded
Self Controlled
Disciplined
Respectable
Mature
Hospitable
Able to Teach
Sober
Gentle Peacemaker
Humble
Not a Lover of Money
A Leader in His home

We took the time to discuss all of these and spent time to talk about how they fit each of us and again, reminded that God does have a right to establish standards for those who lead His people. Each one of these qualifications leave a leader nearly crushed by the many reasons why we don’t meat the standard.

This internal war of the mind of the worship leader (pastor/elder) may be best described in the words of the late Charles Spurgeon

“You are not mature if you have a high esteem of yourself. He who boasts in himself is but a babe in Christ, if indeed he be in Christ at all. Young Christians may think much of themselves. Growing Christians think themselves nothing. Mature Christians know that they are less than nothing. The more holy we are, the more we mourn our infirmities, and the humbler is our estimate of ourselves.”

The discussion of the book was a blessing, the spicy chicken sandwich and waffle fries were delicious, but the time eye ball to eye ball with brothers talking about God was the winner of the night.

A few quotes from “Qualification of a Worship Leader”

“Since the primary role of the worship leader is a teaching role, it seems he ought to be qualified as an elder. In light of this, throughout this chapter and most of the book, the pronoun “he” will be employed through the lens of a complementarian view of men and women. Complementarians believe that men and women are both created equally in the image of God. They have the same value and the same purpose – to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. At the same time, they are also created distinctly male and female.”

“The worship leader’s marriage should be exemplary and worthy of imitation.”

“Being emotionally driven is not a personality type, but an immaturity and should be repented of and fought. Pastors should be driven by the Truth.”

“The worship of God is not to be entered into flippantly or unadvisedly.”

“Above all these commands, the chief end is that our churches would be led by men who would bring great joy, not only to their congregation, but to the community. The qualifications for ministry outlined above are not meant to be heavy-laden and burdensome, but a reflection of the holiness God demands in the context of worship. The worship leader must be holy.”

(Book Review of “Autopsy of a Deceased Church” part 5. Part 1 and Part 2 and Part 3 and Part 4)

Final review/critique of Autopsy of a Deceased Church, by Thom Rainer.

I appreciate that Thom Rainer offers a book that looks at some serious issue churches face.

These final three chapters seem to be written from a sincere desire to help churches be restored to good health. Let me offer my review/critique to his twelve responses to churches that may have symptoms of sickness.

Rainer divides his twelve responses into three categories of churches: churches that have symptoms of sickness (40%); very sick churches (40%); and dying churches (10%). It is Rainer’s opinion that there may only be 10% of churches that are healthy. If this is accurate, then there is reason for alarm.

Chapter 12: My Church Has Symptoms of Sickness: Four Responses

First, This may be the shortest chapter in the entire short book. The shortness of attention should not reflect the seriousness of the matter. Rainer supposes that there may be over 150,000 churches that fit this category. WOW.

Here is where I have to listen to the author with care. And I urge other pastors to do the same.

I would likely be the guys this chapter is talking about. I do realize that numbers tell a story. Often, Christian publishing houses produce statistics that, admittedly, are complicated to decrepit. And if pastors use the statistics, we are often chided for misusing them. This is a love/hate relationship I have with numbers. Do these statistics represent facts? Do these numbers represent health?

I can tell you from pastoring this church for over 13 years that there were days when we had to have two worship services on Sunday morning and our Wednesday night attendance was something to brag about. And unfortunately I did. But when I examine those days, I will actually argue that the church was less healthy. Not because of the numbers of people who where here, but because we were more driven by agendas and programs of men than the sufficiency of Christ and his word.

I don’t think Rainer is trying to make an argument that numbers reflect health; but I do think that a pastor reading this book, wanting to faithfully lead his church will read this book and interpret that attendance and numerical growth equals health. It may… but it doesn’t simply mean that.

Rainer does note that the kinds of programs and ministries may be showing the local church that she has become self-centered and a lack of ministry or programs for the community could show unhealthiness. But where do churches get the ideas for their programs they offer or ministries they do? Usually from a publishing house order form, a publishing house mailer, a publishing house sponsored conference with a product to sell.

I don’t mean to imply what my frankness may be saying.

Rainer’s four responses to these churches is helpful.

Pray that God will open the eyes of the leadership and members for opportunities to reach into the community where the church is located.
Take an honest audit of how church members spend their time being involved.
Take an audit of how the church spends its money.
Make specific plans to minister and to evangelize your community.

I believe these are four helpful responses. I intend to do hear and do.

Chapter 13: My Church is Very Sick: Four Responses

In his research, Rainer argues, and I agree, that rarely does a church move from being a church with symptoms of sickness to being very sick overnight. This process is likely very similar to the human body.

There are indicators that a church is becoming very sick and will eventually suffer greatly if the sickness is not dealt with.

Shockingly, Rainer estimates that there are over 150,000 churches. (here is some of that statistical data that pastors will begin to uses and somewhere down the road may be accused of misinterpreting the numbers.) 150,000 very sick churches? WOW! Should there be an alarm going off somewhere? That’s almost unbelievable. If this is true, then the condition of the church is worse that it appears.

I’m not happy with the reporting of information in this chapter at all.

(More information about numbers as the sign. I get it. It may be an indicator. But is it the standard? We know better. We have bibles, we see that our message is less desired today than ever before. There is a sickness, but is the sickness not our incurable desire to attract a large crowd?)

And yet, I appreciate his four responses:

Admit and confess the dire situation.
The church must pray for wisdom and strength to do whatever is necessary. (I argue that repentance is in order not simply changing something)
The church must be willing to change radically. (as a result of repentance, turn from the spirit of this age and to the Spirit of God)
That change must lead to action and an outward focus.

I get it. There is a serious problem, sickness. I couldn’t agree more at this point, but I disagree with the implications that the language used will communicate what I think Rainer knows to be true. I don’t know Thom Rainer personally. I have every reason to believe he is sincere in his desire for healthy churches.

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