Why Powerful Moments are Dangerous

On Sunday night as I was leading worship I took a step back from the microphone and listened as the room filled with voices. It was a relatively small group, just over 60 people, but you would have thought it was hundreds. The sound of worship was so pure, so beautiful and so loud. it was what I can only imagine to be a glimpse of heaven - every tongue confessing that Jesus is King. It was one of the most powerful moments of worship I have been a part of in a long time. 

As a worship leader those nights are what I dream of. I’m sure you can relate. There’s nothing better than hearing your church worship or hearing songs arise out of your congregation or watching people lift their hands or fall on their knees before God for the first time!

That service was the final service of a weekend retreat. And although the Friday and Saturday services were good, they weren’t like that. That night was something different. Something special. 

There’s a danger that comes with the special moments though. As a worship leader I’ve fallen prey to it too many times: If I’m not careful, I find myself chasing moments more than I find myself chasing Jesus.

At one point this weekend I remember thinking, “I want to see more moments like that! People singing, the band tight, all the energy...” and then I realized I was more excited about what I was doing than I was about what God was doing. My thoughts should have been more along the lines of “Look how many people are worshiping Jesus!” I had to take some time to repent. 

The truth is powerful moments make me feel good. And as unspiritual as it makes me sound, they make me look good too. They could also mean I get invited to the next retreat or camp or conference. But when I begin chasing moments I risk becoming a worship leader who worships worship leading rather than a worship leader who worships God. 

All weekend Psalm 22:3 was on my mind. I thought I would use it to encourage my congregation, but I think it was more for me. Psalm 22:3 says, “You are Holy, You who inhabit the praises of Israel.” God inhabits the praises of HIs people! He doesn’t inhabit a song. He inhabits our praise. 

C.S. Lewis put it like this, “It is in the process of being worshiped that God communicates His presence to men.” God shows up when we worship Him! Not when we sound good. Not when there’s high energy. Not when we’re singing. When we worship. 

Here’s what I needed to remember this weekend; I hope it helps you too: Don’t chase powerful moments. Chase the God who makes them powerful.