Last month, Carlos Whittaker of Buckhead Church (Atlanta, GA) blogged the dangerous question:
What is the biggest gripe you have about something a Sunday worship leader does?
The 185+ responses were fascinating, insightful, and offensive to some. To cut through the clutter of all of the opinions, I made a very rough tally of all the pet peeves to determine the top 10 pet peeves about worship leaders. Keep in mind these are subjective opinions.
Top 10 Pet Peeves About Worship Leaders (with examples)
- Asking the Congregation to do Something (21 responses)
>> Makes us shake hands with the people around us.
>> When a worship leader tells you to lift up your hands, it
takes a meaningful personal action and turns it into a obligatory
command.
>> Talks like they’re at a high school pep rally, “Let me hear ya!”
>> Asks how everyone is doing. We’re not at a concert, so we’re not going to scream.
>> Tells you what to do and how to worship… to the point where it
makes you feel guilty if you don’t conform yourself to her/his
understanding of what worship is.
>> I hate it when worship leaders script the worship too much by
telling people what to do. I’ve had worship leaders completely distract
me from God when they start telling me what to do. - Mini-Sermons & Talking (20 responses)
>> Talks between every song.
>> I am distracted when worship leaders start talking about anything that is not directions on what we are about to do.
>> When they repeat the same catch-phrases every week.
>> Breathy speaking between songs.
>> Sermonettes are annoying if too long or common
>> You can tell a mile away when a worship leader is “sharing”
because he feels obligated to. It’s always a cheesy or over emotional
blurb. When God’s really laid something on a worship leader’s heart,
it’s cool. But even then, say it in less than 45 seconds! Don’t meander
on for 3 minutes. - Not Focusing on God (17 responses)
>> Forget that the audience of worship is God and start making it a performance for those sitting in front of them.
>> When they perform rather than worship themselves.
>> Showing zero emotion, standing still, focusing too much on perfection.
>> Worship leaders who seem really wrapped up in being “cool.”
>> Sometimes you can tell they’re being fake and/or showy.
>> I hate it when the music guy/gal asks the crowd to praise God
but soaks it up like they are Bono and the crowd is really praising
them.
>> I hate it when worship leaders don’t lead people. - Unprofessional (14 responses)
>> Starts service late.
>> Typos on the screen.
>> Talks to the praise band while leading worship instead of using hand signals to tell them what to do.
>> When the leader changes the key of the song and does not tell the rest of the team.
>> Goes out of order or adds another song in the middle of the set
>> When the leader and/or band member turns away from the people to mess with their gear.
>> When the production team on stage are laughing, joking, and
gesturing behind the worship leader to the soundboard guys in the
transition between worship and the message.
