Performance vs Worship Leading

Paul Baloche makes it clear that a worship centered environment begins from the "top down", in the episode "Performance vs Worship Leading". It is the worship leaders' responsibility to guide the congregation into a time of musical worship, but not to worship for them. This is dependent on where the leaders' heart is oriented toward. There will always be the temptation of worshipping for the sake of satisfying the ego, but it's clear that the whole purpose of worship is lost when that desire overshadows the heart to serve. Baloche also points out that in the pursuit of being fully oriented toward the Lord, there's no place for "fake humility", as he puts it. The Lord knows the inmost desires of the heart so there's no reason to put on a fake persona in an effort to follow him.

The idea of fighting against the temptation of self glory ties in to what Jesus means when he calls us to "deny ourselves, and take up our own cross". That desire for credit is a fleshly desire rooted in pride that we must all  resist. The Apostle Paul reminds us that there is no need for "justification before men", thus seeking the spotlight only draws our hearts away from a state of worship and does not make us more like Christ. It's critical that we die to our own sinful wills and desires and surrender to those of God's, so that we are able to accomplish what he's set out before us. That's when the best is brought out of us. 

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