Change your position, not just your title.

I've only just noticed something about 'modern worship' styles, and it crystalized something that has been troubling me for some time. Now, I like hymns. I make no secret of the fact that in church, I think that one hymn is worth three or four choruses (and lets face it, you never have just the one).

However, this does not mean I only see worth in music that is at least 150 years old. I enjoy Caedmons Call, Sara Groves, St Matt of Redman, and I even like a song by Suzy Wills Yaraei called 'Song of the Martyrs' and she's mad as a box of frogs.

There are still modern worship songs that I think are very worthwhile but I am extraordinarily uncomfortable in a modern worship setting.

I began to realize why when I read this post by Jonathan Hunt, in which he reviews the Cheltenham Bible Festival. He expresses discomfort with the style that has worship music as a 'performance', with the congregation like an audience at a rock concert.

It wasn't until I noticed, a few days ago, that the label of 'worship leader' appears to have changed to 'lead worshipper', that all the little strands of thought came together.

I can see the good intentions behind 'Worship Leader' becoming 'Lead Worshipper'. It removes any sense of separation between the congregation and the musicians, and acknowledges that all are supposed to be worshipping, and worshipping the Lord.

However, it is a bit like changing the label on a jar of peanut butter to a jam label. It doesn't actually change what's in the jar. You can call a man a 'lead worshipper', but if he's still standing on a stage in front of an 'audience', then there is still far too much attention directed to him.

It's different from preaching, in which it is helpful to see the preacher, because that's part of communication. But someone who is supposed to help us hold a tune, the same way a pianist or an organist does, should get out of the way.