The Must-Haves for the Worship Musician – Surrended (part 2)

The Must-Haves for the Worship Musician – Surrended (part 2)

 

Surrendered Part 2 – Submission & subordination: Things that suck (until you learn them)

 

Submission is one of those words that make people bristle. Cringe. Wince. Barf. Or otherwise react adversely. I’m not going to make a case for mutual submission and submission to authority because scripture already does that, a little too well for most of us. If a key element for us is submission to Christ, then we have to look at submitting to the spiritual authority He places over us.

One of the tough lessons I had to learn is that God’s delegated authority comes from the position, not from the leader’s ability to lead. I once worked for someone who I thought I could “out-lead.” This man’s ability to lead was NOT the issue God was concerned about for me, but my willingness to submit to the authority above me. [I think the issue of my arrogance was a “close second”, but that’s for another article.] After wrestling through that experience, I now found myself free in several subordinate positions under other leaders.

What does it look like for volunteer worship musicians to submit? It doesn’t mean never suggesting changes. Or challenging decisions. But the attitude and manner in which suggestions/challenges are delivered is what causes us to cross a line. Another way to detect subtle rebellion to God-appointed leadership is how I talk about a leader or his/her decisions to others.

If you find you can’t in good conscience submit, quit. But if God isn’t leading you to quit, you’d be taking yourself out from under the umbrella of His authority and protection. Your other option is to learn submission and taste the freedom and blessing that follows.

Read Romans 13:1 and Hebrews 13:17 for reminder of submission to authority

Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.

Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.

Discuss:

  1. Why do we have a tendency to not submit to someone who may not lead like we want him/her to do?
  2. To what extent does a volunteer leader have “authority”?
  3. What are some signs that we aren’t submitting to those in authority?
  4. Why is talking/gossiping about the leader a sign of subtle rebellion?
    What are the dangers in this?
  5. “If you can’t in good conscience submit, quit” is a pretty strong statement. Talk about the phrase “in good conscience”.
    Why is that included?

Get the Must-Haves Worship Team Devotional

We’ll be running this series over the coming weeks but if you liked it and would like to download the whole 10-week devotional ebook for free you can do so using the link below. It not only includes the ebook, but a printable version so you can take a hard copy to rehearsals. Also the download includes a separate pdf for each week so you can email it to your whole team. This way, you can foster an email discussion with those who aren’t scheduled that week.

Get “The Must Haves” Devotional

Thanks to Jon for his generosity in making this resource available to us. This one is the last in the series. You can find the rest of the series by clicking on the links below: