I am not a classically trained musician. I play primarily by ear, I prefer to read chord charts, I’ve never had voice lessons, I don’t conduct choirs, and I can’t play the organ. I’ve been playing guitar since the age of 7 (I took several years of lessons, some with pretty advanced music theory), and piano since the age of 18. On piano I’m mostly all self-taught, and don’t pretend to be able to play classical piano or accompany choirs or sight-read sheet music.
I love classical music, traditional hymns, choral anthems, liturgy, organ, strings, brass, and everything in-between (well, maybe not polka). An objective analysis (if there was going to be one) of the kinds of songs I pick over the course of a month of worship services would show a pretty healthy blend of old and new.
But, whenever I’m “pegged” (i.e. “categorized”), I’m usually pegged as the contemporary guy.
This used to bother me.
But I like hymns! But I can play piano! But I use a wider variety of hymns at “my” “contemporary” service than at the “traditional service!” But I like liturgy! It didn’t matter. I was pegged.
Then one day I was talking with a worship leader friend of mine who was classically trained. He could sight read music perfectly. He could conduct choirs. He had written for choirs. He had composed pieces for choirs in Latin. He could play the organ. He could write and arrange songs for an orchestra. He could conduct.
But he could also play with a band, knew how to rock, incorporated drums and electric guitars, and spiced up ancient hymns with new arrangements.
And for that, my classically trained friend was pegged as… you guessed it, the “contemporary guy”.
One day I was lamenting with this classically trained friend how I had been pegged the contemporary guy and I couldn’t seem to shake it. He laughed and told me that, even though he met all the objective requirements of being a classical musician, he was still lumped into the same category as me.
And with that, he told me to relax.
It helped.
It’s a fact: you’re going to be pegged.
Maybe you’re pegged as the “old guy”, “young kid”, “inexperienced girl”, “preacher’s kid”, “pastor’s wife”, “only a volunteer”, “interim”, or “contemporary guy”. You’ve been pegged by a certain group, and you know it, and you can’t do anything about it.
That’s right, you can’t do anything about it. So don’t waste your time/energy/resources trying to un-peg yourself. Just keep on keeping on.
You won’t experience freedom in ministry by trying to prove yourself to certain power blocs. You’ll experience freedom in ministry by falling back on the fact that God has called you and equipped you. Your qualification for ministry doesn’t rest in the hands of a group of people who would define you with a certain tag. Your qualification for ministry rests in God’s calling on you. If the leadership of your church has affirmed this calling, and has given you a platform, then walk in confidence and let the pegs fall where they may.
You’re going to be pegged. You’re probably going to be pegged unfairly. So get used to it, get over it, and get on with being who God has called you to be, in the midst of the congregation he’s called to you serve, with a healthy dose of humility, and a heaping dose of confidence.
Worthily Magnify 
Quote:
[You’re going to be pegged. You’re probably going to be pegged unfairly. So get used to it, get over it, and get on with being who God has called you to be, in the midst of the congregation he’s called to you serve, with a healthy dose of humility, and a heaping dose of confidence.]
Really speaks to my heart. Thanks.
Now if I could just reacquire leaderships affirmation… 🙂
It is easy for people to put someone in a box by where they go to church and what they do or the songs they sing ?
Pleasing the Lord is what matters. He is the audience and no amount of rehearsal is important to him. Most contemporary worship teams are viewed as performers by many since they cannot engage everyone to worship. It’s great to mix some of the old with the new. If you mix some of the old just don’t reinvent it and the older generation will be more accepting.
Do the songs sound like you take Jesus on a date? Can you remember the words and sing all day or week long? Can the pastor say let’s sing this song in closing and can the musicians play it without rehearsing? Are the songs sung in a key that all can sing so people don’t have to stretch their vocal cords?
Is the instrumentation in 3 to six sharps preventing younger musicians to play like trumpets, trombones brass, saxes etc. does the leader ever discourage other instrumentation and ask others to put the gifts they have on the shelf? I get asked these questions as I travel all over and join worship teams on the spot. I can play by ear in any key and any song whether I know the words or not. This is a great gift. Worship is what we do with our lives when we leave the four walls. I get pegged all day line no biggie. Peg me.
Martin Murrell
Sent from my iPad
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Yes, well said. Don’t worry about getting pegged. It happens to everyone in all walks of life.
Reblogged this on In His Presence: Free To Worship, Free To Dance In His Presence.
My insecurity often runs into the scriptures that talk about “skillfully” playing. I don’t mind if someones pegs me into their box but I never know where there standard is for being a “skillful musician” able to lead others in musical praise and worship. My resume is similar to that of the author of this blog but I still wonder if its enough. I have a friend who leads worship at a small church and while his heart is in the right place, he is not what I would call a skilled musician. His congregation don’t seem to mind though. I guess it all depends on your heart and the congregation you serve.
Kent Henry, who did a few Hosanna! Worship Albums back in the day, placed the emphasis on The Heart and the Anointing first and technical proficiency second.
1Sa_16:7 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.
Of course in today’s environment *some* skill is essential. 🙂