If you have led worship more than one time you have encountered the expression. Apathetic, disengaged, perhaps a yawn, folded arms, a slight scowl, and maybe even in extreme cases - hands clasped over ears, certainly not singing along with the band or congregation. What is going on here? The truth is, we do not know. As worship leaders, we can be tempted to cajole a response from the congregation. And base the effectiveness of our leadership, songs, or service on the response - or lack thereof - from the congregation. But an outward expression is not always an accurate judge of what is happening internally in an individual, or corporately in the room.
Here are some things to consider when you find yourself frustrated or measuring your ability against the response of the people:
Heart preparation. As a worship leader you have (hopefully) spent your week preparing for this moment through prayer, planning, rehearsal, and studying Scripture. The average person in your congregation has not thought about the church gathering corporately until they are in their car on the way to church that morning. You have readied your heart, chances are, they have not readied theirs… People come with divided hearts and affections, how are we pointing them to the One who can unite their hearts to fear His name in those moments of the song?
Familiarity. Sometimes people do not seem engaged because they do not know the songs, the style in which you are playing, or the key is too difficult for them to sing, they would like to participate, but simply do not know how to engage.
Outward appearances are deceiving. Only God who can see the heart, weigh its motives and responses (1 Sam 16:7). Just because someone appears to not be responding outwardly does not mean they are not beholding the beauty of Christ, and responding to Him. Likewise, just because someone appears to be engaged and worshiping does not mean that is true of their heart posture. Only God can see when we honor Him with our lips but have hearts that are far from Him (Isaiah 29:13).
Some days just seem off. Serve with the same heart, and intention regardless of the response of the people. There are things happening in the hearts, minds, lives, and relationships of those gathering on a Sunday morning of which we are not aware. But God is still worthy of our complete worship. Model for people how to engage and respond.
You are not the Holy Spirit. There is something I find so freeing and liberating about this reality. My abilities as a worship leader are so limited as to only point people to the Truth. We cannot move people’s hearts with the right combination of words, melodies, production, or prompts. So we continue to point, continue to encourage, and exhort people to lift their eyes to the only One worthy of beholding. And trust the Holy Spirit to do the work that only He can do: to lead people in all Truth. And trust that the Holy Spirit will continue to lead people in all truth long after we have struck the final note of a setlist.