There is this term that I use a lot lately to describe my role within the church: worship artist. It can be seen as a bit derogatory to some because it may appear to cheapen the pastoral side of the worship leader’s role. But when we set out to create expressions of worship through song, we are creating art. Art with a purpose. Art that shepherds the intellects and emotions of the people of God into worship. I can think of no cooler honor than to be an artist with this role. But it is not without its tough points.

As a worship artist, I am constantly experiencing this tension between making art and being pastoral with that art. My calling as a worship pastor is partly to be writing music that communicates biblical truth, teaches and expands the church’s view of who God is, and inspires the soul to worship Him rightly. Yet there is still this need to be creative with it and satisfy the need that God has put inside me as an artist. It’s this crazy tension that is sometimes incredibly hard to balance, and I don’t think I’m the only one who experiences this.

I was recently engaged in quite a cool conversation with a sculptor I just met, on the topic of art and the tension between practicality and art for art’s sake. As an artist, this is a pretty tough tension because there is always this desire to create and innovate and be unique, but if you are always creating things that no one can enjoy, is there really a point? Is it selling out to focus your creative attention on meeting the felt needs of the people you are trying to reach? Certainly there are extremes to both…

As I began to look at some of his art, I noticed a couple of pieces of women holding babies and things like that and made a comment, “You must stay busy,” to which he responded, “Why do you say that?” I simply explained that His art is very practical and that there is probably a demand for it, then likened it to pop music that appeals to a large audience. There will always be a demand for practical art, because it meets a felt need of a large demographic. As we were talking, he made quite a shocking statement that has really has caused me to think a lot lately, and evaluate how this should impact my ministry as a worship artist.

He said, “Art for art’s sake is… selfish and serves no purpose.”

I don’t completely agree with the statement, but I think what truth that it does communicate has a lot of implications, because as an artist, I don’t want to just be this guy that sounds like everything else that’s out there. I want to do something different. But where’s the line between innovative and selfish? Between creative and egocentric? The reason this is such an important question to ask is that my primary role as a worship leader is not a creative role, but rather a pastoral one. What is going to meet the people I’m trying to pastor where they are and bring them along? What is going to be most effectively used to teach them the attributes of God and expand their view of Him so that they can worship Him rightly? Is it going to be through cool art? Partially… but so much more. If I, as a worship pastor, have what I perceive to be the coolest songs in the world and yet it serves no purpose but to be cool art because no one else gets it, it’s pointless.

And yet we can take it too far the other direction too, making it completely focused on what would meet people where they are, and never being creative with it. Then you get all these shallow, pointless songs that aren’t really saying anything. I would go so far as to say that this gives Jesus a bad name because it doesn’t show the creative side of God that we were created to display when He made us in His image.

I am praying that God would raise up worship artists in my day. Men and women who write really great, artistically creative worship music that tells the amazing story of Christ’s birth, perfect life, cross and resurrection, and all it’s implications for redemption, hope, glory and eternity. Songs thick with theology and doctrine that connect both intellectually AND emotionally with the church all over the world. Not art for art’s sake. Not just this selfish, incoherent vomiting up of ideas into melody that don’t make sense, but sound cool. But rather, art that has purpose and conviction. Art that serves the church and it’s people. Art that helps accomplish the sanctification of God’s people, bought by His blood. He created us to create and made us a royal priesthood. Our forefathers understood this concept and left us with a foundational legacy for the modern church: hymns. But they have passed on the baton to us, and we can be the hymn writers of our day. Will we rise to the occasion and leave a bright foundational legacy for our children?

I am praying so.