Matt Redman - Q and A: Calling and Anointing
“How do I know if I have an anointing to be a lead worshipper? I've been asked by our worship pastor to occasionally lead worship. I've led worship a few times and it is never easy. Each time brings a new challenge, which, frankly, doesn't exactly encourage me to continue. Is it God "growing" me or is it God showing me that I don't have what it takes to be a worship leader? I love worshipping God. I love singing my heart out to Him. However, to me, that doesn't me I have an anointing to be a leader. My worship pastor is insistent that I am a leader and people have told me the same, but I want to hear it from God, not from people”.
This is a question I’ve encountered many times before – and in one way, I’m glad people like Patrick ask the question. After all, there’s nothing worse than the opposite attitude – someone who tries to tell everyone they are a lead worshipper, whilst everyone else in the congregation is desperately trying to persuade them they are not!
I think it’s helpful to think of calling and anointing as two separate things. And yet, they inter-connect massively. When God calls us, He anoints us to back up the call and help us get the job done. I love the words that the prophet speaks over Saul after He was anointed to be King – “Now do whatever your hand find to do, for Lord is with you.”. In other words, God is on your case, now go with the flow, and he’ll show you that by helping you. Anointing after all, in one way is just a very fancy way of talking God’s irreplaceable help and favour in a particular area.
Now of course, you do want to hear this from God at some point, Patrick – but the authority of your pastor and the encouraging words of the congregation count for a lot. Often people identify our gifts and strength a lot better than we do. If your pastor is affirming you in this, that is an extremely encouraging sign. People in general, but especially creative types, always seem to think they’ve done a worse job than we actually have. My guess is that if you’re anything like me, you have been picking apart how you did – and replaying in your mind every musical mistake made, or every tiny decision in worship leading you regretted.
Your pastor on the other hand did not home in on these. He was much more attentive to the fact that you are a worshipper – and therefore a good candidate to be a lead worshipper, modeling that to others. And more than anything, it seems he is encouraged with where the people were at. Most pastors will put up with a load of musical errors (as we grow) if they can see that you have a calling to this and are anointed to help the people keep journeying further and deeper in worship. I would go as far as to say we actually can’t grow really without making some technical mistakes.
So, Patrick, be encouraged. Church is a family, and a good church fosters an environment where people are encouraged in their callings, and even given space to make a few mistakes as they grow. Keep leading the way as a worshipper, and the technical and musical side of things will slowly take shape. I always say that is easier for us to change someone’s musical ability than it is to change their heart. Your pastor has recognized this – investing in you as a lead worshipper because he perceives that to be a good way of investing in your church as a worshipping community.