#43. Metrosexual Worship Leaders.
Feb 13th by Jon
Remember when your worship leader was a guy named “Matt” or “Scott” and he had a normal looking guitar and wore normal looking pants and had less product in his hair than your wife? That happened right? I mean, I didn’t make that up, right? It’s hard to be certain though given how hip we’ve asked our worship leaders to be. Whether it’s hair that juts out in geometrical angles that give the middle finger to gravity or designer jeans or graphic tee’s over graphic tee’s over graphic tee’s over tattoos, there’s no denying things have changed. But you know what? I like it. I like that we’re recruiting people that are loud and passionate and creative about what they do. I will forever make fun of the worship leader that recently wore only a t-shirt and a scarf on stage, but I love what they do and whether they want to be hip or not is cool with me.
Comments
this worship leader had no pants on!!! i’d make fun too!
Crotch shaved = metrosexual. Crotch not shaved = forgetful, or perhaps post-metrosexual naturalist.
Isn’t the whole metrosexual fad dying out?
It takes a lot longer for copied secular fads to die out in evangelical Christian culture. I'm not sure if it is embarrassment at looking like they are following secular fashion too closely, or just a general delay created by a combo of "in the world not of it" concern plus the fact that few admit to watching MTV, which ultimately requires a few discernment meetings from the pastoral staff that just slows down the process.
By the way, just happened upon this site tonight. Pretty funny. Not as good as Stuff White People Like, but still pretty funny.
All the worship leaders in southern California wear stone-washed jeans and Rainbow sandals.
Like all the other people in southern California.
I can spot a worship leader a mile away just like I could spot a pastor a mile away in the late 80s. You could spot them because they were the ones wearing the shell suit – “a lightweight front zippered nylon jogging top matched with loose bottom trousers cuff gathered and with an elasticated waist”. Remember those?
I love the photo with this one … because worship leaders have to pee, too.
My worship leaders have mostly been middle-aged people that should at the front of the church and sang along with the hymns.
snowjunkie said…
Isn’t the whole metrosexual fad dying out?
April 10, 2008 10:42 AM
We can only hope, snowjunkie.
Chances are not bad, not bad at all, that your worship leader is gay.
Definately gay and very much so… as in HAPPY that he understands that it's all about reaching people. People from all walks of life. Pastors who will dare to relax and look and act like the average person and not focus on looking super spiritual can much more to reach people who may otherwise be turned off from religion. When Church seems so stiff and rigid it keeps people who aren't Christians away and turns them away from Christianity. You've got to meet people where their at. Jesus is our perfect example of this. He stepped way outside of the box, got down on peoples levels no matter where they were at- a prostitute, a dishonest tax collector. He didn't do what the religious leader's demanded of him or follow the rules. They would be the ones today who always have to wear the coats and ties, would have to have a "proper" name for their church, in otherwords do all the things that would let people see how "religious" they were. But did they change lives? No, they were called nothing but prideful hypocrites. Jesus on the other hand touched so many lives by His very different approaches, and He could have cared less about the criticism He received from the so-called religious leaders.
Pastors and church leaders in a similar way have a chance to show what being a Christian is really all about, coming to God "As is" knowing He loves you and accepts that. We are all to be examples of that.
If he is gay, then perhaps he is also sad — sad to still be an outsider 2000 years later, and without the benefits that a tax collector or prostitute might enjoy.
Of course there can be too much of an interest in outward garb (and I admire my Dad's austerity and simplicity), unless it's an enjoyment of God's creativity emanating through our own cuddly little battle-bots.
But still I think the proper antidote to metrosexual worship leaders is suburban pharisees =D
Oe would think that the only type of people in the world that need to be reached are fellow metrosexuals, or cool (or whayever adjectives are being used today) twenty somethings… What about old folks (like me), you know, anyone over forty who really does not like Bono. Or the shut ins, infirm, and on and on. It may come as a surprise but God actually loves "stiff and rigid" people too. Having said that, should all of God's family members appreciate each other for who they are rather than who they want to emulate in hair style, clothing, etc.? I think the answer is obvious. By the way, my son is a metrosexual worship leader in his church…I mean campus and we enjoy a great relatioship while goodnaturedly teasing each other for our chose of shoes (pointed or loafer).
I agree with Zeke…and what's a worship leader? Is that some kind of evangelical thing?
Hmmm, I'm confused … I thought the whole idea in worship was to call attention to Christ.
I think we've confused what Worship is. Isn't it more than singing on stage? What about serving others? What about studying scripture? What about just LOVING people? Aren't these worship to God too? And, isn't our call as Christians to be all these? Who cares about what people wear, lets care about what people actions are.
I love how worship leaders shoes are getting pointier and pointier but with that square toe on it too…and how about those button up shirts that look like they've been attacked by an ebroidery machine?!?!
Metrosexual = effeminate, and I have a problem with that, especially in today’s culture. We need to see men looking and acting like men.
Is it okay if two guys lean against each other's chests as in John 13:23-25?
Aren't gender mannerisms culturally determined, rather than universal?
I think that if baptism is to be in spirit and truth, then apparel and mannerisms (or feminisms) are probably irrelevant, though admittedly decorative, in this the diversely flourishing cosmos of Our Gardener.
Best wishes to you and yours,
Kevin
Yes, and I believe that you should wear skirt or dresses, blouses, corsets, NEVER show your ankles in public, always brush your hair at least 100 strokes, 50 on each side, and never wear make-up period, as if you do you are obviously a whore. Same with pants. If you wear pants you are obviously trying to convert our daughters to lesbianism or voodoo, and we'll have none of that. Also, you must wear a hat that has flowers on it. At least three. At all times.
some good passages on what worship should look like:
Exodus 20:22-26
Isaiah 6:1-13
The pattern found in the tabernacle
Agreed, on all counts, John.
i thinnk what everyone here is forgetting that worship leaders are artistic creative people.
the worlds singers and musicians have there own style and worship leaders do to
just like a business man giving a speech IN A SUIT at a corporate conference, so a the pastor preaches IN A SUIT. —– now im not saying this is compromising to the ways of the world, its simply accepting who we are as people and being who God created us as ——————creative peopple
i am a worship leader in my church if you havent guessed lol
@BEAMED:
If they're "artistic creative people", then why do they look and sound so similar?
If modern "worship" in evangelical churches is so "creative", then why do all the "creative" "worship leaders" lead us in "this year's trendy praise songs" from "this year's trendy songwriter"?
If someone is genuinely artistic and creative (and genuinely Scriptural!), and can lead us to worship God in a way that is more pleasing to Him – then I couldn't care less about what he's wearing or the way his hair looks.
Wearing the same style as everyone else who's "artistic and creative" just lets you blend into the crowd.