I can almost hear the question bubbling in your mind as you read this title: “What on earth has worship got to do with flying a plane?” You need not think too far. Pilots will tell you that, apart from managing difficult weather (icing, thunderstorms, downbursts, wind shear and the like), there are two challenging moments in flying: take-off and landing. For the purpose of this article, I will focus on landing.
When approaching your destination, it is common to hear something like, “We have commenced our descent. Please return to your seats, stow your tray tables and switch off all electronic devices.” Shortly after, the plane begins to descend slowly, and it normally takes about ten minutes from that announcement until the plane touches down.
I have discovered that leading worship is like flying a plane. Getting started can be a little challenging, but once you have gained considerable height, you begin to cruise. At that point you seem to flow with the current. It is smooth and pleasant up there, until you begin your descent.
Eagles don’t fly in that sense of the word. They soar and ride on the current of the wind. I believe we do the same in worship.
Have you ever experienced a time of worship when you were simply enjoying God’s presence and truly knowing the joy of ministering to Him, when suddenly something happened? Before you knew it, the flow was broken, the connection lost, and you thought: what in the world just happened?
This is precisely where I am going. We all know the part of worship when someone, perhaps a pastor or minister, comes to wind the session down. If you are like me, you may have noticed times when, in the middle of a great time of worship, a voice barges in to sing or speak. It may come as a song, a long “Aaameeen”, “in Jesus’ name we have worshipped”, or “Hallelujah, please take your seats”. And you are left thinking, “Hello?” If your aircraft has ever dropped suddenly from a very high altitude to a frighteningly low one, you will agree that the feeling is much like that unfortunate interruption in worship. So what is the point? Those who come to bring our worship sessions to a close are as important as those who lead them.
The truth of the matter is that God looks at the heart, and the quality of one’s voice is not so much an issue so long as the heart is right. But we must realise that other people are involved in the worship session, and a harsh, uncultured and sometimes out-of-tune voice can easily drop the altitude of a great time of worship. Like Paul, our meat should not cause others to stumble. I am not saying do not sing, exhort or exalt; but if you must, let it be inspired by the Spirit and, in most cases, in line with the sound already established in the house.
People hear from God and are healed, delivered and restored during worship, hence the need for the utmost care and caution as we navigate in worship. I hope this has been enlightening and a blessing.