Is it the power of music, or the way that we think about music’s power that most affects us?

Writing in the book Reading Jazz, (Robert Gottlieb, Ed. 1996. London: Bloomsbury), the music critic Gene Lees noted the amazing technique of pianist Bill Evans:

In speaking of the Evans’ technique of playing the piano, Lees wrote, “I kidded him about his rocking finger on a key on a long note at the end of a phrase. After all, the hammer has already left the string: one has no further physical contact with the sound. ‘Don’t you know the piano has no vibrato?’ I said.

“ ‘Yes,’ Bill responded, ‘but trying for it affects what comes before it in the phrase.’ That is more than a little mystical, but he was right.”

Such a view suggests not only the importance of a musical phrase, but how a phrase might be influenced by the player and received by the listener. It is likely impossible that such an “influence” has a physical effect on the sound. Once a bell is rung, it can only sound. Yet, a listener’s expectation of a performer may produce a psychological effect on how the hearer hears, affecting the way the hearer hears the sound, shaping the sound in a way that aligns with the hearer’s expectation. Does the physical sound change? No. Does the effect of the physical sound change the hearer? Yes.

So, is it the power of music, or the way that we think about music’s power that most affects us?

An Interlacing of a Divided Life and Its Importance for Worship Leaders

The worship of God is meant to be an activity that is interlaced with our daily lives. The distinction of gathered worship is not lost when the body of Christ scatters to be Christ in the world, unless their worship is left behind in the gathered moment. This practice of the interlacing of the elements of worship with our daily lives must be rooted in the bringing together of the many selves people sometimes create for themselves. God intends us to be of one mind, one heart, one spirit, one body, and all the while living a social life of holiness through the power of Christ at work in us.

A wholly-minded person is one who has been changed from who they were before they encountered Christ to the person God desires and enables them to be by the power of the Holy Spirit. With God’s help our divided mind and heart can be made one. When this happens one’s loyalty is given over to God and God’s Kingdom. Life takes on a new center in Christ.

This interlaced life is essential for effective worship leaders. A goal of worship leaders is to lead the congregation in worship. This is done in a multiplicity of ways, but none is as effective as when the congregation is led by those who are themselves wholehearted worshippers. To worship God wholeheartedly is to worship God with a heart that is being made whole by the power of God. When this happens we are no longer captured by selfish opinion and desire.

All of us have brokenness in our past. Christ’s saving event in our life begins a healing process. This healing becomes a present reality and continues for the rest of our lives. The question for every believer is whether they will invite God’s on-going healing process to be happening in them. This is the healing that makes one whole. When this happens the many shattered pieces of our lives are taken by Christ who creates a whole person useful in God’s kingdom.

Being wholehearted enables the worship leader to be an effective part of God’s work. This work includes the process of joining together the Body of Christ in a common goal of worshipping God as they gather as well as when they scatter to their daily lives of service.