Is It Wrong For A Worship Leader To Play Music In Bars?
Q: Our worship leader plays in bars. I approached the pastor about it. When I found out, he said to talk to him about it. And while it was hard to do, I did it. What is your opinion about? Is he stumbling me or others? Was I right to address this?
A: I can only answer based on exactly what the question says. But as the question is presented to me, I would say: don’t worry about your worship leader playing in bars. In general, I think Christians need to seek out more interaction with those who don’t believe, and not less. Now, it’s possible that your worship leader’s presence while playing in bars is a form of compromise for their life and something they shouldn’t do. However, I would not assume that just by their presence there.
In general, I believe that it’s good for Christians to go out and interact more with those who don’t yet believe, rather than less. I will allow that it’s not good or wise for every believer to do that, but in general, that’s what I would say. Jesus was criticized by the ultra-religious leaders of His day for hanging out with people they didn’t approve of. But then Jesus didn’t compromise with them. He was there to bring salvation and to be a witness, to shine the light. If there’s any one person who ever walked this earth of whom we can confidently say that they did not compromise, it’s Jesus. It’s important that a believer entering this type of environment is truly following the pattern of Jesus and not using it as an excuse for their own sin.
If this offends you or stumbles you in some way, make sure that it’s not stumbling something legalistic in you. If you don’t have any evidence that this is sinful behavior on behalf of the worship leader, then you just might not like the idea of it. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s stumbling or an offense to you in a Biblical sense.