The Audience is Watching

Growing Daily

The Audience is Watching

When I was about 10, my family visited a small church while passing through on a road trip.  During the service, visitors were invited to share a little about themselves.

I remember feeling excited when my dad stood up.  I couldn’t wait for him to say he was a professor at a Bible College.  I imagined the pastor and congregation would be very impressed.

To my disappointment, he didn’t even mention his job or ministry... just a few random details about our family. 

When I asked about it later, he explained that he didn’t want the pastor to feel any pressure or adjust the message knowing another Bible teacher was in the audience. I didn’t really understand at the time. 

As a worship guitarist, I get it now.  When I stand on stage and notice another guitar player in the audience, there's a temptation to play for that person — to impress, to earn approval, to wonder what they're thinking.  Obviously, that’s not at all the reason I’m leading worship. 

Galatians 1:10 speaks directly to this, asking, “Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God?”

It's easy to drift from worshiping Jesus to performing — on a stage, or anywhere else in life.  True worship has one audience.  The moment we shift our eyes to the crowd, we face a choice:  Who am I trying to please?


- Ron Reid