WORSHIP RANT: Don't Create Obvious Distractions!

I often find myself wondering what is going on inside of other people's heads.  I know I've made some unwise choices during worship services, but usually this happens at more routine environments where I could have thought through things more. Anytime I'm given a more significant platform, I'm much more intentional with my words and actions.

Over the last several years, I've seen several worship leaders (who I respect in many ways) make some remarkably odd choices.  I wouldn't call them sinful, but I would say they were very unwise for a worship service.

A few years back, I was at a live event with roughly 35,000 people.  There was worship and a sermon.  During the lead-in worship sets, one of the worship leaders pulled out a Guitar Hero control which he had rigged to be able to play.  He then proceeded to play the entire worship song during a worship set with a video game controller.  In a different context, I would have thought it was hilarious but, during a worship set, it seemed remarkably out of place.

I've always believed one of the most important things a worship leader can do is remove distractions and obstacles. Likewise, they want to focus the people on what is being sung, and who it's being sung to. Perhaps it's just me, but when I saw someone playing a Guitar Hero controller, I was distracted and my focus was off.  Likewise, he modeled for 35,000 people that great worship leaders goof off during worship, and the promoters/creators of the event made it clear this type of behavior should be rewarded.

At the same event several years later, during their big upbeat song for the week, they had a latino in full mariachi attire walk out and play a trumpet solo.  I wasn't there. So, I have no idea what the context was for having people in costume join in.  Maybe there was a good reason. However, the video they released of the performance made just seem like they were trying to be clever. Once again, perhaps it's just me, but in any context where a mariachi appears in full regalia with a trumpet, that's promptly where my attention is going to go.

On the flip side, a year ago I went to go see a different top-level worship artist.  This event was billed as a concert, not a worship service.  They certainly had incredible production values and use of fog, video and lights. There was a difference though.  Each of their efforts was intended to highlight the message of each of the songs.  Songs would transition with a video playing, but the video contained scripture.  The lighting, while professional, was used to highlight the emotion or tone of a song.   Most importantly, at least four people in the band gave micro-sermons before a song started.  They taught the message of the song before we sang the song.  Without question, it was one of the most produced live events I've attended, but the purpose was to focus the audience on the words of the songs, and the person being sung to.

So, what are the things you're doing which can be an obvious and unnecessary distraction?

Of course, what's highly distracting for one person is highly engaging for another.

I'll leave you with this...the strangest moment from a worship service I've seen (which didn't involve just bad theology).  ...then again, he does reference Moses being barefoot to justify whatever this is.  I suspect the odor in this situation would be the biggest distraction for me...that or someone's sock hitting me in the face.