The question of whether an unbeliever should be allowed to participate in a church worship team is an important one for Christian churches to consider carefully. There are several factors to weigh when making this decision. Looking to the Bible for guidance can help provide wisdom and discernment.
The Purpose and Role of the Worship Team
First, it is important to understand the purpose and role of the worship team in a church. The worship team’s primary responsibility is to lead the congregation in worshipping God through music, song, and sometimes dance. Worship leaders set the tone and direct people’s hearts and minds towards praise and adoration of God. They are ministering spiritually to the church body through their gifts.
Ephesians 5:19 instructs, “Addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart.” Colossians 3:16 also says, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” The goal is for believers to encourage one another as they worship together.
Therefore, worship team members fill an important spiritual leadership role in the church. They are ministering to people’s hearts and souls through music. It is a form of teaching, admonishing, and directing the focus of the congregation towards Christ.
Concerns About an Unbeliever Leading Worship
With this ministerial purpose of the worship team in mind, there are some significant concerns about having an unbeliever serve in this role. Here are a few potential issues:
- They do not have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Unbelievers do not have access to the Spirit’s wisdom and guidance which believers rely on (1 Corinthians 2:14).
- Their hearts and minds are not oriented towards honoring and glorifying God. Rather than leading people towards God, they could unintentionally misdirect the focus of worshippers (Matthew 15:8).
- They are not submitted to Christ as Lord. Worship leaders must be directed by a desire to serve and obey God through their singing (Colossians 3:16-17).
- Their lifestyles may contradict the lyrics and messages being sung. This could confuse believers or falsely teach them (1 Timothy 4:16).
- They cannot fully understand the depth and meaning of praise and worship. Without the Spirit, the things of God are foolishness (1 Corinthians 2:14).
In summary, the worship team directs the spiritual focus of the congregation. An unbeliever is limited in their ability to fulfill this purpose and their own desires may distort true worship. There are sincerity and heart issues involved.
The Importance of Relational Witness
Although having an unbeliever serve on the worship team is unwise, some argue that it provides a good opportunity to build a relationship and reach them for Christ. However, there are likely better ways to develop that relational witness without improperly positioning a nonbeliever in spiritual leadership.
The priority in worship should be glorifying God in spirit and truth (John 4:23-24). While we hope to have opportunities to reach the lost, the corporate worship service is dedicated to praising God. Evangelism may happen organically through relationships, but the worship team itself has a specific focus—magnifying Christ.
There are plenty of other ways to build redemptive friendships with unbelievers that do not involve giving them influence over the spiritual environment of worship. Small groups, service projects, and community outreach events are just some examples.
Considering Motives and Maturity
Sometimes believers think an unbelieving worship team member may still be appropriate if their heart motives seem sincere and they are gifted in music. However, assessing motives can be challenging. We cannot see hearts as God does.
What matters most is whether someone has repented, believed, and submitted their life to Christ as Lord. The worship team leads the church body in glorifying God, which unbelievers are limited in their ability to do, regardless of musical talent.
That said, there can be reasonable exceptions based on context and circumstance. For example, a spiritually immature believer who is still growing in their faith may serve on a worship team if paired with strong mentors. Their participation could help disciple them further. But unbelievers would require evangelism first before joining the worship team.
Guidance from Scripture on Spiritual Leadership
Several passages of Scripture communicate qualifications and standards for those who teach and lead in the church. While these verses do not directly address the modern concept of a worship team, they provide principles that apply:
He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. (Titus 1:9)
The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach…He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive…He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil. (1 Timothy 3:1-7)
And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. (2 Timothy 2:2)
From these and other passages, we see that spiritual leadership in the church should involve believers who are spiritually mature, doctrinally sound, morally above reproach, respected by outsiders, and able to teach and disciple others. While an unbeliever could develop these qualities after conversion, they are very difficult to evaluate in someone who has not professed faith in Christ.
Practical Alternative Options
Rather than include unbelievers on the worship team itself, here are a few practical alternative options:
- Invite them to attend worship services and build relationships within the church community.
- Ask them to participate in the music ministry or choir without being in an upfront leadership role.
- Encourage them to attend a small group Bible study to learn more about the gospel.
- Partner with them in serving the community in practical ways that allow spiritual conversations.
- Have coffee or meals with them to share biblical truth in the context of friendship.
The goal should be outreach and evangelism, while still maintaining the integrity and purpose of the worship ministry. There are wise ways to strike this balance.
Exceptions Related to Children
One exception where an unbeliever may appropriately serve on a worship team is if they are a child of a worship leader or church member. Parents often serve in ministry together with their families. If the child is young and has not yet professed personal faith in Christ, but is developing musically and wants to play with their parent, this could be a special opportunity for discipleship.
However, once a child reaches student ministry age or young adulthood, they should serve on the worship team only if they have made a personal commitment to follow Jesus. Parents can make that determination case by case with spiritual discernment.
Summary Principles for Discernment
In summary, here are some key principles churches should consider when evaluating whether an unbeliever should serve on a worship team:
- The purpose of the worship team is to musically lead people in glorifying God.
- Worship leaders fill an important spiritual role in the church.
- Participation requires spiritual understanding, devotion to Christ, and submission to God’s will.
- While we want to reach unbelievers, corporate worship itself is about exalting God.
- Assess heart motives with wisdom, but genuineness in worship requires conversion.
- There are likely better ways to build relationships with unbelievers than putting them in worship leadership.
- Exceptions may include immature believers who need discipling or the young children of worship leaders.
Being gracious and extending invitations to participate in other ways can help avoid alienating unbelievers while still upholding the sanctity and purpose of the worship ministry. With prayer and biblical discernment, church leaders can make wise decisions that both glorify God and build redemptive relationships with nonbelievers.