Playing Hurt

I love football, NFL and college (GO DUCKS!). In fact, I am a fanatic for it. I love how fast it is. I love how difficult it is. I love the precision, the timing and the power. Most of all I love the mentality of all football players. They are all “tough it out” kind of guys. And the ones who choose to complain are openly scrutinized. Real football players have concussions and you have to restrain them from going back on the field. Real football players keep running full speed, blocking and contributing even when their helmets fall off in the middle of a play. All real football players will tell you that you have to play hurt.

Even though I love watching true grit on the gridiron there are some distinct disadvantages to playing hurt.

While playing hurt:
1. you cannot perform at your top level
2. you cannot be fully trusted by your teammates
3. you are a liability to the team; even putting some of them in dangerous positions
4. you are risking further injury

As a worship leader, we must have some of the same mentality as football players. Some of the good qualities would be:

- No matter what the situation, I’m going to do my best.
- We “tough it out” when the sound isn’t right or something is amiss
- We put ourselves in the front of the pack to clear the way for others

All of those are great and true. But what happens when a worship leader is “playing hurt”? Imagine our sin as an injury. When a worship leader gets up to lead with unresolved sin its as if he is leading hurt.

While leading hurt:
1. you cannot perform at your top level
- This is greatly significant when you realize that you are performing an ancient, honorable and unique service to God, not playing for your congregation.

2. you cannot be trusted by your teammates
- It is vital for a worship team to be unified at ALL times. I’m not saying you can’t disagree on the arrangement of a song. I’m talking about the unity of the Spirit. We must be ONE when we lead. Just like a quarter back could never win a game without his front line and receivers being on the same page, so a worship leader cannot lead effectively without his team being unified.

3. you are a liability to the team
- We are only as good as our weakest link. Enough said…

4. you risk further injury
- One of the greatest temptations for a worship leader who is leading hurt is to think that he can will an effective worship service by his own strength, skill and determination. This is an increasingly difficult trap to get out of when the worship leader has immense talent. We MUST remember that everything we do is completely dependant upon the power of God. We cannot invade people’s lives and bring change. Only God can do that. By leading in our own power we risk getting stuck in our sin and perpetually playing hurt.

3 ways to avoid leading hurt:
1. Live a life of repentance! (Acts 3:19)
2. Live a life of accountability (James 5:16)
3. Live a life of discipline and devotion (John 14:21)

I encourage you to get healthy! Let’s rid ourselves of sin that so easily entangles and seek the Lord with pure hands and a pure heart. Your God desires your faithful service. Your team needs your unwavering leadership and your church needs you to be at full capacity in every service. Playing hurt is an issue of pride and we are called to a life of humble service. So play healthily, my friends!

PN

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me: @nathanganz
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