True Joy

Several years ago I had a colleague who was an exceptional organist. He was known and respected in many different parts of the world. Several years my senior, I valued him as a friend, as a colleague in worship leadership, and as a mentor. One day I heard him practicing a particularly tricky Bach prelude and fugue. He played it magnificently and, from all outward appearances, effortlessly.

As we walked together to a staff meeting I said, “It must give you incredible joy to play a piece like that.” He stopped and looked at me. “I don’t understand what you mean,” he said. “To play a piece of that caliber with such poise and skill,” I said, “must be a true source of joy for you.”

“It’s a piece of music,” he said. “You learn it, you play it, and you go on.” With that he walked into the staff meeting.

To be honest, I was stunned. The music of the church has always been a portal into a place of deep joy for me. I’ve never seen a piece of music as something to be conquered but rather as an invitation into a friendship with the composer, an opportunity to nurture a God-given skill, and the chance to share joy with others. It took me a while to process this very pragmatic approach to something I have always experienced as exquisitely beautiful and, yes, joyful.

Before we go any further, let’s talk about this thing called “joy.” Many people confuse joy with happiness. Although at an experiential level there might be some emotional cross-pollination, in reality the two could not be more different. Psychologists define happiness through two key components: the balance of positive versus negative emotions, and an overarching cognitive satisfaction with how life is progressing. In other words, your happiness depends largely on context—external events or temporary circumstances.

Joy is completely different. Joy originates from the very nature of God and manifests within us as a gift of God’s Spirit. Happiness is external. Joy is internal, a spiritual reality irrespective of any circumstance. As Christians, we may well experience things that no one could possibly be happy about, but we can still have deep, unshakable joy.

Here are only a few examples of the Bible’s teaching on joy:

• As we mentioned, joy is part of the fruit of the Spirit, the evidence of God at work – Galatians 5:22.
• The psalmist gives a direct command: “Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth! Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy.” – Psalm 100:1–2
• In another place, the psalmist makes this promise: “Weeping may stay for the night, but joy comes in the morning.” – Psalm 30:5
• Finally, after settling a church spat, the apostle Paul challenges the believers in Philippi, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: rejoice!” – Philippians 4:4

At this point you may be asking, my friend’s surprising comment notwithstanding, what does all this have to do with church music and church musicians? Answer: everything.

Joy is as much a part of Christian reality as the Resurrection itself. From one of his deepest moments of grief, C.S. Lewis wrote, “Praise is the mode of love which always has some joy in it.” There are two ways of approaching our call to the ministry of music that can be the enemy of joy. The first is to view our job as merely molding the best possible performance. It’s fine to be happy when a piece of music goes well—but that is a fleeting emotion based on external circumstances and context: the choir blended, you nailed that tricky passage, the congregation sang well. Good job! But what about next week, or the next service? The other potential joy killer is the opposite approach: “Let’s just get through this the best we can and move on.” Where’s the joy?

What drew you to music in the first place? Acknowledged or not, I have to believe it was a gift given you by the Holy Spirit with the potential, if not the immediate realization, of joy. What draws you to music in the church if not the joy of praising God and of connecting your praise with the joy others are experiencing as well? Helping other people grow spiritually and musically while blending their gifts in praising God can create a unique kind of joy—one of sharing delight, connection, and the assurance that comes through the faith we hold in common.

We think of ourselves as worship leaders, but many years ago I came to realize that the term “worship leader” can be misconstrued. It can unintentionally connote a nonparticipant set apart to direct and evaluate the worship of others. A coach never plays on the field—they stand on the sidelines evaluating, strategizing, and making important adjustments to get the best outcome for the team. That works in many areas of life—but not in worship. You and I haven’t been called to the coaching role of a worship leader. We are, in fact, called to be “lead worshipers,” joining our personal worship with the ensembles we direct and the congregations we accompany. That can make all the difference in distinguishing true spiritual joy from the fleeting, albeit exciting, moments of happiness.

“Rejoice in the Lord always…” That includes the planning, the budgeting, the phone calls, texts, and emails, the staff meetings, the rehearsals when half the group didn’t show up, even the tedious hours trying to get measure 27 right. “I will say it again, rejoice!” You and I have been called, gifted, and given the opportunity to hear and share the very heartbeat of God as we discover, inspire, and join in God’s praise with his people. And that, my friends, can be true joy!