Leading praise and worship with many unbelievers present

Recently, we got two opportunities as a family to lead praise and worship segment in family functions to a large audience. Both went well. Praise God.

This week while I was praying I received some insights on the opportunities for improvements in the way we conduct the praise and worship segment in the functions we'd be invited. Following is the draft. Can you kindly review and share your feedback? Thanks.

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A christian worship leader leads the assembled people in singing praise songs and worshipping Jesus.

When many of the assembled people are unbelievers, should the worship leader change their style of leading praise & worship songs? 

Let's analyze this question from the perspective of the Bible. We need to consider several principles related to worship, evangelism, and the nature of the church.

Core Principles from the Bible

1. Worship is Primarily for God

The Bible consistently portrays worship as an act directed towards God.

• Psalm 95:6-7: "Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care."
• John 4:23-24: "Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth." This emphasizes the spiritual and truthful nature of worship, directed at God.
• Revelation 4:11: "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being."

2. The Great Commission

Believers are commanded to share the Gospel with unbelievers.

• Matthew 28:19-20: "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you."
• Mark 16:15: "He said to them, 'Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.'"

3. The Church as a Gathering of Believers

While the church has an outward mission, its primary gathering is for believers to encourage one another, worship God, and grow in faith.

• Hebrews 10:24-25: "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."
• Ephesians 4:11-13: Describes gifts given "to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ." This speaks to internal strengthening.

4. Consideration for Outsiders

The Bible does speak about how outsiders might perceive a church gathering, particularly in the context of spiritual gifts and order.

• 1 Corinthians 14:23-25 (Context of Tongues and Prophecy): "So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and inquirers or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind? But if an inquirer or an unbeliever comes in while everyone is prophesying, they may be convinced by all that they are sinners and will be judged by all, and as the secrets of their hearts are laid bare, they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, 'God is really among you!'" 
• This passage suggests that the manner of conducting a service can impact an unbeliever's perception, ideally leading them to God. However, the "prophecy" described here is still directed by believers to believers, yet has an outward effect.

Analysis from Bible Principles

Based on the Bible, the primary purpose of worship, including praise songs, is to honor and glorify God. It's an act of the redeemed, those who believe, expressing their love and devotion.

If many of the assembled people are unbelievers, the core nature of the worship (i.e., its direction to God and its content of praise for Jesus) should not fundamentally change. The worship leader's primary calling in that role is to facilitate the believers in their worship of God.

However, the style or presentation of leading could be subtly influenced by the presence of unbelievers, but always with the goal of upholding biblical worship and simultaneously to encourage or win some souls.

Following is how this tension might play out and few suggestions for handling it:

a. No Compromise on Truth or Focus

The songs should still be theologically sound, affirming Christian doctrines, and directed to Jesus. The worship leader should not "water down" the worship or remove references to Jesus/God simply because unbelievers are present. Worship is not primarily a performance for unbelievers but an offering from believers.

b. Clarity and Explanation

The worship leader might choose to offer brief, simple explanations of song lyrics or worship practices (e.g., "We sing this because we believe Jesus..." or "This song expresses our gratitude for...") to make the experience more accessible and understandable to those unfamiliar with Christian terminology or concepts. This aligns with the spirit of "prophecy" in 1 Corinthians 14 that makes sense to outsiders.

c. Minimizing Internal Jargon

While not changing the theological content, the leader might avoid overly "insider" Christian jargon in their spoken transitions or encouragements, opting for more universally understood language where possible.

d. Authenticity and Love

The most impactful "style" for an unbeliever, according to the Bible, is genuine love and authentic worship from believers.

• John 13:35: "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." This applies to the overall atmosphere.

e. The Goal for Unbelievers in a Worship Setting 

The hope, as hinted in 1 Corinthians 14:25, is that observing genuine worship and hearing the truth (even in song) might lead unbelievers to conviction and a desire to "fall down and worship God." This happens not by changing the worship itself, but by the power of God's Spirit working through truthful, authentic worship.

Conclusion

From the Bible, the worship leader should not change the object or theological content of the praise and worship songs, as worship is primarily for God by believers. However, the leader might consider adjusting the manner of leading (e.g., adding brief explanations, avoiding excessive jargon in spoken parts) to make the worship more comprehensible and less alienating for unbelievers, with the prayerful hope that the Holy Spirit uses the authentic worship of believers to draw the unbelievers to Christ, as suggested in 1 Corinthians 14. Thus, the core purpose of worship remains unchanged - To glorify God.