Here my selection of excerpts from Chapter 5 of Worship Matters by Bob Kauflin. The chapter is titled “My Life: What Do I Model?”
I think these are a great opening up of one of Oasis’ core values concerning those in leadership, especially public leadership, of a “No Doubt Lifestyle” (1 Thes. 5:22).
“Paul knew that a leader’s spiritual life is never a private matter. Timothy was a leader, and people were watching him, studying him, and learning from what they observed. So Paul wisely charged him: “Set…an example” [1 Tim. 4:12].
People are watching us as well. Not just on Sunday morning, but throughout the week…Paul’s charge to Timothy applies to us, too; set an example.
In Speech
Every time we open our mouths, we’re leading others. Not just when we’re in front of people, but all the time. We’re counseling them. Communicating what’s important and what’s not. Letting others know whose words matter more – ours or God’s.
In Conduct
God wants our conduct to be an example to others. If the way we live doesn’t back up what we proclaim on Sunday morning, we’re not only deceiving the church – we’re misrepresenting the God we claim to be worshiping. I don’t ever want people who see me lead worship publicly to be surprised by the way I live privately. It’s not my songs that define my worship; it’s my life.
In Love
God calls us to set an example in love. The love he calls us to is grounded in his character, not ours. It’s more than our culture’s idea of being tolerant or experiencing sexual attraction. Our love is fleeting, self-centered, and polluted. God’s love is eternal, sacrificial, and holy. God describes love as being “patient,” “kind,” humble, polite, thoughtful, forgiving, hopeful, and enduring (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).
In Faith
For me to effectively lead others in worship, I need to exude a steadfast confidence in God and his promises. That doesn’t mean I make presumptuous statements and never experience trials. It simply means I’m always seeking to grow in my trust in God.
In Purity
Purity is the quality of being undefiled, unmixed, and undiluted, free from evil or contamination. The first area this applies to is our motives. God calls us to guard against being “led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:3)…God also calls us to model purity in the area of sexuality…There are few things as serious and destructive in the life of a leader as sexual impurity. The consequences are not only personally harmful but publicly dishonoring to the name of Christ” (pp 44-48).
