Worship Resources Article Index

Leading Worship From an Instrument David's "Letter of Reference" Barbless Hooks Friends of Jesus Christ "Worshipping Worship" - Say What? Should We Worship or Lead Worship? Phases of Organizational Growth

Tips For Blending Piano in Worship Eliminate Local Radio From PA Musical Instrument Guidelines Why Write Policies? Guidelines For Song Writing DJ Led Worship: Valid or a "New Cart"? DJ Led Worship: Interview With a Local DJ

D.J. Led Worship: Valid or a "New Cart"?

by Darcy L. Watkins

What is this new thing, a valid expression of worship or a "new cart"?  Can a Disc-Jockey (D.J.) really be a worship leader?

To avoid the pitfalls of prejudice, we need to properly assess this on technical, artistic and spiritual grounds and reserve the final judgement until after doing this.

From the technical and artistic perspective, I see the D.J. in different roles, which could involve one or many people and can change throughout the service.

In a nut-shell, the role of the D.J. ranges throughout the following (often more than one at once):

• The D.J. queues up and plays pre-recorded material using cross-fading and other techniques to segue from song to song to construct medleys in real time.
• The D.J. has various points of decision where changes can be kicked in which allows spontaneity and the ability to respond in near real time (not quite as agile as a live band, but enough to be effective in many circumstances).
• The D.J. also takes on a portion of the role of a sound technician though this is not completely accurate.  You can think of sound operation as having a number of functions.  The first is to monitor live input sources and to optimize signal levels, pre-process signals and to provide submixes into the main program mix-down.  The second is to perform the main program mixdown in real time as part of the live performance, including the application of effects on cue.  The third is to ensure a well balanced house mix.  The forth is to ensure well balanced musician monitor mix(es).  The second role, being as artistic in nature as it is technical, can be transferred to a D.J. who works with a live performance, leaving the less artistic sound operation components to a technician. From this. it is easy to visualize scenarios where a D.J. works with live performance (which normally would be music possibly with dance acts, but could include drama segments).
• The D.J. sometimes uses fragments of recorded material (phrase samples and loops) and sequenced material (groove and beat loop driven synthesizers) as tools to supplement pre-recorded songs and/or live performance.
• The D.J. sometimes plays an instrument and/or sings live during segments.
• The D.J. often "MC's" and directs the activity (especially at dance events), though it is possible to have the D.J. work closely supporting another person who does this.

D.J.'s who have progressed beyond just the first two items above are considered artists by many and, to some extent, even considered as musicians by contemporary pop culture.

Now where does the roles of D.J. apply during worship services?

The easiest to accept roles are those more supportive in nature, just like the roles of other musicians, singers and sound technicians. It is harder to accept the idea of a D.J. up front solo, leading a worship service, though this not need be the case. There isn't really much difference here than say a solo guitar player or solo keyboardist leading a worship service. It isn't even difficult to accept pre-recorded music with live singing. The most noticeable difference is the use of pre-recorded vocals and/or even pre-recorded talkover segments.

Just taking the thought so far into consideration, I think we can safely conclude that D.J. led or involvement in worship services is totally valid for the cases where this is used to provide accompaniment for live vocal singing and/or other live expressions already accepted as valid worship expressions. For this, I have no difficulty expressing support.

On the other hand, we still need to discuss, the validity of cases where the vocals are pre-recorded (and the various "grey-areas" in between).  We do not want to prejudge this in either direction, but allow room for discussion and debate, after which a position can be made based on information, not emotion.  So let's continue.

The scariest thing about D.J.'ing (and the old term "disco") to musicians is the idea that they get replaced by technology.  I remember the old "disco sucks!" expression in the late seventies by those who preferred to play (or listen) to rock and roll.  To be fair, some of it was aimed at the style of music being based more on grooves and repetitious one and two bar beat patterns, (but then I think that this pretty much applies today too in "dance" oriented music). Some plain never regarded it as a form of art, let alone music.

Ultimately, if we want to be objective about this, we have to assess two points:

1. The validity of the worship expression by those who participate in the event.
2. The validity of the artistist expression by those who operate the event.

To prove the first point, all one needs to do is be honest enough to answer this question: have you ever listened to a worship song on tape or the radio and entered in, worshipped the Lord and sang along?  The question is rhetorical.  I think we are all in the same boat here, answering "yes".  The case is closed!  This one "self incriminates" all of us just as easy as that incident when Jesus made the statement regarding who should cast the first stone at the adulteress.

The second point is less important than the first but quite frankly is the easier one to prove, even for the cases where the "lead" vocals and talkover segments are pre-recorded.  All you have to do is accept this particular expression of contemporary pop culture as being a form of art.  You don't have to accept any particular such expression from secular culture as being sacred.  You only have to accept it as a valid expression of art.  I have no difficulty doing so. To me, this is easier to accept than rap and I have no difficulty in accepting rap as a form of art (even though it is far from my favorite).

I wouldn't even get overly hung up on the artistic expression since even that is not mandatory in worship.  There are many valid forms and expressions of worship which have nothing to do with art, for example, feeding the hungry and helping those in need.

As much as I don't like the idea of singing along to pre-recorded music as part of a planned worship function, I would have to conclude that it can be a valid worship experience.

Like any other planned worship event, it would still be subject to all the Christian principles which apply to planned worship events, for example, at a local church, a D.J. (or D.J. backed) worship leader must operate according to the same principles that a live musician (or live musician backed) worship leader follows, even though the style of music may differ, and/or to some extent the order/format of the service. 

If the pastor is in charge for one case, the same applies for the other case. If there are standards related to conduct and lifestyle which apply to the musician, then the same applies to the D.J. Please don't use the newness of this format of worship as an excuse to sneak in another agenda of change or you will simply cause the whole thing to be rejected in controversy for no good reason.

Potential other agenda piggybacked with the introduction of such a new expression or format of worship may be a "new cart", but not the art of D.J.'ing itself. It can become a perfectly valid and contributing factor to the worship expression of the contemporary (and even the so called "cutting edge") church community.