“And it really is true, it’s who we are. We will worship. The problem is, we worship everything. It’s a focus issue most of the time. Even in the case of hymns, many people worship the hymns. There [are] church splits and worship pastors getting fired, all kinds of craziness because of songs. Even if the person’s really got the right heart and going after the right things, it becomes about style. That’s kinda sad I think.”

Fierce battles over whether classic hymns or contemporary tunes should be the linchpins of Christian worship may have subsided, but the arena is still messy, according to worship pastor and recording artist Lincoln Brewster. Some Christians are more excited about turning up for a concert than they are about getting to worship on time, he says from experience. Others have placed facilitating genuine God-connections on the back burner for the sake of being “cool.”

Brewster, in his 40s, was such a maestro on the guitar as a youth that by the age of 19, he was considering a major recording contract. But he passed on the golden opportunity for what he believed was a more sure-fire deal — serving at his local church. He has since released seven albums in partnership with Integrity Music, and has produced for the label such worship anthems as “Everlasting God” and “God You Reign.”

Bayside Church in Granite Bay, California, where Brewster has served as the worship arts pastor for the last 14 years, describes him on its website as “a multi-talented guitarist, singer and songwriter” who “speaks to the hearts of people who are hungry for non-traditional, passionate worship.” His accolades surely attest to his skills, but Brewster, a married father, is reluctant to take on the “rock star” title.

He’s all about keeping his music ministry authentic, especially when it comes to leading people into God’s presence during worship. Brewster’s approach isn’t very complex, he explained in a recent interview with The Christian Post: he leads people to sing words that are both inspiring and motivating.

“Really just songs that are saying ‘I love you’ and ‘thank you’ to God,” Brewster told CP. And whether he’s serving at his home church or performing on the road, his end-goal is the same — which is [that] people would connect with God and ultimately come to know Him.

But leading people in worship is a bit different than putting on a show at a concert, he explained, stating that the “expectation level is different.”

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