MORE THOUGHTS ABOUT CHURCH

Having been a pastor for over forty years, I suppose I will have a different take on this topic than most.  I've read hundreds of books suggesting how churches should operate and how worship should be structured.  For many years I had the opportunity to shape these things and did so with passion and creativity.

In my humble opinion, the biggest change we've seen in the church over the past several decades has been the transition to the performance approach to worship.  The greatest impact of this change has been the reduction of congregational participation.  Sanctuaries have been darkened to focus attention on what takes place up front.  At the same time the experience of congregants sitting together and participating in worship has been minimized (in some cases we can't even see each other once the lights go out).  

The impact of these changes is immense.  Our experience of worship has become one of tunnel-vision.  It's as though we were sitting alone experiencing the message and performance being cast for us.  The sense of being together and experiencing worship as a community has been reduced.  When the lights are brought up again, we are shuffled out rather quickly so that the next group can be herded in to experience the same program we just witnessed.  

The lingering and talking about what we just heard and experienced is decreased or eliminated.  It's easy to get the feeling that we've met our obligation for the week.  "See you next Sunday or Saturday, (whatever your name is)."  

Yet, churches that follow these practices have grown (are growing)!  Some would hold that these churches are satisfying the desires of the culture.  It's hard to argue with success.  

But, not all growing or healthy (are they the same?) churches follow these trends.  I've attended a Presbyterian Church in my community where the sanctuary is completely full every week.  The parking lot overflows across the road from the building.  The worship format is very traditional.  The sanctuary is well lighted.  A wide variety of ages are present.  A liturgical format is followed.  It is a prime example of a healthy, vibrant, country church!  

The church I presently attend is led in worship by a team of twelve musicians including drums, flute, piano, sax, trombone, bass, acoustic guitars and several singers.  Worship is vibrant in a well-lighted sanctuary.  I would guestimate that attendance averages slightly under 200.  The pastor is very laid-back and casual;  he uses humor in his communications and is valued by the congregation.  

It seems to me that our worship experience should draw us together and cause us to interact with one another.  In the church I just mentioned, the pastor will frequently call us to pray for a person over a specific need (sometimes several people).  He calls us to come forward and lay hands on the person.  Ninty percent of the congregation moves forward filling the aisles and the front of the church!  Each one lays a hand on the shoulder of the person before them.  The community expresses its concern and love for the person(s),  It's a beautiful thing to observe.  

I was on staff at a large church in Akron, Ohio for about six years.  At that time, this congregation had an altar prayer time where people flooded forward to pray.  Others came to pray with friends or family.  The front of the sanctuary was literally clogged with people on their knees!  New people were deeply impressed in seeing this response and often came to staff with questions about it.  It was dynamic!  

In Nehemiah 8, we are told that Ezra read the Word of God from an elevated pulpit (so that he could be seen and heard). 

• When he read it, all the people stood up.
• Then Ezra blessed the people, and they all said "Amen"
• Then all the people worshipped God with their heads bowed and their faces to the ground.
• As the Word was read and explained, the people wept.
• After the worship time, the people all went to celebrate together with food and drink.  
• They sent portions of their feast to the needy in their community.  

It was a community experience!  They were celebrating the goodness of their God!  

This leads me to one other point.  I have been repeatedly disappointed that major news concerns are consistently ignored in our churches.   We watch our news channels throughout the week and talk about our concerns among our families and co-workers;  but when we go to worship on Sunday, these things are not addressed.  

On a recent Sunday, a synagogue shooting (on Saturday) in nearby Pittsburgh left eleven Jewish people dead.  The next day saw Christians gathering for their appointed times of worship.   You evaluate your own congregation:  was there public prayer for this atrocity that had occurred just sixty miles away?  A religious service was invaded by a violent man with a weapon of destruction!  Lives were violently taken!  Were you given assurance that you were being protected while you worshipped?  

My guess is that in most churches the incident was completely ignored.   (I hope I'm wrong!)

I do pray about these things privately (and occasionally with Debbie).  I'm sure many others do too!  I have an expectation that my church family lift these concerns to God, as well.

I want to be led in prayer about these things.  I want to pray - in community - for my president and leaders.  I expect us to be corporately concerned about the impact of hurricanes, wild fires, shootings, caravans and elections!  When it doesn't happen, I'm frankly disappointed!  

We do not exist in a vacuum.  Our prayers make a difference - especially when we pray them in agreement!