Opus 2011-268, On the Street: Pastors Wake Up

It happened again.  I had a conversation with some new friends.  We had them over for dinner and went through the process of getting to know them.  It was a good time in the Lord.  They are good people.  He is self-employed and seems to be doing well.  She teaches in the public schools.  They have three children that seem to be doing well.  They are involved in their local church.  They are the kind of people who are the backbone of any local congregation. 

I didn’t catch what was said that brought the response that revoked my response.  I don’t remember the exact words.  The revelation they gave was that they were never in a hurry to get into the worship service because the music detracted from worship, it did not support it.  They find themselves standing outside talking to friends until the “worship team” is finished with their marathon of contemporary, hot-of-the-board praise songs.  Then they make their way in and sit down.

This is not the first time I have heard this.  I have heard it from all ages.  I have observed it at churches I have visited.  It is not a reaction to the “boring old stuff.”  It is a reaction to the music that pastors seem to feel they have to supply in order to appeal to the younger generation.

Pastors, in your attempt to be cool, with it, contemporary and culturally conforming you are driving away a large part of your congregation.  They won’t make an issue of it.  They are not out to cause problems or split the church.  They assume you know something that they don’t know.  They will start by coming into worship late.  It will grow to standing outside the entire service or looking for places to serve.  It may eventually drive them away from the church.

“Amazing Grace” has survived for centuries.  “Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee” has been around even longer.  It is unlikely that the repetitive ditty written by your minister of music will have the same fate. 

You need to realize that someday these people will find a church that actually mixes the best of the old with the best of the new.  At that point you will miss them, their service, their tithe and their prayers.

Please wake up.

homo unius libri