I generally tend to have a pretty thick skin. This is an essential trait for Pastors, because the nature of our job often makes us the target of people who are struggling – saved and unsaved alike. Part of the reason for this is that speaking the truth in love very often involves speaking truth that can be convicting for people – and that is the last thing we want to hear. We want to hear about how we are doing well and how we can serve in the ways that are familiar and comfortable – when you call out my sin, whether directed at me or not, I am not likely going to react favorably. When you do this with a full congregation, people regularly take offense and feel it is their responsibility to challenge you.
Working in IT, I work in process and governance. What that means is that it is my responsibility to ensure that all actions taken by IT in support of the organization are done safely, with plenty of communication, and in accordance with the policies enacted by the organization. The not-so-fancy way of saying that is that I tell the IT guys when, where, and how they are allowed to do their jobs. This is a necessary evil, because in technology you have to know every little action and process happening in your environment, or anything you try to do may fail as a result of something you never even knew was happening.
Do you like being told how to do your job? If someone does tell you, are you particularly fond of that person? My years in IT prepared me to become a pastor because I learned that the problem is not me – people will rail against me because I am there, but not because I am at fault. As a pastor I can apply that same logic, but honestly it becomes a bit more difficult. When we speak into the lives of others, it becomes personal, and it can often create critics – even enemies.
The fact of the matter is that each of us carries opinions about all manner of things, and we don’t like it when reality does not line up with our ideal. In response to this some people adapt, some complain, and some sabotage. In IT, people adapt because they want to keep their jobs. In the church, my experience has shown me that people will almost always complain, and many will openly oppose anything that does not suit their tastes. If we look at this objectively, it would appear that the Church has forgotten the purpose of the church, and in our complaining we are vastly reducing the effectiveness of the body in this world of unbelievers.
To rediscover our purpose, we need to revisit Scripture and see what God’s ideal plan was from the beginning. At Mt. Repose we are doing exactly that in our Sunday School classes as we are preparing to do a study in the book of Acts. The picture of the early church is nothing like what the church is today – though we have a tendency to only focus on some of those differences rather than others. No, we don’t practice communal living and sharing of all resources – that has become a trademark of more cultish groups. However, the spirit of cooperation, unity, and mutual reliance upon God is a model that we should be pursuing.
Why is it then that our preferences and desires so often come before our posture of worship and submission before God? Why do we automatically expect the church to conform to our will rather than seeking the pleasure and glory of our savior? Why are there tens of thousands of denominations in this world that claim to believe the same things, yet refuse to work shoulder to shoulder instead of in competition?
At church we worship. Our services are designed to allow us to intentionally worship and encourage each other as we worship. We do this through music, prayer, study, and even the very fellowship we share. These things are the core purpose of our gathering, honoring God in all that we do.
Notice that we are there to honor God – not honor tradition, or comfort, or really even each other – we are there for God. The church then branches out in ministry toward the lost and the hurting in the world, but our fundamental goal in Sunday worship is to do just that – worship. Yet, to do this effectively it requires that we have an agreed theology of worship – things we agree are the core truths we celebrate – including the blessings we have received, the nature of the God we worship, and the hope and mission each of us carries as children of God.
Somewhere along the way, we lost sight of the theology, and even the purpose – our sole focus became the means. In the 80’s and 90’s this morphed into the Worship Wars – churches and denominations split over styles of music, instruments, and even stage design. All of this division came as a result of what people preferred – and very few churches were able to find middle ground, so churches became known as either contemporary or traditional/conservative. Interestingly, we argued the music – which in itself carries no theological merit – while there was almost no debate about the lyrics – the very substance of our worship, and this was indicative of the problem.
If we seek to honor God, it is about our posture of submission in which we recognize who He is, and we recognize our place in light of who He is. Therefore worship is something we are and not something we do. If that is truth, and it is if we follow the example given throughout the Bible, then in all honesty preference has absolutely no merit with respect to the worship service. However, we understand that we are attracted to the music and practices that help us to connect in the ways that suit us, but there is no church and no service that will facilitate that connection for all people all of the time – we are not there to have it our way.
The harsh reality is this – if the songs we choose (assuming they are honoring to God in their content) are not all within your preference, it becomes your responsibility to find the ability to worship along with those who do find it in their preference, just as they are expected to do the same when your favorite songs are selected. Sometimes, the colors used to paint the classroom you attend may not be a color you like overmuch, or the food at a fellowship event may not be what you prefer. This happens to all of us, and we are called to respond in grace, recognizing the diversity of the body of which we are all a part.
If these things are enough to prevent you from worshiping the Creator – the one for whom the church exists – it is time to investigate why you are there. Are you there to honor God, or are you there to honor the things you like? Have we lost sight of who is the head of the church? Have we missed the mark on our object of worship?
Ultimately it is the goal of every church to create a safe, comfortable, and engaging experience for as many as possible without compromising the truth of the Word. In order to do this, we have to be open and honest with each other without being constantly critical, recognizing that each person relates to God and others in their own way. The point is that connection with Christ – and that is what we need to seek for ourselves and others, which is why we start with theology before we move into method. I would challenge you to examine your response to the church and all of its quirks as it is run by sinners in an attempt to connect with our Savior – are we worshipers or are we critics?
And – once in a while, maybe give your pastor a break – just like Paul in 1 Corinthians 9:22 he is trying to do what he can to be everything to everyone so that some might be saved.
Really good blog! Thank you!