HERE’S A CONFESSION. I’m probably too simple-minded for my own good.
I sometimes think of worship on Sunday as Show and Tell.
I think of the worship service as the Show.
Why?
- Script. In most churches I’ve attended, the worship service is a carefully scripted performance – scheduled down to the last minute. Even the prayers are often scripted.
- Music. You’ve got your musicians performing as best they can after having practiced throughout the week. This performance often includes a soloist during the offering. If you have a praise band led by one vocalist who does most of the singing, you could conceivably call the musical portion of the worship service the Fill-in-the-name-of the-worship-leader Show.
- Advertisers. You’ve got your commercials, with polite people pitching ministry programs and services in three-minute sound bites—a bit like on TV, but without the talking baby.
- Speech. You’ve got your speaker, who – hopefully – has spent many hours preparing the speech. We call it a sermon, but it seems to me that term simply identifies it respectfully as a speech about religious stuff.
Sunday school classes or Bible study classes are what I call the Tell.
That’s because we get to talk back—something usually frowned on during the sermon, unless we’re saying “Amen,” “Preach it,” or “Hallelujah.” Certainly not, “I gave at the office.”
In Bible study classes we get to tell the discussion leader what we think about the matter. And we get to raise questions—something I’d love to do during some sermons.
Talking back in class, of course, assumes that the format is discussion and not just another speech.
In which case Sunday at church would be the Show and Show.
I think everything I’m saying here would sound pretty disturbing to many pastors.
That’s because they tend to think of what happens on Sunday as something far more than a Show.
To which I would agree.
If God’s Spirit shows up and speaks to our spirit, they’re right. It’s more than a Show.
It’s a Hallmark movie.
I mean, come on, doesn’t God’s Spirit nudge us during a Hallmark movie?
If, on the other hand, God’s Spirit doesn’t bother to show up at all, how is Sunday worship not just another Show? “Two and a Half Men,” for example. Spiritually nada.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not trying to dismiss Sunday worship.
It’s often the spiritual highlight of my week.
But it’s not the only place God’s Spirit goes.
I’m not suggesting we have less Show and Tell in church.
I’m suggesting we look for God’s Spirit wherever we go.
Amen. I confess I think there are some hams during worship and you missed the heart tugging piano playing in the background during prayer before the sermon. Simply Hallmark is right!
Alas! I do love some of the worship music though and although I don’t raise my hand or arms up in the church building I will go home and download them and worship away in the car or at home throughout my week.
I love how you step out there Steve and say what so many of us hold tight inside…..your “Liberal Christian” blog was of discussion with some of my coworkers the other night, one being a woman from my church. I think my secret is out now, I too, am a liberal Christian most times! LOL
Thanks, Robin.
A kind word is welcome after I got called a heretic this week for reporting that some scholars said Jesus may have borrowed part of the Lord’s Prayer from a Jewish prayer of his day.
Peace to you.
I certainly agree with the point about music. For some time now, I’ve been calling the time leading up to the sermon the “[He Whose Name Should Not Be Mentioned Here] Show.” The problem I have with contemporary worship services is this: Everything that happens should be pointing God-ward. Our services have incorporated secular music from our “worship” orchestra, and a couple of times, those who have performed the offertory have actually taken bows. It has become a performance-driven “Ecclesiastical Idol.” I could go on. But I won’t.
Thanks Mark.
It must be tough for church leaders to strike a balance between worship and entertainment. I see the problem. But the fix seems more elusive, to me. I want wonderful music. But I don’t want performers, especially those who hog the stage and don’t share the ministry with other gifted musicians.
I remember one music minister who refused to use other gifted vocalists unless the pastor requested a particular song by one of them. Instead, the music leader/vocalist used singers who couldn’t carry a tune.
It seemed as though she was saying, “I’m the star of this show.” But we can never know the motive of another person.
She finally got fired.
What to do.