The Worship Artist

There’s just something about church buildings that allows people to abandon all the normal rules of social conduct. This is especially obvious from a leadership perspective, but I see it happening even through congregations. The simple element of being on stage seems to welcome people to criticize how you do your job, what clothes you wear, or your age. I’ve heard other horror stories where the pastor’s wives and children become the target of the rudeness. In virtually any other social situation these types of comments would be very distasteful and rude, however, once people step into “God’s house” it all suddenly becomes acceptable. Next time John Mayer does a concert, why don’t you go hear his show then meet him backstage and tell him what songs he should not have or should have played and how he should have played them. Or next time you’re talking with a financially struggling family be sure to tell them that their clothes really don’t fit what most people are wearing and they stick out like a sore thumb. Neither one of the circumstances are socially appropriate, so why do people do it when they gather to worship God? I blame the walls.

I was reading J.I. Packer’s Knowing God last week, came across this section that was quote convicting. Can you say “amen” or “ouch?”

It is our shame and disgrace today that so many Christians–I will be more specific: so many of the soundest and most orthodox Christians–go through this world in the spirit of the priest and the Levite in our Lord’s parable, seeing human needs all around them, but (after a pious wish, and perhaps a prayer, that God might meet those needs) averting their eyes and passing by on the other side. That is not the Christmas spirit. Nor is it the spirt of those Christians–alas, they are many–whose ambition in life seems limited to building a nice middle-class Christian home, and making nice middle-class Christian friends, and brining up their children in nice middle-class Christian ways, and who leave the submiddle-class sections of the community, Christian and non-Christian, to get on by themselves.

If I may, let me brag on my church for a little bit. Many churches forget the importance of simply being an active body in the community. The philosophy is generally that the church should only do things that either uplift the body or vocally presents the gospel to the community.

Mid last year we found out that a World Champion Sand Sculptor lives in our community. We commissioned him to create a sculpture over the course of 3 days on our church parking lot. On the 3rd day we had a large festival with local bands (which were not “Christian” by the way) food vendors, and games/events for children through the day; ultimately climaxing with the finalization of the sand sculpture.

We bounced around the idea of doing some biblical scene with the sand sculpture but we ultimately decided to have a patriotic sculpture because it’s some common ground that the community as a whole could appreciate and share in. Some have asked, “What’s the purpose of doing this?” or “Why isn’t the Gospel being presented?” The purpose was to provide an event for the community (being a functioning body in the community) making connections with people and the Gospel was not being presented in the general sense. Hopefully believers in the church would be a “presentation” enough and if conversations went that route then great… but we were not interested in pulling people onto our parking lot, trapping them in one place, and pulling out the megaphone.

The event was very sucessful. Around 1,000 people were there, connections were made, and hopefully lasting relationships. I would encourage Christians (individually) and church leaders (corporately) to find ways to be activly involved in their community. Maybe it’s as simple as going to the town hall meetings, finding needs that should be met, or hosting a community event. Whatever it is… be involved.