I saw the most amazing fireworks show two nights ago. Seriously — it was high quality fireworks being shot up well above rooftops all around my neighborhood. I just took a walk and I saw constant explosions all around me. It just kept going and going, and it was completely random. Nobody planned it. It wasn’t organized. Lots of people in the community just decided they wanted good fireworks, and the result was an amazing show for EVERYONE!
It was amazing how such a show could be created by random people doing their thing. Lots of people got involved and ta da — there was a fireworks show for all of East Auburn. Just imagine what could happen if lots of people got involved in their churches . . .
i found myself rather annoyed by the fireworks show in my neighborhood.
I told my wife, ‘At least it’s only one night a year.’
This comment is no knock on Nathan, because I understand where he was coming from-I get annoyed by my “neighborhood fireworks” as well, mostly because they are all noise, nothing to see.
But I guess Adam was also getting at a larger point too and it hit a nerve. On the 4th I was with some family friends and somehow I ended up in a discussion about music in church with a group of people that were all over 55. They were going on and on about how when their churches transitioned to contemporary worship they just hated it and they still don’t feel like they can worship because it’s too loud, repetitive, not musically complex etc. (one was a trained musician that likes older music). I ended up being the only person that defended contemporary worship and about the only thing they could say to me is that I’m young (not that young…) so that’s why I like it. I didn’t get too heated because I was on their turf and I also respect these people. But I wondered if they were this vocal in their churches about it (probably, most hold some leadership role somewhere) and I thought about how discouraging it must be for the people in the music department to deal with that level of negativity. Adam said that people altogether doing their thing can create something cool. Lots of people being NEGATIVE can really ruin it. It’s something to think about. Our negative thoughts that are selfish (as if it’s all about me and my preferences) can stop what God is trying to do. This is true in music and everything else.
There has been grumbling I have heard around our church about different things and I don’t know how much gets back to leadership but I will say this publicly. I appreciate the things Pastor Adam is doing. I want to encourage you to continue listening to God and making changes if necessary even if the feedback isn’t all positive. I look forward to continuing to serve God with you in music ministry and seeing lives changed. I love you and think you are awesome! 🙂
Thanks Tara. It’s great to serve with you, too!