Sunday is more than songs – it’s planning, administration, prayer, practice, and ministry.
There’s so many details to consider every week.
But there’s something else to consider. And it’s more important than all the others. We’ll get to that in just a bit.
I read an article this past week called, “Why the church doesn’t need anymore coffee bars.” It’s a gut wrenching story. And much of it I agree with. We don’t just need great music, broadway lighting, impressive talent, and fresh brewed coffee. Sure. We need Jesus more than anything. My heart goes out to the family who lost their precious father. I can’t even imagine the pain.
So that’s why I want to tread lightly on this topic. In no way do I want to disrespect this amazing family and the tragedy they are experiencing. I honestly have no idea. But I do know this – music, lights, coffee, and graphics aren’t the problem. The reason we make these aesthetic choices is to serve people.
It’s similar to saying at a restaurant that background music, tables, chairs, air conditioning, and decor doesn’t matter. Only the food matters. Sure, we go to a restaurant to eat, but the vibe aids in our enjoyment of the prime rib. Without the careful, compassionate thought that is given to the aesthetics, we might not return. Sitting on a concrete slab in complete silence with the best fish & chips in the world is fine, but not necessary.
Keeping Jesus at the center doesn’t need to be in opposition to programmed lighting. Pointing people to the Savior in the midst of their pain doesn’t need to conflict with a specialty coffee bar. The answer isn’t to strip our services of intentional programming, color, sound, songs, coffee, and the chocolate chip biscotti’s at the cafe counter.
All can work together.
Have Mercy on Your Leaders
Isn’t it easy to criticize those who make decisions in our churches? It’s far too easy and I do it far too often. Let’s remember that it’s not easy work. Let’s have compassion on those who are laboring to serve the church. Let’s be their biggest fans, have face to face conversations when we disagree, and realize that no place is the perfect place. No one is intentionally trying to mar the cross and distract people from Jesus with coffee.
And you just never know if a cup of coffee in the foyer will lead to a conversation about Jesus. And 3 weeks down the road, Jeff the construction worker comes to faith in Christ because of a cup of coffee with a kind soul weeks earlier.
You. Just. Never. Know.
What Every Pastor & Worship Team Needs to Consider
However, here’s where I’m challenged by this incredibly strong woman and her story. If we as leaders never consider the orphan, the widow, the terminally ill, the divorced, the homosexual, the broken, the suicidal, we are missing the point of everything.
Literally everything.
If we’re merely entertaining people so they have a good time, we’re not having church.
What makes the church distinctive to a social club or a concert at your local arena? Jesus.
It’s the presence of the Spirit. It’s the revelation of Christ and him crucified for the sins of the world. If we’re not highlighting this, let’s call it something else, right?
If people aren’t encountering the word of God through Christ centered preaching, something is amiss. If we’re not worshiping the Name above every name, we’re missing the point.
Consider the suffering. Give them Jesus.
If you want insane lighting, please do. But consider the suffering. Give them Jesus.
If you want to tear down your cafe and stop serving coffee, please do. Consider the suffering. Give them Jesus.
If you want your environment to look like a nightclub, please do. Consider the suffering. Give them Jesus.
Write the songs that carry more than ear tickling melodies. Give them a word to carry through chemo. Give them a love that won’t let go. Give them a hope beyond the grave.
Give them Jesus.
I would honestly love to hear from you on this topic. How do you balance these decision in your church? Do you intentionally avoid cool aesthetics, cutting edge media, and comfortable environments like cafes?
If you use those things, how do you use it in a way that draws attention to the cross?
Let’s be kind to one another and dialogue in the comments. Love you guys! You can leave a comment by clicking here.
[ois skin=”Beyond Sunday 2″]
Hi David,
I couldn’t agree with you more. If we (the church in every aspect regardless of the coffee bar, lighting and whatever else we do) are not pointing to Jesus in everything we do or reflecting His character and attributes, we are not being the church and certainly not being the bride he is coming for. In all the years I have played in, led worship and the like, I have seen 3 dominant issues in every area of the church and it is not restricted to worship. 1. Complacency – 2. Lack of passion or worse passion without commitment. – 3. No vision., plans, goals or strategy. The letters to the churches come to mind being the loss of our first love and being neither hot nor cold. Biblically, we also know the Lord’s response to that. There will not be any excuses on that day. The way I see the current time is the curtain is being pulled back and we America (especially) are being given a second chance to pull the kingdom down to earth and make Jesus known to the world. We have to do it with love and passion, we have to do it with fervor, and we have to be bold and loud. I don’t know about you but I have not been called to be a spectator but to be a warrior for the Lord and Praise is my weapon!
Good environments increase expectation. Gospel Experiences increase life transformation. Give them both, because church is more than a building.
LOVE your article. We need to keep this in balance!
I do church because God will show up, not because people will show up. When that first priority is replaced by the needs/wants/preferences of people, we’ll devolve into a natural gospel, that can only be propagated by production. So any aesthetic or creative element has to be pointed at serving that one goal- God’s manifest presence. When He comes, no one lacks anything.
I just have to ask, where exactly was God right before he decided to “show up”?
There’s a difference between His omnipresence (He is everywhere at all times by default) and His manifest presence (His response to praise He inhabits). He is always present everywhere, but He’s not present everywhere to the same measure, as He is attracted to hunger but not to indifference. It’s one of the reasons Luke 5:17 says ‘the power of the Lord was present to heal them.’ Jesus was already there, but the Bible makes a point to include that there was an additional measure of Heaven’s power to heal. Does that make sense?
I usually hold my tongue when certain articles are posted but I feel the need to comment on this.
I’ve read both articles and can look into both sides. The biggest problem I have with this article is that churches are not (well, they should not) be compared to restaurants or any other business for that matter.
The biggest difference between an earthly establishment and a church is the Holy Spirit.
I don’t have a problem with lights, coffee, music, design. I am a graphic designer, photographer, and love all kinds of art. I also attend a church with lights, coffee, music, design,etc. What I find concerning is if the Holy Spirit compells us to strip down our church into a basic form, will we be able to accept that? If God asks us to build a church in a room void of decor, music, coffee, or anything except the gospel being preached are we willing to accept that? Or do we think our plans make a difference?
To think that any of our plans and works make a difference is complete folly. Once we accept that our works are nothing compared to the power of the Holy Spirit working through us, then, that is where real change is made. No longer is it about “Look what I did” it is about “Look what God did and what I was able to witness and be a part of.”
1 Corinthians 1:17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. ESV
Paul’s call was to preach the gospel. Not with what we, as earthly humans, think is wisdom but by the power of the cross of Christ. His sacrifice is enough.
This isn’t a time of “Sure. We need Jesus more than anything.” This is a time of “We absolutely need Jesus more than anything else.” Period.
If our lights, coffee, music, design, sermon names, and trendiness gets in the way and steals our focus, we are indeed not trusting in the power of the cross.
Focus on the Gospel, focus on the Holy Spirit, and focus on Jesus and your church will do miraculous things.
I am fine with contemporary production, format, and atmosphere as long as the main thing stays the main thing – Christ in me, the hope of glory.
I have been a worship pastor for over fifteen years and I think we all need to step back and reall examine and look from her perspective. We as a church are according to Paul’s writings supposed to go out and spread the good news as well as reach out to the sick the lame the injured , the hurt and those who need God in their lives. What good is a church when its leaders don’t go outside their walls to minister to those who most need it. Please don’t get me wrong but I have seen way to many people hurt by the church they love to be part of.
My question to everyone would be this; if there wasn’t any music any lights special affect to stimulate the senses how many people would go to just listen to word being spoken that day.
Love God Love one another, sounds so simple so why is we don’t just that? Coffee is wonderful but if we seek his word we’ll never be thirsty
Humbly yours
One comment I would like to make about the last reply is I agree that every church should be reaching the communities they are in. Outreach is essential but a different lane than the worship lane we are discussing at the moment. One thing also we should remember is we are commanded to worship. If it weren’t for Jesus, I suppose we would still be offering sacrifices as well. God and all His infinite wisdom does’nt provide us with a clear map on how to Worship but it is clear He has given us abilities to create instruments of all kinds, music in many forms, a lot of tools we can use and if we are using these for His glory, it is good. We still should also be offering sacrifices today for the kingdom. Our passion, commitment, our time, our finances, indeed our hearts to see the kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. We have to be willing to give Him everything. After all, He doesn’t need us, (the rocks cry out). He desires us. There’s a difference.
In aagreement…. i think we need all that but we need to focus more on Jesus….
An absolutely beautiful article David. Wow. The young widow’s story is compelling, and I’m grateful you shared it. Having lost my brother last year (in his 30’s) to cancer I can identify. Being a worship leader for 15 years in a tiny church with no “bells and whistles” and now for 3 years in a larger church that has just recently adopted the coffee and lights, I have a taste of both sides of things. I believe the heart of the issue is hospitality. Instead of pointing a visitor to a water fountain, we can help them get coffee which opens a myriad of conversational doors. Take a look at people standing in a room holding nothing…they look awkward. Put cups of coffee in their hands and they’re instantly more relaxed. We are trying to be good hosts – making our visitors and members feel at home. And the lights: it’s universally acknowledged that lights don’t save. Jesus saves. The lights set an atmosphere. If the above commenters don’t like the restaurant analogy, consider your home. Do you have bright fluorescent overhead lighting in your prayer closet? Or how about your living room? Lighting sets an atmosphere, whether they be the sterile fluorescent lights in an operating room or the soft incandescent lighting in a funeral home. Both set the tone for different purposes. A lighting show during a praise and worship set can be tastefully created and enhance the set, or it can be gaudy. We’re human. We’re learning. We’re growing. We’re adapting our tools for the time and generation we’ve been assigned to serve. And please let’s not forget that our efforts are worship to Jesus for His glory. I am not qualified to judge the motives of the light director, the ones who set up the coffee bar or even the pastor. If they’re serving others for earthly acclaim, they have their reward. But every time I may offer a cup of cold water in His name, I want to do so. The young widow indicated (in another article) that her church didn’t take the modern coffee and lights approach, so I’m not sure why she dedicated a blog post to the discussion. Regardless, the whole of life can be summed up through relationships: horizontally with our friends, family & neighbors and vertically with Christ. Lights will never replace relational connection. Coffee will never (despite a few protests 😋) replace friendly personal connection. They (and programs and events) are merely tools we have at our disposal to open doors for relationships. Let our focus be on Jesus – the object of our affection. Let our hands work for Christ with whatever gifts He’s given, as worship to Him. Let our passion burn bright to represent Him with excellence instead of mediocrity. Thank you David for the work you do. It certainly has blessed me, which also extends to the people I serve. I’m grateful for your work. God bless you and your team!
Meagan,
I have to say your comments were overall in their totality of this subject, one of the best I have ever read on the matter. You seem truthful, thorough, and your humility was shown in your phrases and words. Also, your love for Christ. Excellent post!
There’s a difference between His omnipresence (He is everywhere at all times by default) and His manifest presence (His response to praise He inhabits). He is always present everywhere, but He’s not present everywhere to the same measure, as He is attracted to hunger but not to indifference. It’s one of the reasons Luke 5:17 says ‘the power of the Lord was present to heal them.’ Jesus was already there, but the Bible makes a point to include that there was an additional measure of Heaven’s power to heal. Does that make sense?
When Jesus was faced with the crowds of people following him, when his disciples were going to send them on their way, JESUS said no, let’s feed them. He wasn’t only concerned with people’s spiritual needs but physical as well. Caring for people is a huge part of God’s ministry. It wasn’t by accident that JESUS chose to preach from a boat the way he did, he knew that he’d reach the most people with the sound of his voice in that exact location acoustically. If having certain aesthetics helps draw people in to meet and hear JESUS speak, then I’m all for it. But balance is key!