Hype

Written by cycleguy on July 31st, 2014

If you have been reading this week, you know I have been posting about our vacation to Pigeon Forge and different events, happenings, lessons along the way. Hopefully I haven’t bored you. 🙂

While Tami & I were in the Titanic museum, Jo, Janna (our youngest) and Braden (our grandson) went next door to Wonderworks. It sounded interesting. It was. For all of them. My description of it would be “a fun place for all on steroids.” Wonderworks included a multitude of special effects, laser tag, rock climbing, interactive science offerings, ropes, and a whole lot more. Hint: Google Wonderworks. 🙂 They loved it! Especially Braden because it was action and activity.

We live in an age of action. At one point it was called “The MTV generation.” I would say it was “hit ’em and go!” Three to four minute videos and NEXT? It affected the way churches related to its culture. It hasn’t changed one iota, except for hit ’em harder, faster and add the hype. As a pastor/preacher I want more than anything to believe people come to hear me. 🙂 I am not naive enough to think that actually happens on a wide basis. There are many who come for the music; for the worship; for the children’s program; for the fellowship. But what the church really needs to be careful of is the hype. It is scary when you look at our culture and realize how things have changed over the years. What we never thought would be, now is.

I recently had a couple decide to stop coming, to “give modern worship music a rest.” True, they like the hymns. But her words to me were, “We want less music and more Pastor Bill.” Flattering but not going to happen. I preach 25-30 minutes and I am tapped out. I once tried the 45-50 approach like some of my “heroes” but fortunately I had a loving wife bold enough to say, “That is not you. You repeat yourself too much.” Point taken. I told the lady, “Less music does not equal more Pastor Bill. It just means less music.” But their desire is a rarity these days. If we don’t have smoke & lights to go along with our rock music (often “secular”) we don’t think we are “relevant.” I disagree. While I am not opposed to modern worship music (not in the least) we must NEVER steal from the purpose we are there: to honor and glorify the Father. Anything less is idolatry and hype.

The trick for certain tourist attractions is something different, almost avant garde. God help the church when that thinking gets in. Our thinking then becomes what is the next big thing we can introduce? I have an idea. How about just introducing people to Jesus and His Word?

Your thoughts?

 

19 Comments so far ↓

  1. jeff says:

    They didn’t leave because of the music. Trust me. That was an excuse to mask the real reason. I don’t know what the reason was but it wasn’t that. If they want the best music send them to 2nd Baptist in Bloomington. It doesn’t get any better than that.

    • cycleguy says:

      In this case it might have been. They are an older couple who has grown up on hymns. I’m not sure they would too thrilled with 2nd Baptist’s style either. 🙂

  2. What is amazing is watching Pigeon Forge grow into what it has become over the past 40 years. Few probably realize what’s happened. It’s the same as those who constantly want to make the Church relevant.

  3. Daniel says:

    What I have seen in certain churches is the attempt to continue to outdo what they did last time. As part of this “game” they slowly get more and more edgy, they turn things more and more into a circus or, still worse, a game show with prizes and giveaways of trinkets and worthless crap. I can tell you that I won’t be a part of that kind of sideshow where they build themselves up more and more and Jesus becomes less and less. But the thing is, these changes happen so slowly that it can likely escape notice.

    • cycleguy says:

      You point out several key issues Daniel. All of them good. It looks like a circus. they build themselves up. And it happens slowly over time. Fantastic thoughts.

  4. Zee says:

    I have pretty much changed churches this year due to the fact that I knew the entire Sam’s church (it’s small) and he didn’t know a lot of people in mine… plus his church consists mostly of young families.

    However, being on a board of the previous church, I remember all the talks about “we need to do this” or “we need to do that” in regards to getting people’s interest in Church and God.

    If anything, one of the things I like in Sam’s church is its simplicity. There are times when I do long for some more “action” because I grew up with it, but I don’t know if I would like “all action” again. I’ve been to Hillsong and that’s what I *didn’t like* – everyone’s hyped. Perhaps for an extravert it would be okay, but for an introvert it’s overwhelming.

    • cycleguy says:

      There is much to be said about simplicity Zee. While I like more uptempo songs, I am okay with the simple ones as well. The important thing is you have found a “home.”

  5. floyd says:

    I’m with you. Worship is about giving. It is in the giving that we receive… and in ways that far out weigh the thrilling of our physical senses.

  6. Pam says:

    Yes, Bill, if we just introduce people to Jesus and His Word, He will take care of the rest–no hype needed!

  7. Nancy says:

    You should go on vacation more often! Great articles!

    • cycleguy says:

      Are you trying to get rid of me? 🙂

      • Nancy says:

        No, I like your style. I love that you and your family had such great quality vacation time together. All families need that respite especially if life has thrown a few curve balls in their direction. It gives us parents the opportunity to discover that our adult children are indeed capable of handling their own lives. Most importantly, we rise to the responsibility of bonding and spoiling the grand children who think we are “the greatest!”

        Anyway, vacation, family, new experiences, new places, no worries, good food, rest, exercise, good times, educational sites and just good ole playing revived, refreshed and realigned our pastor. Even though I never suspected you were overdue for your 500,000 mile tune up, the adjustments removed the winkles from your brow.

  8. Betty Draper says:

    Couldn’t agree with you more brother. A multitude followed Jesus when He preformed miracles but when He told them to leave everything and follow Him only a few followed. It hasn’t changed one bit since then, people are looking for the something that will stir their senses, not a changed heart. I don’t want to hear how many people attended our church last week or what the offering was but tell me about the hearts that were changed, how God has taught them to handle life His way. Good post….

    • cycleguy says:

      I have said the same things about lives changed (hearts changed)
      Betty. The hard thing would be to put a qualifier on that. I mean, how in the world would we put that in the bulletin? 😀

      • Betty Draper says:

        Hummm…I never thought about putting people testimonies in the bulletin along with all the other stuff. But you know that might not be a bad idea. Once a month have an extra insert that has a person in your church written testimony of how they came to the Lord, who told them about Jesus, etc.

        Our son church is doing their vacation bible school every sunday night for five weeks. While the kids program is going the adults meet to hear a testimony of someone in the church of what God has been doing in their lives the past year and then there is a outside speaker sharing. We have been going, very encouraging, great speakers. I have never seen VBS done that way but it is drawing the adults in to hear God’s word, instead of dropping their children off for VBS. They do a simple meal before, hot dog, hamburger, pot luck…then get fed from God’s word. I’m not saying this is for your church, just interesting how some churches are trying some new methods to get truth out there. We go to that pm service because we love to hear good teaching, even went last Sunday night without our son and family being there.

        What is interesting to me is believers in the jungles will sit for hours and share, but then again there is no TV to hurry home to to entertain them. Easier to reach hearts in the remote jungles and I think it’s because there is less distractions.

  9. Hi Bill,

    And his word is so attractive and fulfilling! 🙂 Taking time to explain in and to make the meaning clear is a neat skill though and one that we are all working on, huh? I’m sure you do that well too. I liked the illustration of the spiritual leaders stopping to make the meaning clear in Nehemiah when Ezra was reading to the people from that wooden platform. And the result? The people were undone and wooed by their amazing God who had been chasing them through the last 140-some years! I love that story.

    Have a great vacation! We have one coming up soon too. I’m looking forward to seeing family out of state.

    Jennifer Dougan
    http://www.jenniferdougan.com