“We have some traditional worshipers who clearly would prefer a service that is predictable every week in its order, all worshipers enter quietly, no one speaks during the service except the pastors ( and only from the lectern or pulpit), all hymns are in a classical style, and video is never used. ”

This is my third and final column commenting on the results of a recent survey we took in our traditional worship service.

In the first column (March 18), I said that the reason we have an 11:00 Traditional service is the same as why we have an 11:00 Contemporary service and why we have an 8:30 Sonrise service.  It’s because some of our church family prefer it.  We may have convinced ourselves that God likes one over the other, but that’s only projecting our preferences (and probably blind spots) on him.

In the second column (March 25), we went further.  Worship is not about God directing the pastor or musicians to perform for the people.  It is about the worship leaders directing the people to “perform” for God – that is, to offer their voices, their minds, their hearts to him.

All that sounds good, but we still have the “human element” in worship.  We all have our own preferences and desires.  And we bring them to church. 

One might think that worshipers in a traditional service would all be similarly minded.  And there are some commonalities.  Many traditional worshipers affirmed the choir and organ, the pastor’s sermons, the use of the Apostles’ Creed and Lord’s Prayer, and the physical beauty of the sanctuary.

But there were clear differences.  “I like when we combine traditional and contemporary.”  “The combined service leaves me cold.”  “More praise music.”  “More traditional hymns.”  “My favorite moments include greeting each other in the church family.”  “I like it when the pastor doesn’t require us to make small talk at the welcome time.”

What’s a pastor to do?  First, we own the obvious.  Whether in a traditional, contemporary, or blended worship service, we’re not there to make everyone happy.  Not only is that an unattainable goal; it is an unwise goal.  Neither are we there to fulfill or insist on our own preferences as worship leaders.  Part of what it means to be a body is learning to yield to one another.

We have some traditional worshipers who clearly would prefer a service that is predictable every week in its order, all worshipers enter quietly, no one speaks during the service except the pastors ( and only from the lectern or pulpit), all hymns are in a classical style, and video is never used.  There are a couple of reasons I can’t promise that.  First, in my view, it’s the quickest way to kill traditional worship through a rapidly dwindling congregation.  Second, it simply reinforces an unhealthy attitude toward the desires of those who have different preferences.

By far the overwhelming number of responses and comments in our survey were positive.  Worshipers appreciate the pastors, the musicians, and the setting.  They expressed their preferences and suggestions (which is what we asked them to do), but they are also very grateful for the opportunity to worship at Corinth.  May God give us all wisdom as we seek to worship him in spirit and in truth.

If you are interested in a summary of the survey results on traditional worship, e-mail me (see “Contact”) or call the church office (828.328.6196).