Every Sunday morning, I am transported to another place in time.
There are no contemporary aesthetics, only architecture and relics that
scream “church”. The pastor does not stand on a stage with cool graphics
flashing in the background and deliver his sermon from a little round
cafe table or no table at all. He stands behind a big wooden pulpit, you
know the kind that churches used to use. The music consists of a blend
of hymns (sung classic style) and more contemporary songs…well
contemporary for 40 years ago. There’s no big screens to follow along,
only hymn books and our worship guide. And there is an organ! When the
pastor preaches, he does not bring up props or gimmicks and try to make
the message cool. He exposits from a carefully selected text and
preaches the word. He’ll use personal anecdotes only sparingly as it
assists in the explanation of the text.
Now admittedly, I am new to the church. But I’ve been at this type of
church before – small and seemingly unappealing to contemporary
sensibilities (some differences in affiliation). Yet, these two
churches are probably the best I’ve encountered for progress in the
faith. Why? Because I believe the focus is where it needed to be – on
feeding the faith of God’s gathered people through gospel-centered
preaching, rich biblical studies and the provoking of genuine
fellowship. It hit me a couple of weeks ago that if someone who is
accustomed to cool, hip, “culturally relevant” churches were to come
into these folds, they might be turned off and wonder why the church is
so far behind. There might be the question of how these kind of churches
will attract people to them since they don’t have any symbolism of
contemporary culture. Continue at Lisa Robinson
