For some time now I've been struggling with how much it seems to cost to "do church" here in the U.S., particularly to provide a really cutting edge worship service. The constant worry over really happening set designs, new software, programmable lighting systems and the like has been exhausting for me primarily because I felt so torn about the amount of money many of these things cost.
In short, I felt that sometimes our abundance can distract us from what truly matters. We focus on what we have or don't have and we sometimes forget the goal!
Don't get me wrong. I want to do the best job I can as a worship pastor. I want to provide a worshipful atmosphere for our congregation and lead worship with absolute excellence. But God is adding another aspect to this equation for me.
You see, for the past year or so, we've struggled to meet budget at church. Our budget numbers are fairly meaningless because we've tried very hard to spend nothing we absolutely did not need to. This has greatly limited us but at the same time it has forced us to focus on that which really matters.
In worship, for instance, I am not sure that adding programmable lighting would enhance anyone's worship experience. I don't think it would help them connect to God in a more meaningful way. So since new equipment is out of the question (unless something breaks - which our projector did!) I must ask the most important question as a worship pastor - what DOES help our congregation connect with God in meaningful ways? And how can we provide it at little or no cost?
Here are a few things we can provide that are low cost:
- the opportunity to worship in community with others
- well planned out worship services that give invitation and space to connect with God
- times of focused prayer for my faith community
- continual leadership development of the leaders on my team so we continually grow and improve
- teaching of the congregation about biblical worship
- creative ideas to share truths in fresh ways
- passionate leaders who model worship
- ministering to those on my team and in my congregation through spending time with them
- encouraging those around me
- giving my very best to my every day tasks as the worship pastor at The Brook
Those are just a few things off the top of my head! I'm sure that if we thought longer we could come up with many more ideas.
But God's been doing even MORE in my heart as I've been ministering in third world countries and preparing to train and equip worship leaders there. The question that keeps rolling around in my heart, the question that will not go away, is this:
What if we were to simplify not because we must (due to money issues), but because we desired to be a blessing to others?
What if we simplified in our home churches and used that money to help churches in the developing world? What if we were to teach our congregations that church is not about us and that we might could do without a new gadget or something that is cool in order to provide some basic equipment for a church that has very little? What if we decided not to upgrade our mics to the newest fav, or if we kept our older guitar instead of buying a new toy and used that money to provide basic microphones, and an instrument or training for a church leader in Central America? What if we cared just as much about seeing God's name be magnified around the world, in every nation, as we do about having church programs that meet our own personal needs?
How would this attitude bless the church world-wide?
How would this change us? How could it realign our priorities and help us to see what truly matters?
What do you think? Is it time to simplify for the sake of others?
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