Being boring is a sin

I think being boring is a sin,

says Jeff Henderson, CEO of Atlanta's Buckhead Church. In the current issue of Vision, a magazine of church technology, Henderson opens up about why some churches might not be reaching non-Christians. He goes on to say,

If we really believe that Jesus is who He says He is, we have to be the happiest, most creative, most joyful people around. The reason the world has given up on the church is that they see through us. I don't think they think we really believe what we believe. I would rather go down smiling and laughing than being boring and antagonistic with each other...creativity and having fun are essential. I think that's what Jesus did.

As someone who has said on more than one occasion, "If laughter is not involved, I'm not going," I'm not in a position to take exception to the idea that church should not being boring. But none of us could readily agree on which part of a worship service might be boring and which part is the part where God is speaking to you.

Back in Atlanata, Henderson's church is a campus of Andy Stanley's growing North Point Ministries. Like many mega churches, they understand the goal of reaching a lost and dying world with the Gospel and are unafraid to adapt their methods to reach this goal.

North Point, bridges this gap, in a pattern common to mega churches, in using small groups that create the space for more serious discussion on life changing issues to continue. These small groups turn down the volume on entertainment and crank up the expectations of follow through during the week. At least for those who sign up and regularly attend their small group.

I admire this. I also wonder when the methods begin to teach. When that happens, it will begin with the main services of the church, through which people identify their church. When the medium becomes the message, we could come to see God as a great entertainer and can't find God in those times that are not so joyfilled? Certainly in very different churches from Buckhead, some people have come to see God as stained glass, pews and organ music.

How can we break beyond the confines of the worship space to teach as we believe that God is present throughout the creation and that God is definitely NOT boring. Is there a way to teach in a way that we come to faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and not in a given church or that church's methods of conveying the Gospel?

peace,
Frank+
The Rev. Frank Logue, Pastor + King of Peace Episcopal Church