I've been thinking about whether or not to bring this up for a while now. I have driven past this church just south of Waco several times over the last two years or so and I just can't help be in wonder of this banner that has been splayed on the outside of the building. Now, I don't even remember the denomation of this congregation and I guess it doesn't really matter. What matters is that I most clearly have an issue with this 30 minutes worship idea. Just thinking about driving down I-35 makes me remember that I'm going to pass this church and that blasted banner and that I'm going shake my head in befuddled amazement once again.Indulge me as I wrestle aloud with my apparent 'problem' with this abbreviated worship concept. First of all, who is this 'quickie' aimed at? If someone has 30 minutes don't they have an hour? Is the decision to worship God on a Sunday morning just so inconvenient that people are feeling the need to bolt after half an hour? I know a lot of retail Christians who take what need from Christ and leave the rest on the shelf. Let's say this church is trying to appeal to first time visitors and seekers and are trying to 'ease' them into an hour long worship (horrors). At what point do they spring it on these unsuspecting folks that there is more to their spirituality than 30 minutes on a Sunday morning. How will people ever find out that the community of the church (if this is what they are seeking) involves time in service to others and time in in-depth study. I just can't help but feel like our society is always trying to make things more 'palitable' in order to sell the product. We want convenience...even to the point of making sure worship doesn't interfer with our real lives. I mean, we wouldn't want to be the last one on the lake! Worship and spirituality is what it is. So many congregations are trying to be all things to all people and then end up serving their congregations poorly. Just like any relationship, a relationship with God takes work and time investment. Maybe one day I will be bothered less by this banner...but probably not.
3 comments:
Hi Rachel,
My name is Kevin Harrison and I'm the pastor of the church that developed the 30 minute worship concept, VLC in Waco, TX (www.vlcwaco.com).
Let me help everyone reading understand the heart behind what we're doing: First of all, we still have our “normal” service which lasts an hour and twenty minutes, but we offer this service as an additional option for several reasons: 1) We have some people in our area who work on Sunday and it works for them to be able to go to service in this time frame; 2) We have people who suffer from medical conditions who can’t sit for more than 30 minutes at a time; and 3) We use this service for all of our volunteers who serve in some other place in ministry on Sunday mornings at our 10am worship gathering. How many times do volunteers in churches get overlooked as they serve with everything inside of them, but they find themselves missing out on attending a corporate worship gathering? We have determined that if we only do it for our volunteers that it is 100% worth the effort!
The ultimate goal is to get people to come into the door and then work them into our community. We have understood from the beginning that this service will not be for everyone and that's cool. However, it's been very effective and people's lives have been changed in the process. Remember: We are the ones who created a length of time for a service; it's not a biblical command. Furthermore, we can sit in a two hour service and that doesn't make us more spiritual. Our LIVES should reflect worship 24-7-365!
I actually find that I have to put more preparation time in to get a message down to 15 minutes. I would encourage everyone to go to our website, www.30minuteworship.com, and listen to an audio message so you can hear for yourself. I would submit that if you can get a person to come to church for 30 minutes, it's better than someone not coming at all!
Thanks for posting this and I pray God will bless you amazingly!
Kevin Harrison
Wow! someone other than my mom read my blog! :) Dear Kevin, thank you for your comments on the 30 minute worship post. I think I now understand the target for your this service. I too know what it's like to go to church on a Sunday to find that I'm so many directions that church didn't happen for me. but during worship, everything stops for everyone and we all finally get the moment to worship and be in God's midst as a collective group. Thanks again for the time you took to engage in a fun theological discussion. Peace to you
Dear Rachel,
Clearly your heart is concerned for the right reasons. Bless you for caring, as most would rather stay silent about their Christian beliefs and principles.
One of the reasons for 30 minute worship is that soo many out there would like to get to know the Lord thru church, but they feel like outsiders. Or they feel foreign to the process involved in visiting and selecting a church. 30 minute worship makes it easier and safer for someone to approach a church and then hopefully attend and a become a contributing member of that body.
Sadly, there are MANY Christians who make non-church goers feel like outsiders. When they do attend church, and TRY to get closer to the Lord, they get dirty looks from the "church insiders". VLC in Waco tries to reach EVERYONE and make all feel welcome. The greatness of 30 minute worship is that makes it easy for someone that wants to go to a church - but is afraid to go in.
Again, obviously your heart serves the Lord, and for that, you dont stay silent. GOOD FOR YOU! And God Bless you!
-Mark (used to be one of those "outsiders").
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