The Music Is Too Loud

by Tim Swanson

I am a church brat. I went to a baptist church, in Tucson, through my childhood and teenage years. It was there that I first heard the strong opinions that church goers have about the way their home church is run. When I was a teenager, I walked into the sanctuary without taking off my hat. One older gentleman approached me, stuck his index finger right in my face and said, “Wearing that hat in here is not very Christian of you!” My response -  was to not say what I was thinking. Later, a group of church members submitted a complaint to the elders because they felt that the signs in the parking lot were too yellow. Those are some issues you don’t hear every day. However, there is one issue seems to be universal in churches today and it is the volume of the music on Sunday morning. Most often people’s comments are are specifically about the electric guitar or drums. Moon Valley Bible Church is no exception from this common commotion.

It is certainly not my goal to bash anyone for having an issue with the volume of the music on Sunday morning. In fact, I rely on the people who approach me with their opinions to help me gauge how well I’m doing at facilitating a place for people to meet with God. My hope is to foster an environment where everybody can come together to connect with God, not just the people who like loud music. I want to encourage the opinionated people to continue giving your opinions.

However, we’d do well to remember that the people who serve on the praise team and in the tech booth are there to provide a service for God and the people He loves. At MVBC and other churches all over the world, these people invest countless hours toward trying to create an experience that inspires the head - heart connection. Let’s keep James’ words close to our hearts when he says, “Know this my brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger, for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” (James 1:20-21, ESV)

I have made lots of changes to the Sunday morning experience at MVBC based on the feedback that I have gotten from people. So I don’t want anyone to hear me saying that I do not think people should come forward with their opinions. I think that, at times, God uses the congregation to help let church musicians know which direction to go. After all, I am certainly not exempt from James’ commands. So opinionated people keep it coming.