When church is Boring

What do you do when you find that church is boring? It’s time for a change!  Now the question is, change what?

Many folks think the answer is to change the church. I just read an article about a new church created for men only, men who find church boring. Discarding more traditional environments, they meet in a gymnasium one Saturday evening a month. A rock band provides entertainment. The preacher speaks in front of the scoreboard, with the clock running. He guarantees to have them out in one hour!

Some might not go that far, yet they still insist on change. Contemporary music, drama, and short sermons that are little more than pep talks are the order of the day. Celebration and praise are the buzzwords.

Malachi lived at a time when people found “church” boring. Speaking of Israel’s worship, God said through the prophet, “You also say, ‘My, how tiresome it is!’ And you disdainfully sniff at it” (Malachi 1:13).

God proposed two changes in these who turned up their noses at His worship.  One was to just stay home (1:10). The better solution – the change He preferred – was to repent (2:2).  Notice what God did not approve of: changing the structure or activities of worship to accommodate individual tastes.

The preacher or the one who leads the prayer can give more thought to what he says and the song leader can try to select more meaningful hymns. But when worship as God directed is boring, the main change that is needed is in the heart of the worshiper.

What do you do when you find that church is boring? It’s time for a change!  Now the question is, change what?

Many folks think the answer is to change the church. I just read an article about a new church created for men only, men who find church boring. Discarding more traditional environments, they meet in a gymnasium one Saturday evening a month. A rock band provides entertainment. The preacher speaks in front of the scoreboard, with the clock running. He guarantees to have them out in one hour!

Some might not go that far, yet they still insist on change. Contemporary music, drama, and short sermons that are little more than pep talks are the order of the day. Celebration and praise are the buzzwords.

Malachi lived at a time when people found “church” boring. Speaking of Israel’s worship, God said through the prophet, “You also say, ‘My, how tiresome it is!’ And you disdainfully sniff at it” (Malachi 1:13).

God proposed two changes in these who turned up their noses at His worship.  One was to just stay home (1:10). The better solution – the change He preferred – was to repent (2:2).  Notice what God did not approve of: changing the structure or activities of worship to accommodate individual tastes.

The preacher or the one who leads the prayer can give more thought to what he says and the song leader can try to select more meaningful hymns. But when worship as God directed is boring, the main change that is needed is in the heart of the worshiper.