When someone complains that a program or presentation is 'boring', what do they actually mean?
They probably mean one or two things listed below...
1. There is nothing new about it.
2. They have seen/heard that before.
3. Nothing has changed or improved over the years. Its the same old thing. The worship structure is set in cement.
4. It is predictable. They can tell the end from the beginning of the program.
5. There are no 'wow' moments.
6. It is sub standard to what they are exposed to.
7. It lacks creativity
8. Mediocrisy is tolerated.
A worship service can easily melt down to a mere maintainance mode where worshippers just drift in and out every weekend without having an encounter with God. When this happens, who should take responsibility? When a TV series drops in its ratings, does the management blame the viewers that they dont know the value of the program. On the contrary, the management, the producers of the program takes a hard look at why they are not drawing the crowds and make the necessary changes to make the program exciting.
So when the worship service becomes 'boring', the worship team and church leadership have to face the issue squarely and humbly and say 'WE ARE RESPONSIBLE AND WE HAVE DO MAKE CHANGES FOR IMPROVEMENT'.
Usually that is easier said than done. Why?
1. Our egos get in the way for us to admit that not everything is ok. Giving excuses is easier than confession.
2. Making changes is difficult because it requires e-f-f-o-r-t. Doing things the old way seem so much easier.
3. It requires stepping on some toes and getting screamed at (silent screams though, because we are supposed to be Christians, yet we know those silent screams are actually deafening). We want peace at the expense of growth. Calm seas never made good sailors.
4. We cannot demand change but rather we have to lead change by changing first. Its easier to try to change others than change ourselves.
5. It may require money. Be the best, but dont use more $$$$. (means you are required to perform a miracle) Create modern sounds from the portasound???
Yet, if we dont change, we are left behind (I dont mean the rapture), we lose our effectiveness. We lose the opportunity to experience the greater works of God and fail in reaching our enormous potential.
It was Thomas Edison who said 'Inspiration is 99% Perspiration'.
Let's make improvements in our worship services a continuous contant.
Its worth our every effort. We are called to make His praise 'glorious'.
May I add "Its a 'sin' that a worship service rendered to the only God, Supreme, Matchless and Source of all creativity, Giver of all gifts, be found (sigh..) boring".
