BETTER BY SUNDAY
FOOTBALL CHURCH | Paul Herman
MAD AT THE WORLD
I’ll admit it.
One of my must-read book recommendations
Hope
is The Jesus I Never Knew by Philip Yancey.
Recently I was in Phoenix, AZ visiting my Philip has a lot to say about what church
daughter and we decided to attend a different currently is - and could be. Should be. He
church. A very different church. It’s called observes, “The more unsavory the characters,
Buffalo Wild Wings—during football season. the more at ease they seemed to feel around
Jesus… In contrast, Jesus got a chilly response
On Sunday morning, the faithful gather early, from more respectable types. How strange this
and church lasts ALL day and night. There are pattern seemed, since the Christian church
3 services, each about 3-4 hours long. I quickly now attracts respectable types who closely
discovered that I was dressed inappropriately. I resemble the people most suspicious of Jesus
wasn’t wearing a team jersey, hoodie, baseball on earth. What has happened to reverse the
hat or even a team T-shirt. The worship was pattern of Jesus’ day? What would it take… for
energetic, boisterous and deeply passionate church to become a place where prostitutes,
- even more so than I’m used to. The trash tax collectors and even guilt-tinged Pharisees
From their self-titled 1987 debut, siblings talk was good-natured and face-to-face. Not would gladly gather?”
Randy and Roger Rose showed strong pop/ delivered a day later by email.
rock sensibilities tilting toward the British corner
More specifically, as worship leaders, how
of the map. Their first album had an industrial Yes, the NFL is working through some issues. do we approach what we do with purpose
Depeche Mode sound, but they shifted to a Every church leadership group does. But the and intentionality? What, if anything, needs
guitar-heavy approach over time. Their latest line from the movie Concussion still rings true: to change in our mindset and world view?
project returns to their roots, heavy in synths. “Football owns a day of the week.” Frankly, My close friend, Jennie Lee Riddle who wrote
Depeche Mode’s synth-rock remains a key between youth leagues, high school, college “Revelation Song”, is an incredibly wise lady. In
element in the mix, but album opener “Healing on and pro football, I would venture to say it owns a recent interview I asked her, “Jennie, if you
Planet Earth” more directly recalls Duran Duran, entire weekends from September through could, what would you say to every worship
and final track “You Belong to Me” is a straight January. leader?” Her answer was pure gold. Please
up homage to Jeff Lynne’s 70’s work with the
watch and listen for yourself.
Electric Light Orchestra. “Never Gonna Stop” The point here is - whether it’s football or
captures their early sound most completely, something else - we are all created to worship
but also seems a bit out of tune between its something. And the sad fact is, many people
instruments. “Moving In and Moving Out” has who used to gather and worship Jesus
fat analog bass synths like Awolnation. This is no longer do. They even have their own
clearly Christian rock, quoting Bible verses like demographic measurement: they are known
2 Chronicles 7:14 outright and saying things as “The Dones.” If you Google the term, you’ll
like “Jesus, I give you the pieces of brokenness quickly get a feel for what they’re about.
and debris.” No mysterious, unnamed “You” as
the topic of these songs!
All this to say… the time that we as church
leaders spend in sober reflection about what
we’re doing seems even more crucial right now.
Are we truly meeting people’s needs? Or has
Robert Berman
Robert is a Sunday School teacher, music nerd,
and acoustic guitar enthusiast. He lives in rural
Tennessee with his wife and three boys.
our worship service simply become predictable
routine? That may be harsh and way too blunt,
but many people have already answered by
their absence.
June 2018
My purpose here is to raise the issue. Real
answers to all these things can only be found in
the Truth. The Source. As you reflect missionally
on what each of your churches should be, it’s
the Holy Spirit that needs to be your sole guide.
Pray. Listen. Follow. Obey.
Paul Herman
Songwriter, Worship Leader,
Creator. Vancouver, WA
WorshipMusician.com
CCLI’s
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