For as many years as I've been a pastor (17, but who's counting?), one of the most often recurring discussions about Sunday morning worship services has been about how to draw and encourage members of the congregation into participating rather than observing--i.e. a gathering of active worshipers rather than an appreciative audience.
In my experience this conversation has run near and far, far and wide. People have argued that it's about the style of music, or the tempo of music, or the key that the music is in (too high for men, too low for women). People have argued that it's about the elements that are included in the service--are they traditional, contemporary, engaging or confusing to people? Aimed at church-goers? Aimed at the unchurched? People have suggested it's about the preaching of the word. Is it expository? Topical? Relevant? In other words: Can the preacher quote lyrics from the song Boom Boom Pow to illustrate his point? My personal favorite was a debate several years ago about any instrumental solo or fill sections in worship songs, "That," many argued, "is where worship ends and and performance begins!"
A handful of congregations have embraced a new idea for congregant's actively participating in worship services: Tweet in church. Give this article a read. Or this one. Or this one from Tall Skinny Kiwi. I'd be interested to hear from you--what do you think? Is it sacrilege? Would it be a distraction? Just think, someone could tweet: "This would be a very worshipful service except for the solo--that was performance!" Is participating in 140 character quips that would be visible to all a good idea, or a horrible one?
I'll give you some of my thoughts in the coming days.
Maybe I'm just bad at multi-tasking - okay I *am* bad at that but still - seems like for any given moment it'd be either listen/attend or tweet, but not both.
Posted by: bc | June 30, 2009 at 10:31 AM
I'd find another church.
Posted by: Jackie | June 30, 2009 at 10:46 PM
The focus would be off God who deserves our worship and on ourself and what I think. The place of worship should be free of distractions and focused on the truths the bible teaches. Is tweeting a responce to God from the heart?
Posted by: Jimmy c | July 01, 2009 at 06:59 AM