Pastors can't always choose

Pastors have preferences like everyone else. Take church music for example, one of the most opinionated subjects in modern Christianity.

I for one really enjoy the sound of an acoustic guitar and wouldn't mind a guitar-led worship service, so long as the guitarist is really trained in both music and leading congregational singing. I like the piano, but I would prefer additional acoustic instruments for a richer sound.

I appreciate solos and other so-called "specials", but I would rather sing and hear the voices of the congregation singing all around me. I don't want to sing songs that just show-case the talents of the musicians or singers, but songs that invite everyone's involvement. That means it can't be so loud that the music drowns out the congregation.

I don't need a choir every Sunday, a praise team or a single leader fits me just fine. And I don't mind if the praise leaders are expressive (raised hands, spontaneous praises) so long as they are considerate of others and aren't distracting to me, which is a very subjective thing to say.

I don't particularly care for old-time gospel music written in the 50's like you might here from Gaither. I wish they would rename that whole genre and preserve the term "gospel music" for actual gospel-saturated, cross-centered music.

I happen to like historic hymns of the faith and also many of the contemporary songs written for worship today, so I really want to sing a mixture of the best of both. I want to sing, "A Mighty Fortress is Our God" by Luther and "Your Grace is Enough" by Tomlin provided the songs flow and have substance.

I prefer less talking between songs, in fact, I don't need any transitional, explainational, introductory or devotional statements or stories during the singing. Sometimes it is truly helpful, but I would prefer a prayer or Scripture reading instead. At the very least, I like talking kept to a minimum.

I would rather the lights be up during a worship service. If I were at a concert or watching a movie or listening to an entertainer, then by all means lower the lights, but I don't need the lights lowered to make me feel more intimate with God. I want to know I am with the people of God. The only exception to this is if the meeting room dwarfs the congregation. In that case, I like the lights lowered to make the room feel less empty.

So those are some of my opinions about church music. They are my preferences and I feel like I can justify them. I'm also certain there is a church somewhere within driving distance that fits my preferences, at least initially. But, unlike most Christians in America, I can't choose to go to that church. When it comes to our own preferences, pastors can't always choose what they want.

Here's some of my thoughts why:

Pastors have to think about the whole church body, not just themselves. We are shepherds after all, and the needs of the flock come before our own wants. I don't mean to say people's preferences come before our preferences. I mean people come before our preferences. People with varying, sometimes divergent, opinions go to my church. There is no way in the world I can please them all or throw their perspective out the door. As a pastor I have to think about them all, not just a few. Somehow pastors have to strive for a God-glorifying balance, a median.

Also, pastors have to take what they have and gratefully use it as best as they can. Small churches don't have the options larger churches have. You can only do musically what your people are capable of. You can only employ the people and purchase the equipment you have the budget for. You have to nuture and mentor both the under-trained and the immature.

And, if pastors don't like something about the music or other aspect of the ministry, they can't leave to find what they like somewhere else. Of all the people in America, only pastors can't leave over their preferences. Well, they can but then they wouldn't be good shepherds. No, pastors must have tremendous patience, a willingness to wait on God and on their preferences.

Sometimes I envy the person who can just pick and choose their church, but not for long. I don't think they have the right perspective. Soon they'll be looking again. Church is not the sum-total of our preferences. It is much more. Heaven knows how much more. What about God's preferences anyway? Now, that's a good question.

Please arrive 30 minutes early

I visited a church website the other day and found this helpful advice under the list of service times: Please arrive 30 minutes early to ensure yourself a seat. I wasn't surprised by it. After all, even I was lining up to download a sermon.

But it did make me pause. "What would it be like," I found myself thinking, "to pastor a church where five weekend services aren't even enough to ensure everyone a seat?" Congregants saving seats half an hour early? Standing room only? I can imagine the buzz in the air and the sense of expectation.

I've experienced it. I attended the Shepherd's Conference at Grace Communinity Church where John MacArthur pastors. The evening sessions were open to the public. I was anxious to arrive early so I wouldn't have to watch from the gymnasium. People were always lined up at every door to ensure themselves a seat in the enormous sanctuary.

In the late 90's, the church where I eventually served as an associate pastor, had standing room only. Three morning services still couldn't accomodate the number of people who wanted to attend. The sanctuary wasn't comfortable, but it was exciting. I dreamed of getting on the staff of this church and it happened.

Fast forward. I'm pastoring a church now and this past Easter Sunday we could have easily seated 3x as many people. On some Sundays the empty seats seem to shout, "Where is everybody?" It's the anti-buzz affect.

It is your ordinary church. It had standing-room-only services in the past. It was once the buzz of the town. That's why it built this new sanctuary that today we don't even begin to fill. There is a church down the road that moved into a brand new facility last year ("phase one") and they are already contemplating a third service. My church has been there, but not now.

What is it that makes me pause and wonder what it would be like to have a church where you have to come 30 minutes early to get a seat? Envy. Discontentment. Self-pity. Pride. All the evil vices that you think you've conquered but you really haven't.

What do you do about it?

For one, love where God has placed you. If you believe He is sovereign in all things then remember that God has sovereignly placed you where you are. He wants you there or you you wouldn't be there. Don't just accept it, love it. God placed you right where He wanted you, no mistake. Choose to be content and to happily serve, trusting to God's sovereign purposes. Repent of being discontent and unbelieving. That's the main thing, I think.

For another thing, think through it rationally. Some pastors really do have incredible giftedness and you enjoy their sermons, too. Some churches, like the one that started this whole thought-process, are located in the middle of metro-plexes of millions. Some churches go through seasons like this and they are truly a blessing but that doesn't mean it will always be like that. Besides, crowds are not necessarily a sign of fruitfulness or blessing. Faithfulness isn't measured by numbers in the pew.

Finally, get some perspective. While describing my church to an old friend on Facebook I was suddenly struck by what a blessing my congregation is. He is a missionary in France. Any ordinary pastor in France would love to have what most ordinary pastors in America have. Then I remember my friends in Bosnia and their little church of fifteen to twenty in a city of over a 100,000. There are churches today in New York City praying for just as many to show up at their Easter services. Biographies help me get perspective.

Okay, so now I'm looking ahead to this coming Sunday. What am I praying for? God, bless your church in every city around the world. Transform your church that gathers here. Bring here those you are sovereignly drawing to yourself. Cause your Name to be proclaimed and praised here; from the heart and not just the lips. Fill us with your Spirit. Fill us with faith. Work in us to work and to will for Your good pleasure. Keep me faithful. Keep me joyful.

Come early, Lord. Stay late.

Before the sun comes up

God does not sleep. I sleep. I wake up in the morning. The sun is just coming up behind the trees on the other side of my street. Another day has begun. Nothing has happened in my life, for better or for worse, for seven or eight hours.

Then, from that point on, the main things on my mind are the things that directly concern me. From the time I wake up to the time I fall asleep again, I am absorbed with my world. And I feel that God must be absorbed with my world, too. He must be.

Somewhere along the way I've begun to think that because I wake up every day to the things that concern me, God must wake up every day to the things that concern me; as if He has just been waiting for my day to begin or has come out of a night's slumber to tend just to me.

But I've remembered something recently that rebukes me.

Before the sun comes up on me it has been shining over half the world. Before the sun comes up on me God has been attentive to the needs and prayers of tens of millions of Christians and their ordinary pastors. Before the sun comes up on me He's been gazing on the plight of 4 million orphans in Ethiopia and the famine, poverty and disease that rocks the African continent. Before the sun comes up on me He has heard the prayers offered to millions of false gods in India. Before the sun comes up on me, a hundred nations and thousands of people groups have been on God's radar as He unfolds His eternal purpose for them all.

Then, my alarm clock rings.

God is not absorbed with the things that concern me. He cares about my cares. He is with me. But I am not the sole focus of God's attention, neither is my church or my community or my nation. It ought to be the other way around. I should be absorbed in the things that concern Him.