At a conference this past week in another city, a guy asked a group of us, “So, what’s your worship vibe?”
“Excuse me?” I asked. “What’s our vibe?”
“Yeah,” he said. “Who are you trying to be like?”
“We’re trying to be like Jesus,” said one of my co-workers.
“Yeah, I know that,” he said, “But what other churches are you trying to be like? Are you trying to be like Hillsong or Gateway or Church on the Move? Are you trying to be like Charismatic Baptists or Evangelicals with a Spirit-Filled vibe…”
“A Spirit-Filled vibe?” I asked.
“Yeah,” he said. “It doesn’t have to be real, it just has to seem like it.”
“Do you serve at a church?” I asked.
“Me, ah, no, I run a Christian magazine and I’m leading a break-out tomorrow.”
“Really?” I asked. “What’s the name of that breakout?”
He told us the name and I made a mental note not to attend.
Just for the record, serving in worship and church ministry is not about a vibe. It’s not about trying to be like Hillsong or Gateway or Fellowship or First Baptist or LifeChurch or Mosaic or First Assembly Anywhere.
Not that there’s anything wrong with them.
Those churches have to be who God called them to be. And every other church has to be who God called them to be.
And that’s ok.
You see, worship is not about suits and ties and formal wear. It’s not about skinny jeans and feminine shoes. It’s not about hymnals or projectors or candles or stained glass or hard pews or theater seating.
It’s about Jesus.
He is the One we should be trying to emulate.
And living that out is so much more than a vibe.
(Photo courtesy of Unsplash.com)
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