Comments on: Churches Should Learn to Shut Up Too

By: Rose Coward

Rose Coward — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 01:38:09 +0000

Some great thoughts here, I’m trying to log them in my memory. I do appreciate though when the music leader gives a short explanation before a song, so that we are worshiping God in “mind” and not just in “soul” and “strength”. But perhaps the emphasis was on “each” song. It does us good service to be called to consider what it is we are saying to God.

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Thu, 14 May 2009 08:07:47 +0000

What if the desire to be excellent has more to do with ‘working as to the Lord’ rather than with the primary consciousness of what ‘the audience’ is thinking? Mistakes then require no apology, except to the one we’re working for — and he knows if it is really a mistake, or just poor planning. Some of this talk-talk is born out of a misplaced sense of priority — we’re working for God, not for the congregation, remember?
My particular pet peeve is the nice but not truthful talk-talk when someone in a key position is departing. Like the time our former pastor spent 15 minutes extolling the virtues of someone he had just fired, going on about what good friends they were, etc. Talk about killing credibility…

By: Doug

Doug — Wed, 13 May 2009 11:21:46 +0000

Since the comments have taken a more “worship-oriented” bent, here is why we must be careful about what we say: Because the world is FULL of distractions that can keep us from noticing and responding to God, and people have more-or-less stated with their actions that they have come to focus on Him (at whatever level that may be–from curious to committed), we should do everything we can to not cause even more distractions.

By: mike

mike — Wed, 13 May 2009 11:09:55 +0000

sometimes we are too focussed on being “professional” and having “excellence” — sort of christian worship leader terms that describes having everything perfect based on the mistaken belief that visitors/guests/nont-yet-christians will immediately leave the church at the first hint of something not done right. the problem is two-fold: it assumes that people in “the world” cannot tolerate mistakes. it also assumes that churches are to focus on being “attractional” rather than “missional” that the sunday morning service is the end all be all of the church’s ministry.
i suggest we relax a little more and be real rather than trying to be something that is impossible.

By: mike

mike — Wed, 13 May 2009 11:08:51 +0000

By: mike

mike — Wed, 13 May 2009 11:07:06 +0000

By: Roger

Roger — Sun, 10 May 2009 21:01:34 +0000

When speakers or musicians get up and apologies before they play or speak at how they are not a good speaker or player.

By: Ani R.

Ani R. — Sat, 09 May 2009 10:26:34 +0000

How about the speaker who feels the need to cram every piece of info he can into the sermon notes page & power point so people won’t miss out on all the wisdom he’s shared in his sermon? Is there a kind & gentle way to let him know that if people have zoned out half-way through his message from information overload, they’re certainly not going to go back and read a double-sided page of talking points about it?

By: e. barrett

e. barrett — Fri, 08 May 2009 11:16:00 +0000

I was thinking about this the other week. I do a lot of teaching (both professionally and volunteer-wise) and one of the best tactics you can use is silence. After you make a strong point, sometimes saying nothing for a few seconds is the best way to make it stick.
But often as a communicator you feel the “pressure of the silence” and it’s hard to not fill that void. It’s the same for groups – most people hate the idea of being alone with their thoughts, so they fill it with talking, music, or anything else.

By: e. barrett

e. barrett — Fri, 08 May 2009 11:14:53 +0000