The church that I pastor has seen steady, sustained growth for the past nine years. There were 32 my first Sunday in the fall of 2004. We now average near 140. We have grown at an average rate of about 10% per year. Oh, and we use only a piano and organ as instruments while singing hymns out of a hymnbook.
I know there is a lot more to our church, and to every church, than the music. However, I dare say that most of the people who have visited our church from another area church have come because of the music.
We have specific reasons that we use the traditional music that we use. We think it provides the right foundation for the rest of the service. However – no one – and I mean no one that has ever come to our church because of the music has told me how much they appreciate our ‘stand’ or how much they admire our ‘standards’ on the music issue. Without fail they tell me that the music in their old church was just “too loud”. That’s right: TOO LOUD!
What? Is it true that the music issue to most people is not an issue of right or wrong worship styles? Is it true that while the more contemporary churches are spending a lot of money on enhanced sound systems and semi-professional bands and while traditional churches such as ourselves are preaching the importance of the ‘old fashioned way’ – that in reality most people are affected by the decibel level? The answer is a resounding – YES!
According to my personal physician, the number one reason that people are now coming into his office is migraines. We are told that the Autism birthrate in the United States right now is 1 in 88 (per the Center for Disease Control). That is ten times higher than it was a decade ago.
If our congregations are dealing with migraines and other head ache issues and if our children are dealing with the sensory issues of Autism – than why in the world are we playing our music so loud that it is negatively affecting people.
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Just a thought to ALL churches, traditional or contemporary: The music is TOO LOUD! Turn it down! Technology is great – but it is hurting your congregations’ heads and ears.
Sometimes it is not a spiritual issue. It is a common sense issue.
Pastor Wes Gunther – Cedar Hill Baptist Church, Dillsburg PA
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