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The Nicaraguan church that we worked with had concrete floors, plastic lawn chairs for seating, oscillating fans as an a/c substitute, and a garden hose tied to a sink as a source of running water.Â
As the worship band warmed up on stage before the Thursday night service, naturally, my expectations were low.
…
The worship band was, and I exaggerate not, louder than any concert that I’ve ever been to. Literally. I almost had to sit down a few times.Â
The music was CRANKIN. I looked around…nobody was putting on a show. These people who had nothing were singing out to God…eyes closed…hands raised…giving thanks…praising…joyful.
I wonder what Mr. “church music should only consist of a piano and a hymn book that smells like moth balls” would have thought about this experience.
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I’m sorry but it seems as if the church has a lot more than the congregation. In the past you’ve talked about them not having enough for food, medicine or clothing and certainly not enough for luxuries like hot water. How does that marry up with worship bands and loud music?
In an environment where there is real need isn’t a church a luxury? Maybe the need isn’t as great as I assume but even so it does feel as if the church has more than the congregation can spare. How do you feel about this?
I’m not being snarky I’d really like to talk about this.
“These people who had nothing were singing out to God”
Or they really liked the music. [/Devil's Advocate]
hoverfrog I’m confused about your statement.
What confuses you? I get the impression that the people are very poor but have spent money(or had it spent on their behalf) on a church complete with band. I’m not saying that this isn’t what they want but is it what they need?
I may have accidentally gone off at a tangent but I do think that the question is relevant anyway. When there is real need is a church something that should be invested in where the same money could be invested elsewhere like a school or medical centre or improving sanitation?
As long as AC/DC guitar licks, strobe lights and crashing motorcycles weren’t involved then I say “Mr. Church Music…” shouldn’t have a darn thing to say about it!
It’s nice to see genuine worship in whatever shape it comes. It’s a wonderful substitution to the pre-orchestrated “worship” experiences at a lot of churches today.
My thought is this [and it's worth exactly .05¢] if the focus of the worship is to bring Glory to God alone, and not the music, the instruments, the singers, the guitar players or the occasional person swinging from the ceiling fan…then no one should really have anything to say. It’s a gift to God.
I had a friend who went to Tanzania and he said their band consisted of a singer, a drummer [who made his own drums] and a guitar player whose modified amp was powered by a car battery. But he said the worship was absolutely beautiful and genuine.
What an amazing thing to be able to witness…
Jason
ooooh ok I see what you mean. And in response I would have to say yes and no. yes there are times when churches should be spending money on other things (I see this more in the mega-church area but that’s just my opinion.) However, I also see that sometimes food and air and all that is not enough. In some cases, a person may need to hear a song to remember that hope is not lost.
Being renewed spiritually can motivate them to pursue things of the world (i.e. help supporting others).
Also, many churches that spend money on themselves spend a large amount of money for the community around them. For example, one church that I went to in college raised 20,000 dollars for a pregnancy center near by.
K said
I really do get that. I would like to explore where you think it’s appropriate to draw the line.
With a business you could look at a building as an investment, advertising for more visitors, attracting more funding, improve the quality of work, etc. I can see a church operating in a similar way but rather than profits the church could use the money to fund good works, spread the message, etc. Where is the point where taking from the community outweighs giving back to the community?
$20k for a pregnancy centre seems great but what if it was $20k for a church function or a concert and the community needed a pregnancy centre? I don’t know the idea is a bit strange to me.
hoverfrog,
where is the line? I wish I knew. I feel as if it goes based on the church and the motivations behind it. But I do struggle with the line and I’m trying to figure it out myself
Yes, it’s true that Central American churches (I’ve been to many) are renowned for cranking the volume to beyond rock concert volumes.
However, the presence of a church in a community is much more than the church, or the band. 9 times out of 10, the building and the worship service materials have been donated by either North Americans or Europeans. The point though, is that a self-sufficient church in a poor community can be a huge resource for the people … both spiritually and in a monetary sense.
I know I am jumping in a little late in the discussion, but after sitting through that church service mentioned above and after meeting with and caring for the people of that community, I believe 110% that the church he writes about is exactly where money needs to be spent. Poverty is real and rampant in that community and unlike anything we’ve seen locally. However for the moments, be it once or twice a week, where people can come inside of those church walls and drop their burdens and pains on the floor, and just “be still”, those moments are priceless. Those moments help recharge that community’s batteries and help bring hope to a sometimes hopeless place. Not only is it a “church”, but it’s also a refuge, a place to come and get free medical clinic when missionaries arrive, etc…
Sending supplies, food, and money can help eleviate the issues there, but building community and restoring hope must come from within and I believe that is what the “church” is doing, via loud worship and then some.
I went to this church as well and I just wanted to say a couple things. Most of the people who served at this church weren’t from that neighborhood and were better off then the people who lived in that area. Besides a couple of amps., the church basically got by on the bare minimum. It was a large building with plastic chairs for church services and that was about it. The U.S. gave millions of dollars to help the people living out on the streets and in the trash, but with the poor economy and such a corrupt government the money was not invested wisely and made very little difference long term. Our team provided medical relief for them for a week and gave them medicine that will last them a couple of months but what do they do after that? That’s why I believe, and I believe the church does as well, that the only way to get things moving forward is by starting with Jesus.
They planted this church in the center of one of the poorest neighborhoods in Managua and have made such an unbelievable impact on the community, one that will last forever. If it weren’t for them investing their money and time into that church our team would have never been able to come in and provide free medical relief for the people with the greatest need. Kids who used to be walking the streets right outside of the church stealing and abusing others are now serving in the church. And I asked the pastor what his plans were for the church. They are currently working on raising money to buy the lot next to them so they can create an orphanage and they want to turn their church into a school during the weekdays.
While I understand all sides of the argument, we went there to bring medical attention to the people in the area, who lived in shacks. The church wasn’t very well off at all either but we also weren’t really there for them. We were there for others, who didn’t even attend the church.