Are we doing church wrong?

Bobby Cole said:
As a side, if you have never been to a main stream Church of Christ, you gotta go.
They do absolutely believe in making a joyful noise unto the Lord but sans the use of mechanical instrumentation ergo the music is completely a capella.
The whole congregation is the choir complete with well practiced 3 and 4 part harmony. In short, it is absolutely beautiful and highly emotional.

Note: It isn’t that people worshipping at a Church of Christ hate instruments at all.
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I never attended a main stream C of C, but went to several small rural C of C, from birth till about 21. There was no Sunday school, no instruments, no women speaking except by singing along, no minister or pastor and each service had a different speaker. Sure the Wednesday night speakers were the worst and keeping my eyes open after a hard days work, was difficult. Luckily, it wasn't one where some guy felt multi cups for sanitation, was wrong as Christ used one cup. That seemed so stupid to me. Also back in the day of the early church, they used wine, not grape juice, so fanatics over something so trivial, raised questions in my mind.

I mean when old brother Jackson is coughing and hacking up mucous, I will pass on drinking after him. I was never one to sit on a front row, just to avoid the chance of getting sick. One of my Great Aunts, in the backwoods of East Texas, went to a one cup congregation. I stayed with her a lot when I was young, before baptism, but as a member, never visited her that involved attending a Sunday service.

I was an instrument player, harmonica, guitar, banjo, lute, and also played violin, viola, cello, and bass, but never in the church. A few of us would get together privately and play our instruments on Sunday afternoon. We played all kinds of music, but always included the old gossip classics. I have been to many after worship services a capella singings where C of C, Baptist, and 7th Day Advent, all got together. That was some beautiful singing. They couldn't worship together, but could sing together. That never made any sense to me.

Bobby is right. If you haven't been and you like old time gospel music, then go to a church or gathering that is a capella.

I love these guys, a real 4 part harmony and mix several songs, old and new, for something more original and heartfelt.
 
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My preference is for a small church with little or no paid staff. I don't need a dynamic speaker behind the pulpit. As long as the pastor knows the Bible, there shouldn't be a need for a dynamic speaker, since a faith that is dependent on regular hits of emotion is one that is weak. While dynamic speakers can be effective for reaching people for Christ or extracting money from those who have signed on, the New Testament roles for a pastor are as a shepherd and caregiver, teacher of Scripture, spiritual leader and overseer, and as an example or model.

Modern mega-churches bring a lot of people into the fold, but they need constant infusions of emotional preaching to stay, and, far too often, they don't do a particularly good job in the roles that a pastor is supposed to have, particularly as examples or models of Christian behavior.
 
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On my walk, if I pass a bush that suddenly catches on fire and I hear the voice of God say to go back to church, then I will pick one that has no paid staff, no pastor, and where all members can speak, not at once, but in an orderly fashion. Where anyone moved to sing, can sing and songs come from the heart and not books with music. A place where prayers are never said out loud, but in accordance with Christ instructions, and there is a big potluck after services.
 
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