What Does Closed Worship Communicate?
Posted February 28th 2010 @ 6:16 am by Jerod
This is a picture of Keith and Kristyn Getty, two of the best modern hymn writers of our time, leading worship this morning in Nashville. While I was able to participate in this amazing worship opportunity, if you were here in Nashville, you couldn’t. Here’s why.
I’m currently at the National Religious Broadcasters Convention where I’m helping promote the radio and internet ministries of ReFrame Media. As I walked into the church service at the convention center this morning, there were a line of people asking to see my badge. I asked what happened if I didn’t have one and I was told I wouldn’t have been allowed in. The service was for paying NRB convention goers only. We’re staying at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel which is massive. There are thousands of rooms, but if someone wanted to come worship this morning, they’d be denied.
I’ve written about my frustration with closed worship at the NRB in the past, but this year I decided to talk with a convention representative to see why the service wasn’t open. I was told since 9-11 the worship service had been restricted because of security concerns. NRB organizers believe they are a target.
So here’s my key question key question: What message does a closed worship service send? Here are the three that come to my mind.
First, it says we’re about reaching the lost, but we’re only comfortable using TV, radio and the internet. When it comes to meeting people face to face, we’re out.
Second, it communicates Christianity is an insider’s club.
Third, it says we care more about your money than your salvation.
How about you? Are there things you’d add to the list? Or am I way off? Is there ever a time where closed worship is okay?
(For the record, I’m calling shenanigans on the security excuse. If someone wanted to cause people harm, not having a badge wouldn’t stop them. Come on NRB, open the worship service in 2011.)
Comments (1)
Thank you Jason for your thoughtful and bold post. I think that more than the “closed” / “open” worship question, the problem you identify is what happens when we attach money to our Christian practices. And “shenanigans” is at least what I’d call their security excuse. If security is the question, then an id check might be a better way to go. So is the NRB registration designed to keep out terrorists or to fund the convention? Seems doubtful that security is the primary function. The saddest aspect of NRB’s practice is that their thin excuse doesn’t pass the world’s “sniff test.” Outsiders will know it for what it is, a financial issue that NRB isn’t willing own. Not an ideal representation of our Christian faith and practice. st I’ve attended a couple of NRB conventions.
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