Church service evaluating?

Never listen to a sermon with someone who has studied how to preach, they will be overly critical...
Never go to a church service with someone who has studied Christian worship, they will nit pick.

The perfect church only exists in one place. My head.

Yesterday I posted a bunch of questions I would ask if I were evaluating a church. Some are big, meaty questions. Some are behind-the-scenes-and-hardly-noticeable-because-I'm-searching-with-a-fine-toothed-comb questions.

In concluding our final Christian worship lecture, the class was challenged to create a set of criteria which a fantastic worship service would meet.

We settled on...

Leadership - Engaged with the community? Is the leader aware of the congregation's needs? Enthusiastic... Actually wants to be there?

Music - Engages and has relevance with the rest of the service? High quality? Is there a good mix of old & new? Allows for silence?

Technology - When used, does it add something to the message? High quality?

Space - Seating? The physical building utilised? Lighting? Heating?

Ritual - How are symbols used? Is there a discernible order/structure?

Participation - Movement? Response encouraged? Permission to physically express yourself? 

Belonging/Inclusive - Language? Gender? Age?

Elements of worship included - Invocation? Adoration? Confession? Declaration of forgiveness? Bible reading? Sermon? Prayers of the People? Blessing?

Does it honour God???

In light of the points we raised, the lecturer had an important thing to say.

SHUT UP.

Unless you have been invited to critique the church or the worship service, DON'T DO IT.

It is not your place.

Your place in the church service is to have an encounter with the living God. You are there to worship, not evaluate against your idea of perfection.