Holding on or getting better?

I used to work in a church where there was a vintage (read old) lady who would lead the singing. It was not good.

But she had done it for a long time.

And… I hated it.

And I’m not a musician by any sense of the word.

But I have ears… and she was not making a joyful noise which should be produced into a microphone for extended periods of time.

Of course, everything doesn’t need to be flawless within a church.

Heart, faithfulness and motivation trump talent within the Kingdom of God.

And my mid-sized church wasn’t producing a worship album nor live streaming its services.

Nonetheless, I wished that she would be directed elsewhere to “serve Jesus” on a Sunday.

And, eventually, she was.

Which got me thinking about those who distract from church due to their, for lack of a better term, “performance”.

It could be a rambling prayer.

Or a butchered bible reading.

Or a offbeat musician.

Or a tone-deaf singer.

Or a meandering preacher.

There is an important distinction.

Are they hanging on or are they getting better?

For, at the start, everyone sucks.

Everyone makes mistakes.

Everyone fumbles about as they learn.

This is expected and accepted.

And you can mitigate these weaknesses.

When someone was starting in the band at most churches I worked for, we would turn the sound down on their instrument. Sometimes, they may not even be plugged in.

You can give people shorter introductions to praying aloud or preaching.

But there are some who, after more than adequate time, training, encouragement, advice and rehearsal, don’t improve.

Year after year.

Decade after decade.

And they hang on.

Despite the desires of everyone else.

And, instead of being an expected weakness, they become a distraction.

In this case, it is time to try and phase them out.

The aim shouldn’t be to deny them of their ministry…

But the nature of their service can shift.

They can be rostered on less, or alongside others.

They can be placed in a mentor role, where they share their heart and experience, but not necessarily the stage.

They could be given a fond farewell, acknowledging what they have contributed, but deciding themselves when to step aside.

Inevitably, everyone needs to relieve themselves (and possibly the congregation) of their ministries. 

Age will slow us down.

Eyes will start to fail.

Voices will chance.

When this happens, holding on is no longer the wisest thing anymore.