I thought about sending a message to a huge church that I have visited a couple of times, but perhaps it is best that I don't, as I don't want to get anyone in trouble. I wrote this to send on FB, but didn't dare hit Enter, as my comments might be traced back to people who work in association with that environment. As long as I wrote this, I thought it would be a waste not to put is somewhere.
I have visited TRBC a couple of times and have a couple of suggestions to make. It might be a good idea to check the volume level of the music in the auditorium. As the worship builds, it gradually becomes uncomfortably loud, to the point where one actually needs earplugs. I talked to some others in the audience and I am not the only one who experienced physical discomfort. Physically uncomfortable people have a difficult time focusing on worship of God.
Also, it might be a good idea to have someone observe how much of the congregation is actually joining in the worship songs that are being sung from the stage. I noticed that many people were just standing silently and not taking part in song, and wondered about the possible reasons for this. I could not join in myself because I was hearing all of the songs for the first time, and there was no hymnbook or information provided in the form of written music to allow me to follow the unfamiliar tune. If people cannot join in the songs, then they are merely being entertained rather than encouraged to worship.
Another suggestion that I might make is to tone down on the lights on the screen at the front of the auditorium. They do not really contribute to an atmosphere of worship, but are rather a distraction. I also worry that the flashing lights may trigger physical problems in people who are afflicted with diseases like epilepsy One elderly person in the congregation mentioned that the lights and loud music make her dizzy and she just has to shut her eyes and endure it all.
God has allowed us to have modern technology, but let us be sure that the focus remains on Him and His holiness rather than on over-amplified performances that may actually become a detracting distraction.
