Today is more of a commentary on the modern church rather than on an insight or reflection. Due to the length of the blog, it will be divided into areas of personal concern with many of the current churches.

I walked out the door a little past nine understanding I would be a few minutes early to the new church I was visiting. Upon arrival there, I exited my car and was greeted by gentlemen ushering the traffic to designated parking spots.  As I entered the church, it was not a typical foyer, but a very large gathering of people on folding chairs enjoying drinks of water or coffee. Perplexed, I queried if this was the sanctuary.

Warmly, I was informed the service was in the next room. I entered a totally darkened room with strobe lights on the stage and loud music blaring on the speakers with a “count down” to when the service began. What? Was this truly a church service? I sat there for a few minutes realizing I could not remain.

I prepared to come to church, not a nightclub. Even though I have never been to a night club, I understand they are dark and it is not uncommon to have blaring music. As I researched other Christian’s opinions on darkened sanctuaries with blaring music, they dittoed my sentiments. An article on Crosswalk by Janet Thompson, stated, I’ve heard the reasoning behind having the church dark is to draw the younger generation, but this is not a concert setting; this is church! Why does the next generation want to sit in the dark,?”

The author noted attending her home church at Saddleback Church. It has  “floor to ceiling windows, and the sanctuary well lit with overhead lights. When you walk in you can clearly see fellow parishioners to greet them. There is no darkness. Even if you were feeling down when you entered, your spirits lift in the bright cheery atmosphere.” I wanted to shout at my computer, Amen, Amen!

I used to love walking into church where I could greet my fellow church members as sunlight was streaming through our stained glass windows. The church I attended on Sunday  had zero windows and all I could think about was the scripture in John 3:19, “that the light came into the world and man loved darkness rather than the light , because their deeds were evil.”  Yes, we are all sinners in church, but why must a church exacerbate this truth by turning off the lights?

I agreed with Janet’s commentary regarding the darkness in the churches. “The word light appears 263 times in the NIV Bible. Maybe I’m making too much of this, but I know it was the Holy Spirit nudging me to speak out as I stood in the dark…we know that darkness in the Bible refers to a culture or “world” that doesn’t know or worship God and His ways.”

That is all I could think of as I walked into that dark sanctuary with the flashing strobe lights. Where is the shining light of God in this church?