David McCullough, in his book John Adams, relates a time in Adams’ life that was spent in Philadelphia at the Second Constitutional Convention. During that stay Adams would, as was his custom, regularly attend Sunday worship services. At the time Philadelphia was the largest city in the colonies. Even though Philadelphia’s founding and tradition was Quaker, its growth and influx of people had brought many more options for worship. McCullough states that because of the options of worship, Adams would often venture outside of his worship tradition and experience others. From Adams’ writings McCullough determined “he tried nearly all and passed judgment on them all, both their music and the comparative quality of their preaching.” I wonder how many people visit our services each week with the same motive as Adams, to pass judgment.

I wonder how many of our regular attendees and members enter our places of worship ready and willing to pass judgment.

No matter how many services we offer, or stylistic venues we open, will we never be able to please all those who come through our doors.

As worship leaders and pastors we must realize that is not our role.

Our role is to do our best to plan and produce services that are full of God’s Word and use relevant songs, no matter the generation from which they come, to encourage everyone to enter into a conversation of worship.

I have been guilty of entering a place of worship ready to judge quality and content. I was wrong.

It is a privilege to gather as a group to worship. When we enter our places of worship this weekend, let’s enter with a new attitude, one of expectation and one that is focused on how I can honor God.