Recently, Anne and I attended a concert by Chicago at the FirstBank Amphitheater. Chicago was founded as a musical group 56 years ago; so, a lot of people there were my age, or a little younger. And yet, there were quite a number of younger people. I was struck by several things after leaving the venue; and I could not help but put my thoughts in a church-related framework.
The first thing I thought about was the most obvious: the event was an explosion of sound and sights. We were treated to outstanding music, much of which were older hits by this energetic band. (In fact, three of the group were original members of Chicago!) Sitting and standing all around us were people singing along, moving in rhythmic jerks and twists, smiling, laughing, and shouting to one another over the huge array of speakers. (We were near the front and were seated under a stack of 14 speakers suspended directly over us.) I imagined that this was similar to a religious experience for many in attendance. I can surely attest to the feelings that welled up in my chest.
Second, I was amazed at how many people attended the event even though it took some effort to get there; and it was expensive. The tickets were expensive, the parking privilege we had was an additional cost; and the food was good, but overpriced. (The venue will not allow attendees to bring in anything but a clear, EMPTY bottle.) While a few were tailgating, most ate and drank inside the venue. The difficulty of getting to our seats was considerable. First, there was a long drive, even after we got off of 840. My traffic app took us a less travelled way, so the trip in and out was not the most challenging thing about attending. (It would have been for the majority who did regular parking, and were in a huge backup when leaving.) The real difficulty was the long walk, uphill, from the parking area. Then, once at the top of the former quarry, we still had to walk a long way to our seats. Added to the difficulty was the long walk to the restrooms. (I don’t know why they weren’t any busier than they were, because people were drinking a lot—a lot.)
First there was the fact that the event was something akin to a religious experience. Second there were the difficulties in attending, plus the expense of the evening. (I’m not going to add up everything just because I don’t want to know how much the evening cost me.) Now, the third thing I want to say is that the evening was totally voluntary. Except for the performers and the staff, not a one of us was required to be there. Nor was the event life saving or of ultimate importance. We went out of disregard for the expense and difficulty And for what? We all wanted to be totally immerse in an experience that carried us out of the ordinary and into another realm of existence—albeit temporary.
Now, here’s where I’m going. Our participation in being a church is something we’d like to give us an overwhelming and life changing experience, but at much less the cost and difficulty in attending. We, too, are here on a voluntary basis. Even I am here voluntarily since I am officially a retired Elder in the United Methodist Church. I could have turned down the District Superintendent, without any negative recourse. And yet, I choose to be here. I choose to write a check each month, and I choose to drive about 30 minutes each way when I come to the church, not to mention the driving for visits, programs, meetings, etc. But, instead of what we do here being only a temporary reprieve from daily struggles, trials, and challenges, we participate in a permanent, life changing environment that no other human institution can promise or give.
I enjoyed the concert; and I looked forward to it. But now that it is over, I am simply back at the daily task of living. And yet, I’ll be back in worship each week, because I want to; because my life and soul need it; and because I want to the Kingdom to be the biggest and most lasting and life changing experience for as many people as possible.
Michael O’Bannon, Pastor