Every organization must decide what it cares about the most: The product or the people. Churches should remember that people are the product. It's the tension of excellence that creates a division within our hearts. Every event. Every Sunday. As tech people, church people, producers, and ministers, the quest for a powerful, inspirational experience pushes us toward perfection in the hopes that our presentation shines worthy of the Gospel.
When the lights dimmed out and the sound faded away, a question began to resonate within my soul. What did we do that God cared about today?
As a younger media director in a big church I have known the adrenaline of a great show. I've pushed a talented team to limits only NASA could rival. I have witnessed pure audio, video, and lighting ecstasy spring forth from buttons and faders. But these moments of sensory overload left me empty. When the lights dimmed out and the sound faded away, a question began to resonate within my soul. What did we do that God cared about today? What if the planning was perfect—years in advance? What if the content was totally inspired? What if the budget was unlimited? What if the rehearsals were flawless and the execution was absolutely excellent? What did we achieve? What about the cost? For years church tech people have pursued excellence as the Holy Grail of production. Sometimes I've thought it was an excuse not to be perfect—a euphemism for trying hard but not achieving. Other times I've told teams, "Excellence is our best and God's expectation." Excellent or not, there is a bigger question. A Jesus question.
Keeping it personal
At first I didn't have a sufficient answer to the emptiness, but an epiphany eventually surfaced. I was so busy chasing after excellence that I missed the heart of God. We missed what He cared about most—the people. And worse, the cost was high.
"I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent." -Luke 15:7 (NIV)
How many casualties of ministry do you personally know? How many times have you been secretly burned out? What begrudging sacrifices have you or even your family paid for excellence, only to be left hurting, thankless, tired, and empty? In those moments, Jesus cut to the center of my heart. Really, this whole thing, the endless pursuit, life on earth, is about knowing the heart of God and valuing the people the way Jesus does. People are the product of the church. The ultimate church job is to make disciples. The ultimate Christian success is to bear the fruit of the Spirit to the glory of God so that He is lifted up and we are used to lead people toward faith.
What about volunteers?
How does pursuing excellence lead a volunteer heart toward growing faith and joy in Christ? We're striving to lead people to the One who gives talents, inspires beauty, creates, restores, and redeems.
We must value people as Jesus does. As leaders we must appreciate the heart of a servant by providing clear, reasonable expectations and remembering a genuine “Thank you.” The goal is people development through authentically loving like Christ and trusting God to bring forth fruit. The product of our love will be an excellent reputation and the discovery that we are all people of grace serving in a place of hope. No longer is church production about the gear, the process or the presentation excellence. We need to feed sheep. We're striving to lead people to the One who gives talents, inspires beauty, creates, restores, and redeems. The experience will be full and meaningful because the God of grace doesn't look on the outward appearance. He looks upon the heart.
