According to a news report that appears in the current Christian Century, people who are not church-goers would rather attend a church that is more like a “medieval cathedral” than a “modern, utilitarian church facility,” like so many being built these days.  The ratio for this preference is nearly 2 to 1.  This is especially true among the 25-34 year old demographic, according to LifeWay Research.   “‘I don’t like modern churches, they seem cold,” said one survey respondent.  “I like the smell of candles burning, stained-glass windows (and) an intimacy that’s transcendent.’”

I’ve heard similar sentiments expressed about worship styles and music.  Many find nothing compelling about the so-called “contemporary” approach to worship.  It just feels too much like the rest of life to offer any meaningful interaction with God.  Seekers are looking for something that takes them beyond the ordinary, and it seems that a church that is little different from a trip to the mall doesn’t get that done.  Those interested only in “Spirituality Lite,” who can get in and get out with little harm done, likely would find it attractive. 

Being stuck in a traditional rut, though, is not the most edifying approach to worship, either.  While it is comforting for some to have the familiar unaltered routine as a source of security amid the dizzying changes in all other aspects of life, one has to wonder who is being served.  Is it God, or the person in the pew? 

My hope is that worship engages the whole person, mind and body, and that there is enough of the presence of the Holy Spirit that we all are kept on edge to the extent that we experience something new, refreshing, and energizing each time we gather.  It is my hope that churches can move past “what we find comfortable” in worship and see it as an opportunity to focus on God rather than ourselves, and celebrate the life God intends for us. 

Perhaps that is “an intimacy that’s transcendent.”