Let’s face it. Some members of the church think that the worship in which we engage on the first day of the week is boring. While there are both younger and older members alike that roll their eyes at the thought of the same acts of worship ("the same old stuff") being repeated week in and week out, it appears that young Christians and their Baby Boomer parents especially struggle with the idea of participating in the identical worship acts time after time.

So much of life in the 21^st century is geared to speed, instant satisfaction, fun, and activities that keep us on the go. Fast food restaurants encourage you to buy a specific drink or meal in order to see if you can be "an instant winner." Candy bars are now sold in the "fun size." Getting on the internet allows you to quickly watch a music video, send or receive a message by e-mail, check the latest sports news, look up the price of a new pair of shoes, and see what movies are playing in your area. And, you can do all of this in just a few minutes, with marvelous colors flashing on the screen, accompanied by background music that can keep you rockin’.

Who cannot see that what goes on within a worship assembly is far different from the above scenario? Because scriptural worship does not offer the type of thrills, excitement, eye-catching or ear-catching entertainment that goes on in the world, some disciples of Jesus consider worship about as exciting and attention-retaining as watching paint dry. To them, worship is b-o-r-i-n-g. Webster’s 9^th New Collegiate Dictionary defines "bore" or "boring" as "to make weary and restless by being uninteresting." That’s it. That is exactly how some members of the Lord’s body look at worship: it makes them weary and restless because it is so uninteresting.

When I hear grumblings about "our worship" being "so boring," I always wonder, "What part of worship makes it so boring?" Could the culprit be our prayers? Is it really the case that when we pour out our hearts in prayer to our heavenly Father, giving Him thanks and making our requests known to Him (Philippians 4:6), is that what is so boring? Surely not.

Could it be that the fault lies with the Lord’s Supper? When we read Scriptures about the death of Jesus, then go back to the cross in our minds as we remember His sacrifice for us (1 Corinthians 11:24,25), is that really a boring activity? Surely not.

Maybe the culprit is the preaching/study of God’s word. To preach "the word of reconciliation" (2 Corinthians 5:19), the message that sinners can be reconciled to God through Jesus and have an eternal inheritance awaiting them in heaven (1 Peter 1:3,4), is that really boring? Surely not.

Perhaps the contribution is what is so uninteresting. But, if I understand that the contributed funds will help preach the gospel to lost souls, strengthen the church, and assist those that stand in need (1 Corinthians 16:1,2), then surely I will look at giving as an act of cheer, not drudgery (2 Corinthians 9:7).

If it is not boring to pray, study the word, partake of the Lord’s Supper, or give, then what does that leave? It must be the singing that bores some out of their minds. Yet, when we sing spiritual songs, what are we doing? Are we not offering a praise of joy to the Almighty? (Ephesians 5:19; James 5:13). How can it be "a drag" to praise the Creator?!

Who prescribed the worship of the New Testament church? Was it not God Himself? Does He not know what is best for us? If I am bored by scriptural worship of the Almighty, it is not God’s fault. It is also not the fault of the worship leaders, the elders, or preacher. My boredom is not because the worship is lacking something. Hmmm. What could it be? If I count scriptural worship as boring, then perhaps what needs to be adjusted is my attitude.

-- Roger D. Campbell