Come on, be relevant!

Let’s be honest – sometimes we are just boring.

The film Sister Act had an interesting quote that has stuck with me. In the film a lounge singer called Deloris, played by Whoopi Goldberg, must join a convent as part of a witness protection programme. 1990s larks ensue as this singer teaches the convent to lighten up a bit while continually butting heads with the conservative Mother Superior, played by Maggie Smith. Having told Deloris to help the tone-deaf choir, the Mother Superior is frequently aghast as unbecoming worldly tactics are employed to jazz up the church service. During one such altercation, Deloris asserts: ‘See, people like going to theatres, and they like going to casinos. But they don’t like coming to church. Why? Because it’s a drag.’ The sad truth is, she has a point.

The average person may not come to church very often. No doubt they have a somewhat jaundiced view of what goes on. But what of those who do come to church week on week? They have no such prejudice. Indeed, they are inclined to come and frequently see exactly what goes on in our building. But it’s hardly an uncommon accusation that church is boring, even among believers. And we are far too quick to wave it away without considering the possibility that, maybe it’s true; we are exceedingly dull.