BY DAVID MARSHALL

henever we discuss how to make church more user-friendly, people generally start arguing about music. But music is only a part of it. The condition of the bathrooms comes into it too. As does the general appearance of the church, outside and in.

As a lad I used to pressure my neighborhood friends and their parents to attend special programs at church, and they used to come. But more often than not something would be said, something would happen, that would make me cringe.

That "something" would have nothing whatever to do with Seventh-day Adventist beliefs or practice. It would be connected with the insensitivity of church members-and pastors-to the presence of people who had never been exposed to an Adventist worship service before. One occasion in particular stands out in my memory.

What's the Point?
We had a new conference president who was coming to speak at a harvest festival. Needless to say, my friends and their parents were out in force. The president was a warm, friendly man. The cringe factor arose when he stood in the pulpit. He assumed a strange, singsongy voice that caused giggles among my friends; and instead of preaching on a harvest theme, he gave those present a detailed account of a recent visit to all the sites in the United States where Ellen White had once lived. An opportunity to preach the gospel was missed, and visitors to the church were treated to a travelogue about locations connected with a woman whose name was totally unknown to them.

One parent said, while surveying the wonderful display of harvest produce: "Frankly, I couldn't see the point of it all."

What could I say? Neither could I!

Is It Our Best?
Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not a quality controller (QC). I don't sit on the back row rating the service and the preacher. After all, most Sabbaths I am the preacher. QCs are part of the problem, not part of the solution. Their idea as to what constitutes "quality" rarely has anything to do with sensitivity to the presence of unbelievers. QCs are often rude, unfriendly people who help generate a decidedly non-user-friendly atmosphere in a congregation. Beyond that, they usually decline to play any part in worship themselves.

Church growth experts tell us that the biggest barrier to guests visiting a Seventh-day Adventist church is the doorstep. Aware that we have "unusual" beliefs, visitors are scared stiff of being embarrassed. Once they are over the doorstep, what are the factors that render a church user-friendly?

First and foremost, how members relate to them. The warm smile and handshake at the door may be more important than the sermon. But the warmth mustn't stop there. Those who sit beside and behind visitors must not chat among themselves, or sit in silent criticism of the dress or makeup of guests or members (they may not have had that Bible study yet). Members must exude a warmth that tells the visitors: "You're home!"

Here I'll dare touch on music: The song service has the highest cringe factor potential of any part of the service. Too many song leaders are selected for their extroverted personalities rather than for their musical abilities. An instrumental recording or a well-played organ can be a better prelude to worship than badly sung choruses.

One thing that makes a visiting Adventist feel welcome makes a first-time visitor (already feeling highly self-conscious) decide never to attend again: being asked to stand and identify himself or herself. Can we find a subtler way of saying, "We're glad you've come; welcome!"?

As we plan our services, we need to be aware that over the 150 years of our existence, Adventists have developed a language of jargon and clichés all our own. While a visitor may forgive an "in this corner of the Lord's vineyard" in the prayer, his or her eyes will glaze over if the Sabbath school lesson is taught entirely in clichés. Remember, too, that the best way to instil the not-at-home feeling in the visitor is to give a long string of announcements that relate to events about which and persons of whom he or she has no knowledge.

Can We Do Better?
Over the years I have introduced a number of nonmembers to Adventist services and asked them for their impressions. Invariably they have problems with Sabbath school. "Too many bits and pieces" is a typical comment. Could it be time to introduce one morning service-well prepared, delivered, and coordinated-that incorporates the elements of praise, Bible study, and exposition of the Word? Is it possible to arrange the service in such a way that the preaching is not shoved out onto the margins where everyone's attention is shot, their blood sugar low, and their desire for lunch overwhelming?

Christ has to be the center of worship. A preacher who requires a celebrity buildup had better be reserved for those Sabbaths when it can be guaranteed that members only will be present. "Lift up Jesus," counseled Ellen White, "you that teach the people, lift Him up in sermon, in song, in prayer" (Gospel Workers, p. 160). A preacher who is so important that his or her buildup puts Jesus in the shade is too important.

Any element in the service that serves as a distraction to the central object of worship, Jesus (be it an unprepared reading, painful preliminaries, or one of those pieces of unrehearsed "special music"), had better be cut out. Much more thought needs to be given to worship preparation and coordination.

Visitors come to church to meet Jesus. Elements in the service that make them cringe get in the way. A prayerful atmosphere gives the Holy Spirit a chance to speak to their hearts. A praiseful atmosphere gives the Holy Spirit a chance to lift their spirits. A Christ-centered sermon gives the Holy Spirit a chance to lead them to Calvary.

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David Marshall is editor of the Stanborough Press in Lincolnshire, England.