“Dear Dr. Clark,
My husband introduced me to your podcasts; and I will admit, having grown up with older brothers and sisters who listened to WLS in Chicago, it was hard for me to associate your podcast style with a source for Biblical teaching! I’m determined to be patient with the interruptions.
Anyway, I have some questions around giftings of the church and the place hiring non- member/unbelieving help to fill needs in a local church. I imagine most churches from time to time hire outside companies to maintain their buildings or advertise in the general public for help with child care. But what about hiring an unbeliever to help in worship? I’m a member of a reformed church that for 20 years has hired an incredibly talented, unbelieving pianist for our Sunday morning worship services. He brings a great deal of polish and beauty to our services. We have never had a gifted pianist join our church; but if we did, who could measure up? For 20 years he has seen the gospel on display and as a church we expected he would respond. But he has not.
Recently a regular attending young man filled in for our pianist. For a last minute fill in he did adequately well but we all had to work harder it. We are really spoiled.
Does it matter that we hire this work done for our worship service? Would it be better to use a less talented regular attendee/member who worships along with us yet with much less polish? What about the beauty? But at what cost? Does his indifference to the gospel diminish our worship? (pearls before swine, again)
Sincerely,
Juror 4324”
Juror 4324 via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
09/13/24