Can my worship leaders see the faces of our congregation?
Years ago, I learned the power of eye contact with the people I’m leading, both as a speaker and as a worship leader. Eyes contact brings an atmosphere of accountability to worship. When I can see the people I’m leading – and they can see that I can see – there is a higher rate of participation.
Can the congregation see other worshipers?
Theatrical settings where the ceiling is black, the stage is bright, and the congregation sits in the dark, compromises the corporate nature of gathered worship. If the worshipers cannot see each other, you need to revisit your choices, unless of course, you really are aiming for a concert experience rather than a gathered worship experience. People will focus on the place where the light falls the greatest. If you want the emphasis to be on the congregation, light them up!
Can the congregation see the text of their bibles when it is being preached or read?
It is important that people do more than hear God’s word in worship. They need to read it for themselves. The spiritual discipline of reading scripture should be modeled for people every time the church gathers. Churches with lights that are so low the worshipers can’t see the text will very soon be churches where people don’t even bring a bible to church. The negatives to that reality are too numerous to list here.
Final Thought
Imagine Psalm 40:3 reading this way – “He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. No one will be able to see it because the lights are off.” It’s ridiculous to even type it.
No, it says, “Many will see and fear, and they will trust in the Lord.” The song of worship is a song to be seen. I’m not sure when concert lighting became the rage in worship. I’m afraid the intended results pale in comparison to what it has cost us in corporate worship. People should not come to church to watch something – they should come to do something.
Do a deep dive evaluating how your lighting choices affect the worship in your church.
