The way I see it, the problem comes from an inadequate definition of ‘excellence’. I remember an impasse I arrived at with someone when we were both in our 20s. I was pushing for excellence, and he stridently told me that that’s not a goal worth shooting for. When he heard excellence he thought “perfection”. But when I say excellence, I mean a multiplicity of giftings. When we are all bringing our whole selves into worship, then we have great music (as just one obvious example) that cannot take itself too seriously.

In appropriate tension, the goal of being open and welcoming co-exists with the goal of quality creativity. Giving our best to God is not quite the same as me giving my best to God in a corporate setting.

In a related issue, what people compliment is revealing. We need leaders who are secure and confident enough to actively address and re-frame the compliments they receive. I don’t care that the ‘music sounded really good this morning’, how did it challenge you to grow? What new characteristic of God did it reveal to you? What change did God ask you to make in our worship?

With that said, I do think many of our churhces today have slipped into the mode of thinking that doing things really well, with excellence, are the key to success. Perhaps we have given up on messy relationships, community, sacrificial living, loving our neighbors with our lives, the gospel with simply doing Sunday worship services really well. I won’t play that game anymore.

I have an addition to the list:
“You find yourself disappointed when the associate pastor or a guest pastor is preaching instead of your senior pastor.”
and, (Leaders) “You begin planning for the “pop” in next year’s Easter service on Easter Monday.”