Exactly. There are no two people in any church who want exactly the same thing. We’ve had people complain that they think colored lights in the wall sconces are “like a rock and roll club” (we’re pretty basic with a contemporary band but no light show or anything, so hardly a club setting), and those same people complain that we didn’t decorate “enough” for Christmas. We tell people we welcome the conversations, but they’re intent on the drive-by verbal attacks (often in the form of anonymous notes, of course).

I fail to understand how vitriol over whether or not our lead pastor wears a jacket and tie is somehow holy, but singing a song with words (a psalm, no less) during communion meditation is wrong. It’s so discouraging for those of us who are in a ministry that seems thankless not because of unbelievers who don’t want to hear the message, but because of supposed Christians who should know better.