backtothefuture

7 Things Churches Didn’t Have In 1985

Scott Ball celebrates Back to the Future Day with this list:

It’s Back to the Future Day. It’s fun. Of all the predictions of what 2015 would look like from the vantage point of the 80’s, the things which are strangely accurate are interesting. Yet it’s still massively disappointing that cars can’t fly and I don’t own a hover board. Let’s get moving, scientists and engineers!

The subject got me thinking. What do churches have now that they didn’t have in 1985? How far have we come (or regressed)?

HERE ARE SEVEN THINGS I COULD THINK OF OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD:

1- PROJECTORS
Now, this is a bit unfair. Churches in the 80’s did have projectors… overhead projectors. Does anyone remember that? Some poor soul had to sit up front and swap transparencies over that hot light. The people with bad eyesight were out-of-luck as everyone was squinting to read the lyrics to verse four. Of course, most churches were sticking to hymnals-only in 1985–perhaps a “praise chorus” printed in the bulletin.

2- VEGGIE TALES
Poor kids in the 80’s didn’t get to watch Bob and Larry. Kids in 1985 didn’t even get McGee and Me. No, in 1985, the kids were stuck with Psalty the Singing Songbook. Don’t get me wrong, I love this Barnie-like, Jesus-lovin’ walking tome as much as the next guy. I’m just glad there’s a little more variety these days.

3- METROSEXUAL WORSHIP LEADERS
Unnecessary scarves didn’t make their way into churches until this millennium. I’d say this is a regression as a culture. There’s just something about a suit and tie wearing, mustachioed music pastor holding a microphone in one hand and directing a choir with the other that I just miss. Plus I miss those Luke Skywalker haircuts that were well-coiffed but long enough to show they had at least a few Petra cassettes hidden away somewhere.

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