Crouch Community Church with the Light shining even on a cloudy day!
Recently, we visited a church, not too different from some other churches I’ve visited. Maybe this even describes your church.
It was dark! No windows and the only bright lights shining were on the stage. People entered the dimly lit, mostly dark, rows of chairs and found their seat. Some pulled out their cell phone and started texting.
I wondered, as I always do when I enter a similar church, will they turn up the lights so I can see my Bible when the sermon starts. They didn’t.
As we began to worship in song and the lyrics appeared on the screens, I had an epiphany from the Holy Spirit. The lyrics were much like this song “The Light in the Darkness,” which starts out like this:
In the beginning was the Word
The Word was with God and the Word was God
Through Him all things were made that have been made
In Him was Life and that Life was the Light of men
And the Light shone in the darkness
But it did not understand
The Light shone in the darkness
But it did not comprehend
That which we have heard and we have seen
This we proclaim to you concerning the Word of Life
This is message we have heard and declare to you
God is Light and in Him there’s no darkness at all
And the Light shines in the darkness
But it did not understand
The Light shines in the darkness
But it’s hard to comprehend
As the words kept flashing on the screen, I thought, Lord, why are we singing about you being the Light in the darkness while standing here in almost complete darkness? This just doesn’t seem right. You are the Light of the world. You tell us to go into the dark world and let our Christian light shine, and yet, we’re worshipping in a church enveloped in darkness!
[Tweet “Lord, You tell us to go into the dark world and let our Christian light shine, and yet, many worship in a church enveloped in darkness!”]
We continued singing in the dark . . .
The Word became flesh and dwells among us
We behold the glory of the only begotten Son
He has come full of love full of grace and truth
This is the message we proclaim to you
And the Light shines in your darkness
And we pray you understand
The Light shines in your darkness
And we pray you comprehend
The Light shines in the darkness
Ah but will you understand
The Light shines in the darkness
But will you comprehend
Will you comprehend
I pray you comprehend
I know many churches start out in movie theaters and office buildings, but the church we were in that Sunday morning looked like a new building.
[Tweet “I’ve heard the reasoning behind having the church dark is to draw the younger generation,”]
I’ve also heard the reasoning behind having the church dark is to draw the younger generation, but this is not a concert setting, this is church! Why does the next generation want to sit in the dark?
[Tweet “Why does the next generation want to sit in the dark in church?”]
The pastor was not a young pastor; he looked like he could be a grandpa.
When we returned to our home church, I loved worshipping in the sunlight streaming through the windows and looking at the clouds and blue sky through the window behind the log cross, built by one of our parishioners. And with the beautiful overhead lighting, I could see clearly my church family, and most importantly, the words in my Bible.
The side “walls” at Saddleback Church, (Pastor Rick Warren) where we were members for almost twenty-five years, are floor to ceiling windows, and the sanctuary well lit with overhead lights. When you walk in, you can clearly see fellow parishioners to greet them. There is no darkness. Even if you were feeling down when you entered, your spirits lift in the bright cheery atmosphere. People can actually sit outside and look through the windows to see the stage and hear through speakers.
They can see to read their Bibles, if they bring them.
Pastor Rick Warren preaching at Saddleback Church
Saddleback Church
With so many churches going dark today, I understand why people aren’t taking their Bibles to church. I recently wrote about this sad trend: Are Today’s Churches Discouraging Reading the Bible? Some comments mentioned they couldn’t read their Bible in church because it was so dark.
[Tweet “Some people don’t bring their Bibles to church because it’s too dark to read them.”]
The word “light” appears 263 times in the NIV Bible.
Maybe I’m making too much of this, but I know it was the Holy Spirit nudging me to speak out as I stood in the dark, singing about the Light shining in the darkness. We know that “darkness” in the Bible refers to a culture or “world” that doesn’t know or worship God and His ways: anti-God.
But “God is never too exhausted by His Light to take care of the darkness,” Pastor Brian Smith. And neither should we be!
[Tweet “Scriptural darkness” is a culture that does not know or worship God and His ways”]
I honestly don’t understand why churches are choosing to have dark sanctuaries. I would welcome a discussion to please enlighten me, and others who want to see clearly, when we go to church.
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12
Walk in the light because He is in the light!
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Saddleback sanctuary picture compliments of Jenne’ Blackburn
Pastor Rick Warren preaching, www.thechristianmail.com
I took the picture of CCC cross on a rainy day. You can imagine how beautiful it is with billowing clouds floating in a blue sky shining through the window above it.
I recently had the same experience with the same reaction you had! And the same responses from those I questioned about it. It left me with no sense of community with those around me. Totally bewildering to me.
Yes Shirley that’s another good point, “there’s no sense of community” when you can barely see your neighbor. Now that I think about it, there was no time in the service for greeting each other, and I didn’t see anyone doing that until before and after the service when they were in the well lit foyer. I hope someone will give us a reasonable explanation for this trend.
Honestly this is news to me. I wasn’t aware of this type of lighting for worship. I don’t think that I would enjoy it, but that is me. I know we can worship in different surroundings and structures however I too enjoy being able to read my Bible.
There are actually quite a few “dark” churches today, but I’m hoping we’ll get some insight into this trend from commenters.
I think you know our Pastor Randy, Janet. We are encouraged with a large visual chart, to read through the Bible in a year, every year. And yes, we have lots of light in our sanctuary. I use my phone app for the Bible because the weight of my study Bible hurts my back. Nevertheless, I read it every day and without it I too could be walking in darkness. Thank you Jesus.
Yes, I know your pastor and his wife, and they occasionally visit our church when they’re at their cabin here. I understand “heavy Bible.” My hubby gifted me with a large print light-weight Bible to take to church. I enjoy marking in it and reading the context of verses our pastor uses. It’s a good exercise locating the books of the Bible, as he uses various Scriptures in his message. Even though I can read them on the screen, I remember them better when I look them up in my Bible. Blessings on your daily Bible reading!
I have been to a church like this. I did enjoy the fact that I could focus solely on God because I wasn’t distracted by how others chose to worship by raising their hands or dancing, etc. It allowed me to even sit and pray during worship rather than others looking at me if I wasn’t standing. During the sermon, the lights went up, but if the scripture is presented in a screen in the dark, the light of God’s word is still being preached. I also use my Bible on my cell phone because I can make the print larger for my aging eyes. As long as the Holy Spirit is present, salvation through Jesus is preached, and the Word of God is taught and held to.be true, I can attend just about any church. It is sad that one church I attended I had to keep talking to God and asking, I know You are here with me, but are You here in this body of believers? When the darkness isn’t just physical but is spiritual within a church body, this is when we should be truly concerned.
Thank you for your perspective on this trend in some churches. And I agree that the Holy Spirit can speak to us anywhere, as He did to me when visiting this physically darkened church.
Hi Janet,
I remember you from IBC and just started following you for mentoring info. Since then we’ve moved to Minnesota and joined a church of mostly Millennials and younger. Our service is at night in a dark sanctuary. At first I also found it frustrating because I couldn’t follow along in my Bible, but I learned a few things that helped me understand. First, the darkness provides a comfortable place for many who come with no church background and the unbelievers who have summoned up the considerable courage it takes to enter a church. They can hear the Word of God without wondering who is looking at them and perhaps judging them. I have seen many people start out this way in the back, slipping in late and out early, who have gradually reached a comfort level that enables them to relax and respond to the Holy Spirit and the love of others. Secondly, the younger generations access their Bibles on their phones, so they don’t bring their Bibles to church. You and I may not agree with this trend for a number of good reasons (one of which is our aging eyesight!). But the fact is that technology is the native language of this generation, and they are used to, and comfortable with, accessing information this way. If I was going to a church in order to be blessed and fed (like we were at IBC), then I would go elsewhere. But at this time in life, God has sent us to a church to bless and feed others, and this is the setting where we can meet the struggling, the hurting and the broken because they feel comfortable in coming. Our church was planted specifically for this age group because it is the most unreached demographic in our city. However, the mission of your church may be different. I hope this provides some clarity.
Hi Andrea, so nice to hear from you and I’m thrilled you’re mentoring, especially to the demographic in your church. I hope you get a chance to read my latest book, Mentoring for All Seasons: Sharing Life Experiences and God’s Faithfulness. I specifically address mentoring millennials. http://womantowomanmentoring.com/mentoring-for-all-seasons/
We were just at IBC in April and were so blessed by worship one morning being led by the youth!
One of my granddaughters will be attending the U of Minnesota this year and we’re praying hard for her since we know it’s a very liberal area and school.
Is your church doing small groups for this age where they can be introduced to the whole Bible and not just Scriptures taken out of context? It’s sad that we are in an era where many are afraid to admit they’re Christian or attending church. We all were the age of the millenials at one time in our life, but Christianity was respected and revered then.
Bless you on your ministry. This is the next generation in not only our churches, but the world.
Yes, we are working at modeling and encouraging a Scripture-centered focus in church and small groups, and I think that is a large part of why the Holy Spirit led us there. IBC was a wonderful training ground for that.
I haven’t read your book yet (but I did read the one on prodigal daughters a while back), but I learned a lot from “Organic Mentoring” by Barbara Neumann and Sue Edwards, and also information from Jolene Erlacher. And of course, the best source, which are my Millennial friends and also my children. They have opened my eyes to things I hadn’t considered or been aware of before, and it takes a healthy dose of humility to not just understand, but appreciate their way of doing things.
We live 3 1/2 hours north of Minneapolis, and I’m sure your granddaughter will make connections, but we would be happy to host her in our home for a holiday if she needs a place to land. She would not be the only one.
Thank you for the kind offer. I know mom and dad will be flying her home. They live about that distance from the college in IL.
Janet,
Come visit my church. We may not have windows or light from outside streaming in but I believe Christ the Light of the world is shining inside our church. It’s being evidenced through our new pastor of just two years, over a thousand baptized, God’s paying our debt down from 18 million to 9 million in two years, the impact she’s making in San Antonio, and the changed lives. As one recently said, “It’s not the size of your church but the size of your God in the church.” My husband and I have been there soon to be 24 years and so much has happened in the last two years that can only be explained, “Only God.”
That’s great Marlene! So is your church dark inside during service, and if so, my underlying question in this post was asking why? I truly do want to know the reasoning behind it. You definitely don’t have to have windows to have lights on inside that’s for sure.
I am personnaly not a fan of “dark churches” for many of the scriptural reasons you mention. It’s hard to be in accord with a congregation member if the room is so dark you can’t see anyone’s face, and the worship is so loud you can’t hear yourself sing. I recently went to a retreat where they asked people to pray for one another for 10 minutes during the service, lovely right? but they started playing worship loudly over us while we prayed. The young worship leaders apparently thought that the worship set the “spiritual environment” for the people to pray. It kinda reminds me of Saul calling for David to play the lyre to sooth his heart from the effects the evil sprits that were tormenting him. Nevertheless, it all is a big distraction from the world. Making the worship centers dark, makes them more familiar with those who are of the world. And if they find the Lord by feeling welcome in a dark space, then we have reasons to rejoice.
Rob it’s been interesting that many of the comments on both this blog and when it was reposted on Crosswalk.com mentioned music going along with the darkness. I agree that as Christians we’re to change the culture not match it and it’s a fine line. It’s hard for me to imagine Jesus teaching in a dark room with loud music. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
John 3;19 came to mind….why we sitting in the dark like people who go to night spots do…
My church tried out a dark church style for its service this morning, which I really disliked for all the same reasons in your article. I can understand it leads to a more intimate worship atmosphere and I think that would be fine for an evening service, but on a Sunday morning I want to experience natural light in keeping with the time of day.
Hi Ruth, I hope your church will ask for feedback on their dark service and you’ll have a chance to express your opinion. I’m with you….let the light shine in!
I too had this experience….total darkness…the speaker says…turn your Bible to…never turned on 1 light to read by..
Principality of darkness…
Reminded me of being young inside a night club…
Smh
I don’t understand it either, but it’s a trend in many churches. I don’t think it encourages younger people to attend, but it does follow a cultural change without a spiritual foundation that I have been able to determine.