Does Your Church Service Feel Like a Funeral?

If so, have you ever wondered why? Or asked yourself if that’s how it should be?

Preference may play a big factor here. Some of us enjoy more melancholy environments. We may also feel allergic to environments that feel “fake happy.” We want a church service that resonates with life's harsh realities and tragedies.

Philosophy may also play a factor. Church leaders who create service programming may intentionally choose a more subdued feel due to theological leaning or cultural factors.

I can understand and appreciate the perspective.

And I still believe we should ask, “Why? Is that how it should be?”

“Christ the Victor” 

Swedish theologian Gustav Aulen sought to reclaim what he believed was a neglected truth in his 1930 work “Christus Victor: An Historical Study of the Three Main Types of the Idea of Atonement.”

His thesis presented a third view of Christ’s work on the cross in contrast to two other primary atonement theories. On the one hand was Anselm of Canterbury’s “objective” or “legal” view of Christ’s death as our substitute reconciling us to the Father. The other was the “subjective” or “moral” view of Peter Abelard, which regarded Christ’s work as inspiring and motivating us toward spiritual transformation. 

In contrast to these two, Aulen’s presented a “dramatic” view which saw Christ’s work on the cross as the unfolding of cosmic drama in which Christ victoriously conquers the spiritual enemies of sin, Satan, and death. Alulen did not believe he was introducing a new idea but reclaiming a truth that was “the ruling idea of the atonement for the first thousand years of Christian history.” 

Anglican theologian John Stott affirmed Aulen’s contribution to the church:

“Aulen was right to draw the church’s attention to the cross as victory, and to show that by his death Jesus saved us not only from sin and guilt but from death and the devil, in fact all evil powers as well….he was also correct in pointing out….’the note of triumph…..’ 

This is what led Scottish theologian P.T. Forsyth to describe these three theories as “The Threefold Cord” highlighting Christ’s role as Savior, Teacher, and Victor. 

Neither Triumphalism Nor Defeatism

If Aulen has correctly interpreted the Scriptures and Christians are truly “more than conquerers” (Rom 8:37) because of Christ’s decisive victory on the cross, shouldn’t this “note of triumph” be a mark of followers of Jesus individually and collectively when we gather together?

Shouldn’t celebration be a hallmark of God’s people? Wouldn’t it make sense that we can honestly grieve about the world’s pains and herald the hope of God’s renewing work for the world? Is it too much to ask that this posture shape the Sunday gathering of God’s people? Wouldn’t we want a “note of triumph” somewhere from song selection, to announcements, to the sermon?

I once heard a criticism that churches blindly clap and sing while the world around them cries and suffers. There are always exceptions, but I do not believe that is the rule. Followers of Jesus may be the only ones who can grieve with hope and celebrate with realism. Available to us is the mental and emotional capacity to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep precisely because we know He was truly victorious on the cross and will return to make all things right.

It’s a dangerous thing when we mistake warranted celebration for insensitive triumphalism and confuse an unbiblical defeatism as being some version of spiritual maturity.

Conclusion

If you’re part of a church who’s personality tends to be more melancholy, you don’t have to put pressure on yourself or anyone else to change it. There are many different legitimate expressions of worship. There are also many ways you can bring a posture of celebration into various congregational environments. Your goal shouldn’t be to get the worship band to do more up-beat songs, it may be inviting the worship band over and celebrating their faithfulness through hospitality. This will be a valuable contribution you make to your congregation.

If you’re a pastor or church leader who is fearful of collective celebration because you don’t want your people to be misled to some kind of fake happy, let’s remember that it’s often in overcompensating to avoid one wrong that we find ourselves in an equal and opposite error. We can be intentional without overstepping into the spheres that belong to the Holy Spirit.

We follow a Jesus who has conquered sin, Satan, and death.

It is right for the “note of triumph” to resound from our lives individually and collectively as the people of God.