How the church must change or die, or, What I learned at the ministry conference I went to, I mean Arcade Fire show

Sunday night, Josh and Matt took me on a date. Not your usual sort of date, no candles, dinner, opera. No, this time, they took me to a rock show. Arcade Fire and LCD Soundsystem were playing Roy Wilkins in St. Paul and we joined in the several thousand strong in experiencing the transcendent joys of music, corporately with strangers as well as live and loud.

At one point while we waited in the foyer with our glasses of wine, Matt turned to me, pointed to the entrance through which we'd just come and said, "Look at these people. They look so happy." I turned and noticed the glee and pleasure emitting from their faces. "Why isn't church like this?" I asked myself. Over the next several hours, Arcade Fire answered that very question and has set me on a new course in my ministry. The scales have fallen from my eyes and I see the way forward in mission. I feel a new dawn dawning on the dawn of a new generation, waiting to be transformed by the powerful message of the church. But how to reach this new generation? Thanks to Win Butler and company I have some ideas.

Loud music. Why DON'T we turn it up and let the congregation be thrilled to gleeful bits over their reverberating chests? In the words of Chuck D, "Turn it up, bring the [gospel] noise."

Lots of lights. I'm as big a fan of the eternal candle as anyone, but how's about we throw up a load of eternal lights, buzzin and whirring all around the sanctuary?

Digital samples. Remember when your grandparents protested the gut-bucket entering the sanctuary? Then your Carpenters-loving mom couldn't stand the sight of a drum kit next to the pulpit. Well, now those who stand in the way of the gospel in the church today refuse to acknowledge the importance of digital music for today's worshipper. "The times they are a changing," baby boomer and sometimes Christian Bob Dylan once said. He was right about digital worship music.

Appendage throwing. At a rock show do you ever see someone with their face in a worship resource? No. They've got body parts flailing and they are authentic. Yeah, authentic.

Opening acts. Why not let a juggler or comic do a bit before the worship service? I was seated next to an LCD Soundsystem fan who'd never heard of Arcade Fire but came for the opener. Guess what? After the show, he bought the latter's new record. See the parallel? I thought you would.

Obtuse lyrics. I'm as Lutheran as they come regarding the issue of proclaiming the gospel to each other in our hymnody (thanks Gracia). But, you should see how many people love this band while their lyrics are vague enough for each person to fill them with their own meaning. Each of their full-length albums have nearly sold 500,000 copies apiece. What do you say to that Paul Gerhardt?

Charging money. Thousands showed up for an event that cost them between $35 and $75. How many more would come to church if we charged? It's that marketing truth that people don't trust free things. If it's $1.50 for a file folder or $2.75, most people are going to buy the more expensive file folder. Are we this dense? Have we never shopped at Target.

Television screens. Throughout the show, Arcade Fire had images of themselves, as well as obscure visual references, thrown up in pixels. This heightened the reaction of the crowd and no doubt brought the message home with greater power.

The lessons rock and roll shows have to teach us are more I'm sure but this will suffice for now.