Thanks to the generosity of our friends John and Kathy, Nancy and I got to attend the Third Day Concert at Geneva College last night.  We had a great time together!  We enjoyed dinner at Pizza Hut (and supported the Knoch Choral Boosters "Fun Draiser" at the same time.).  We enjoyed the drive to Beaver Falls together as we talked about the day and life.  We enjoyed the long, brisk walk from where we parked to the field house.  Then we experienced a world we don't experience often---a sardine-like crowd of "general admission" ticket holders--which meant we got to walk shoulder to shoulder (back-to-back, and front-to-front) with a crush of humanity.  Our "seats" on the bleachers provided Nancy with an uncomfortable squashed feeling, and since I was on the end of the bleacher, I had about 10 inches for my butt. (My butt is wider than 10 inches!)  It was sort of fun, and a couple of teens, who we found out later were a brother and sister who attend Beaver County Christian School, leaned over and thanked us for being so pleasant about being squashed in and letting their younger siblings sit in the aisle beside us.

When the concert started, Trevor Morgan, the first act came out, and sang three songs, which we understood and enjoyed (by understood, I mean we could understand the lyrics.).  After a five minute break, Tenth Avenue North came on stage.  Since their song lyrics were posted on a large screen above them, and since their decibel level was only twice as high as Trevor Morgan's, we enjoyed them.  Actually, Nancy and I had never heard of the group before, but they're lyrics are both thought-provoking and significant, and they're videos behind the words were cool, too.  During the twenty minute break between Tenth Avenue North and Third Day, we talked with the brother and sister from BCCS.  Afterward, on the way home, Nancy and I talked about how well-spoken these young people were and how much we appreciated their positive, clear communication with us...

Then it was time for Third Day.  You need to know that two of the speakers were "flown" directly above us and about 18-20 feet away.  Our bodies had been vibrating slightly during Tenth Avenue North, and our ears were "sensitized."  When Third Day started, the bass was so deep that every, material object--including us--pulsed with sympathetic resonation.  (Yes, I am an old guy!)  The music and lyrics were so loud, that I have no idea what the group was singing, and since they didn't post their lyrics on the screen, I was clueless.  Most everyone else in the field house was clapping (and so were Nancy and I), and singing with the group.  Some of the guitar playing was amazing, but it was so LOUD, I couldn't determine what was being said.  I've heard that statement from some folks who have visited New Life on a Sunday morning, but we DO put the lyrics on the screen, and the decibel level is so much lower than what we were exposed to last night that it's hard to know what factor to use.  I'd say it's five times quieter than the concert.  Anyway, after about three songs, when I knew from my college training in speech and hearing that I was suffering temporary hearing loss, I shouted in Nancy's ear (from two inches away) "Are you ready to leave?"  She nodded, and we waited for the end of the next song, and made our way out of the building.  When we got outside, the next song started, and we could understand the words.  They were good words, but it was cold outside, and getting late, and our ears were ringing, so we started the long walk back to the car, and enjoyed ourselves once again.

Here's the point of this post.  I've given you a lot of background to set the stage:  Does Loud=Good?  I've had people say that Christians "shout" at them when they tell them about Jesus, and sometimes HOW we tell a lost person about Jesus seems so "loud" they can't hear what we're saying.  Last night's concert drove that point home to me.  Tenth Avenue North used words on the screen, videos, and a little less volume to present clear, compelling messages of God's love, grace and salvation.  I'm guessing that Third Day's MESSAGE is the same, but the "vehicle" in which it was delivered didn't work for Nancy and me.  Thankfully, we already know and love Jesus.  We enjoyed our time together, anyway.  We didn't leave upset. In fact, we laughed that the concert scene isn't really for us, and as Nancy pointed out we didn't enjoy Phil Keagy when we were in our mid 20's either, so it isn't just the age--it's the volume.   For us loud doesn't equal good (when we're talking about decibel levels nearing the pain threshold).  For hundreds, maybe thousands of others at the concert it did.  What I'll take away from the concert is when I tell someone about Jesus one-on-one, I want my communication to be at a "level" that can be heard and received.  Don't you?

Someone reading this might say, "Don't you see how this applies to Sunday mornings?"  We need to turn the music down.  If we're trying to reach already-saved 50+ year olds, that may be true.  But we're committed to indigenous music, which IS louder than the music I grew up with on Sunday mornings (which didn't do much to motivate me to love Jesus, as does the music we sing on Sunday mornings at New Life.), because the vast majority of lost people in our culture are not 50+ years old.  In fact, the younger the person, the more likely that he or she doesn't know Jesus.  I was glad to see so many young people at the concert last night, and even more glad that they ENJOYED it.  If I had remembered to bring my ear plugs, I would probably have enjoyed it, too.  As it was, Nancy and I had a great evening together.  We got to enjoy a lot of music, and not enjoy a little.  We got to interact with some young people, who are walking with the Lord, and be encouraged by how many others were there seeking to have a great time glorifying God, or at least listening to three groups of entertainers dedicated to glorifying God.  So, Does Loud=Good?   Yes and No.  After reading this article, you know what I mean.