Babies cry. They get cranky. They need comfort. You give them a pacifier - even though it gives them no nutrition, it still soothes them and satiates their need at a superficial level. This is what some deacons are doing with the microphone.
There’s an itch inside all of us that needs to be scratched. It is something rooted inside of us, but we mistranslate it as something outside. We say “I need to do this because they need me to do this.” We convince ourselves “it’s not about me.” It is. It may be the approval of our parents, or the esteem of our peers, or just a desire to be excellent at something.
I acknowledge that every good we do in life will have Mixed Motivations. Let’s make the deaconate different. Let’s make it the one place where we truly have genuine motivations to serve God, each other, and the congregation. Liturgy should be the one place where we truly live out this verse from St. Paul:
"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others." - Philippians 2:3-4 NIV
There’s an immense amount of ego struggle in the deacon service in general, but the microphone is a dangerous instrument. It is an extension of the tongue that St. James speaks of in his epistle when he says:
"Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check … take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts …. no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison." - James 3:2-8 NIV
Am I saying that it is never ok to use the microphone? No, I’m not saying that. I’m jus saying be careful not to lose yourself in the microphone. It is not “acceptable” in some cases because “nobody else knows what they’re doing.” It’s even more dangerous in those cases because the misguided notion that you are essential to the service has some imperfect root in reality.
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My strong suggestion is to get a group microphone so that there is no microphone passing. It just sits there between the chorus leaders, and the job of the leader is to make sure everyone is singing together. A real chorus leader will lead more with his ear and less with his voice. If the chorus is singing correctly and together, let them go and enjoy the service. If they are getting off track, all you need to do is lean in and make the adjustment to bring everyone back together.
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The pacifier microphone epidemic will not disappear overnight, and there are some churches will hold on to it until the Second Coming. Let’s accept that just like anything else, this will be a work in progress because1. Liturgy will always be dysfunctional. At the same time, let us work together to experience 4. Heaven on Earth together.