Hope Above the Headlines

Choir of Critics

By Jerry Brecheisen

I had a feeling those folks wearing choir robes in the back rows during worship services weren’t happy. Little did I know they could be part of an international ring of musical malcontents! In many churches, choirs have been either disrobed or perched in giant artificial tree branches during Christmas pageants. Some of the more fortunate gather before sunrise in groups of four or less for praise team tryouts. You can usually spot a former choir member, however. They look like they’re standing on clean linoleum with mud on their shoes, and raising their hands as if to admit it.

Choir of critics? Yep. Complaint Choirs started in Europe and they’re catching on in the U.S. One Chicago division makes discontent a member requirement. That and probably the ability to carry a tune without tripping over a floor monitor. Now before you go signing up, remember that for the most part, the worst you can imagine is the best of someone else’s reality. At a time when turkeys are enrolled in self defense courses and grandmas are doing hand exercises for pumpkin pie-baking, wouldn’t it be better to practice blesses rather than curses? After all, God didn’t bring us this far to leave us at the next exit ramp. He’s there for the duration.

Psalm 71:22 NLT, “I will praise you with music on the harp, because you are faithful to your promises. . . .”