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NASB | 1 Corinthians 13:1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 Corinthians 13:1 ¶ If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love [for others growing out of God's love for me], then I have become only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal [just an annoying distraction]. |
Bible Question:
Church sound system "way too loud" I know a man who is having a problem with the church he attends. This man -- let's call him "Lee" (not his real name) --has tinnitus, "a sensation of noise (as a ringing or roaring) that is caused by a bodily condition (as a disturbance of the auditory nerve...) and can usually be heard only by the one affected (www.m-w.com)". Because of the tinnitus, he must avoid loud sounds, especially electronic sounds such as TV, radio, stereo, and PA systems. Even the briefest exposure to loud electronic noise/sounds not only results in earaches and ringing or roaring sensations, but it also can cause additional permanent hearing loss. According to Lee, the problem at his church is that the volume on the sound (PA) system has been too loud for years and has suddenly become even louder. He says that at his church last Sunday morning, the volume was "way too loud", that it caused him unbearable ear pain. He compared it to the volume of a band at a wedding reception. Someone who attended church the following Wednesday night told him (without his bringing the subject up) that the sound was [still] too loud. Within five minutes of the beginning of the Sunday morning worship service, he says he had no choice but to get up and leave, returning home and missing the service. I have known Lee for years. He is not one to look for excuses to stay home from church. He attends church faithfully and has done so for many decades. He says in his heart the last thing he wanted to do was to leave the service, but that the ear pain, ringing in his ears, and probabilty of more nerve damage left him no choice. Now he is somewhat angry and afraid of further nerve damage and hearing loss. He says he is not angry with any particular individual, but with the fact that the volume level has been too high and steadily increasing all these years and that everyone seems to accept it and approve of it. In short, Lee says he has no desire to leave his church permanently, but that continued excessive volume from the sound system will force him to leave to protect his hearing. He says he is at the point where he doesn't know what to do next. I suggested he talk to his pastor. Lee said he would not ask for special consideration or favors of any kind. He said he never has and never will. He does not want to ask for a change for the sake of only one person. He also said he doesn't know what good it would do to complain about it. That even if the pastor agreed to keep the volume down, it would sooner or later creep or jump back up again. He said he had no intention of going back to the pastor every other week with more complaints about the noise. It's not that he would doubt the sincerity of the pastor's intentions, but that a number of different people run the sound system and could not be depended on to keep the noise below the threshhold of pain. He reasons that the excessive volume seems natural and normal to those who run the sound system (mostly younger guys) and that they probably wouldn't even know or notice if the volume level was too high. Lee is very depressed over this situation. He lives in a small town and has no wish to stop attending his church or to start attending another. I know that asking for advice on the forum is not recommended. I don't intend to let this thread run on forever. But, I would appreciate the input of God's people on this matter. Your advice would be appreciated. Grace to you, Kalos |
Bible Answer: Greetings Kalos: Lee is a member of the body with a special need (we all have special needs btw) and in accordance with the command of Jesus that we love one another - as Christ loves the church, we should be responsive to him as an individual. Although I have no expertise in PA systems, might a selective headphone be appropriate for him? Ones that would allow for what his hearing can receive? Over Easter we attended, (by mistake?!) a Spanish church. I had just been reading in 1 Cor about the use of "tongues" in the church. If there is no interpreter present, those who speak in tongues should be silent (1 Cor 14:28). Now although this was not exactly an "unknown tongue" it was for us! This loving body, recognizing our plight sent interpreters to sit in our midst and interpret the pastor's message - what a blessing that was for us - not only the words spoken but the means by which they were delivered. Seeing the body in action to respond to our "individual need" was wonderful. Might this body that Lee belongs to see their response to him as a priviledge. I'll join you in prayer that a loving solution is reached for him too In Christ, mommapbs |