Please, Don't Applaud My Special

This post is difficult to write. Let me just start out by saying, I truly love my church family. They've been supportive for the past two years (the whole time I've been a member). But there is something happening that is becoming more and more widespread in churches, and it honestly makes me extremely uncomfortable.

God blessed me with a talent for music. I play the flute and I sing. I tend to sing more in church because I've never been a huge fan of playing my flute. What I do is not the point, however. I tend to not sing very often because I don't like bringing a special unless I feel as though God is laying a song on my heart to bring before my church family or I have been asked to sing for a special church event. Bringing special music before my church is not for my glory or my church family's entertainment. Special music is intended to bring glory to God and possibly touch the heart of someone who may be lost.

I don't perform. I bring a special. I will never say "Thank you" as I am exiting the pulpit after singing. And I am not a fan of applause after a special has been brought before the service.

You may not see an issue with it, you may call me old fashioned, but I do and I am. It makes me extremely uncomfortable to hear a smattering of applause after I have put my heart into a song that was intended to be for God's glory. You're probably wondering why I'm not a fan of applause after special music. I'll sum it up in Scripture.

He must increase, but I must decrease. John 3:30

Those words were spoken by John the Baptist, the man who came to pave the way for Jesus Christ, a true servant of God. The multitudes were asking if he was Christ, and he had to explain to them that he was simply a man that was sent to prepare the way for Jesus. Am I comparing myself to John the Baptist? No. Am I saying that by applauding my special music you are wondering if I am Jesus? No. What I am saying is that by applauding, you are giving the same response that you would give to a secular performance, whether it be in sports, music or theatre. And that's not okay with me.

Using the talent that God gave to praise Him and bring glory to His name is above a musical concert, a theatre performance or outstanding sporting performance. It is something that should be regarded, not applauded. My personal belief is that if you would applaud a performance outside of the church building, you should not do the same for a special brought before a congregation.