What if old people complain about worship being "too loud"?

What do you do when some old lady comes up and says "Worship service was much too loud this morning the bass felt like it was pounding me in the chest!" as she pounds her bony little fist against your chest ? and then at the same time there are others saying hey man i couldn't hear you this morning (i'm the bass player) should I just ignore them all, or just politely direct the elderly woman to sit closer to the back? I don't know what do you peoples think?

This is a tough call... I've had this a few times and I find it amusing that it seems the same people that complain about the music being too loud are the same as those telling the sound-man they can't hear the pastor talking. I handled this by listening to the concern and told her I would look into it. I followed through on this by listening closely and making sure the worship volume was acceptable to me as well as a sampling of others within the congregation. Bottom line is that obviously you need to listen to the concerns of all people within the congregation and treat them with the respect and dignity they all deserve, but in the end, if accommodating one or two people means that the quality of worship for the vast majority will suffer, then I think a solution such as that person moving back a few rows or away from the speakers, etc. would be best. The trick is in how to present this to the complainant, be aware that it may be this person just doesn't like the newer worship style and would really prefer the volume to be nil.

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i completely agree with myutmost.

i do the same thing and tell them i'll look into it. and then i do. i've had people complain about everything. but all you can do is pay attention and see if everything is acceptable to you and a few others you trust with it and go on. there are a few people in our congregation who don't like it when i string 2-3 songs together in the same key. others have asked if we could string more than that! everyone is different, and it's not a matter of doctrine or anyone's integrity - then it's a personal call. and if you are the person who is actually playing/singing/facilitating than you do your best to make sure it's quality. you can't accomodate 1 or 2 people. we also had a large group of people express that we were singing 'too many mellow songs'. the worship team actually felt like it was something that was needed in our church. but because it was a very large group, and it wasn't doctrine, etc - we started to do more upbeat songs. you can't change everything for a few people. but treat people with respect like myutmost said, and you'll go a long way!

For me the question is not what do people like, but what music is taking us where the Lord wants us to go. We need to look toward the Promised Land, not back toward Egypt, not back toward Sinai, and not back toward the wilderness....... And when I say the Promised Land, I'm not really talking about Heaven - I'm talking about the place God wants us to take His Kingdom. There are prison and jail ministries and ministries to people who have addictions to deal with in our church. There is a prophetic/apostolic call on our church. We need music that will go with those things. Prophetic, modern music.blessingstal

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Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
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1 Corinthians 14:1

dont worry man been young and having passion for god counts...dont worry about what people say unless the worship leader or the pastor say that its too loud then you should listen...you cannot please everybody..

well, underthesouthcross... are you playing for the worship leader and pastor, or the congregation, or maybe... God? The congregation will get up and leave if the music is too loud or too soft to connect. Please remember that God won't get up and leave... he can hear everything. But if people are going to be listening, then you need to have it at an acceptable level. Just my opinion.

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Honor the elderly with the love of Christ, our primary function as priests/worshipers and encourage "open" communications with her/them as its better for them to be heard than to up and leave. I'd encourage the development of a open channel between the worshipers and the worship leader/pastor where people can feel comfortable with going to him/her and sharing their likes and dislikes. Communication is the greatest key in any family situtation.
As a word of encouragment, this issue has been going on for thousands of years... may we always do everything "as unto the Lord" and what we "do to the least of these, we do unto Him" :-)

William
oomuse.com - the home of prophetic worship

Originally Posted by Shaner

What do you do when some old lady comes up and says "Worship service was much too loud this morning the bass felt like it was pounding me in the chest!" as she pounds her bony little fist against your chest ? and then at the same time there are others saying hey man i couldn't hear you this morning (i'm the bass player) should I just ignore them all, or just politely direct the elderly woman to sit closer to the back? I don't know what do you peoples think?

remember that your first job is to worship God, and your second job is to lead others in worshiping God.

so if the elderly lady is saying that she is hearing your bass, then she is not being led in worship. and if others are more concerned with not hearing your bass then they also are not being led in worship.

ironically, both of these people are telling you the same thing. The sound system as a whole needs to be reconfigured, so that there is 'no bad seat in the house'.

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Psalms 89:14
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you.
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Some time an old lady may have just a
bad day!
In that case all she needs
is for someone to be kind and compassionate
with her, and listen to her complains with kindness.

On the other hand if the church has a
kind of music worship she cannot
cope with, may be the best solutions
is that she moves to another church
with a different kind of "worship"!

my Pastor said that he waqnts it nice and loud for all the earth to hear and to rock this nation in the name of the lord....
praise god..