Not knowing if you’re supposed to sing along with the special music.

I’ve got a dilemma. A problem. A pickle, if I could use some rather salty language.

The problem is something that is happening to me each week at church.

You see, we have “special music” at the end of each service. Someone ridiculously talented, because we live in Nashville, will sing a closing song before dismissing the service. I love it. It’s one of my favorite parts of Sunday morning. (Jesus is my most favorite part in case you were thinking about starting your week by Jesus Juking me.)

But there’s a problem.

The problem is that they show the words to the song up on the screen. Line by line they show us the words to the song, which makes me feel like maybe I should sing along. Am I supposed to be doing backup on this song? Like Sheryl Crow singing backup for Michael Jackson? Is that my role here? I’m supposed to harmonize like Boys II Men or ABC, at the playground? Ya know? Iesha!

Or are the words up on the screen so I’ll understand them? Maybe they’re just supposed to be informational. Maybe the church is concerned that some worship leader is going to Eddie Vedder the song and in the crowd we’ll all think, “Did he just swing, ‘Iweana gonna tikka wanna?’” So the lyrics are shown up there so we’ll know that actually he said, “He gives and takes away.”

Because I’ll jump in if I need to. I’ll even bring a tambourine if that’s where things are headed. BYOT? All day son, all day!

Am I the only one who struggles with this?

Have you ever felt the same way during church?