Why?

I have been doing a lot of thinking lately about what church should look like. I guess the question I've really been asking is this: Why do we do church the way that we do it?

Don't get me wrong. This is not about questioning traditions. It's about making sure that every single aspect of what we do as a church has a purpose. AND...THAT purpose lines up 100% with the main purpose of the church.

Let's take a typical worship service at our church for example. Some of these things I see the point in, others I do not. Here's some questions to ask ourselves about each element.

*Countdown- Do people need a countdown to let them know when it's starting? Does there cell phone not sync up with the satellite?
*Opening Song - Why have a song to signal the start of a service? Kind of like the national anthem maybe?
*Welcome- Why do people need to be welcomed during the service? Did multiple greeters and other people greet them on the way in?
*Worship Set- Why have music at all? Can worship only begin with upbeat music and work gradually to slower, apparently "more worshipful" songs?
*Offering Prayer and Special Song- Why does this need to be in the middle of the service? Can people only give if there is some background music playing?
*Bumper- Why do we need a video that transitions between the offering song and the sermon? I wonder how Jesus could have been effective without it.
*Sermon- Why does it have to be a live speaker giving a lecture? When was the last time you invited your friends to a lecture?
*Invitation- Why should we give an invitation every week? Do you think one more verse will bring them down? (I see that hand).
*Closing Song- Why does it have to end with another song? Was six not enough?

Obviously, I said a lot of things tongue in cheek. I see a lot of reasons that we should do some of the things mentioned above. The main thing is, we have to know why we do what we do. If what we do does not line up with the vision and purpose of the church, we shouldn't do it. (What is the vision and purpose of your church? Sorry...I couldn't resist.)

What questions do you think should be asked about church life?