Polished Perfection or Not?

So here is something I am wrestling with. We often talk about how "excellence" is the currency of our culture. People expect it and demand it. If a person is faced with a choice between two churches and all things are equal with regard to facilities, programing, opportunities, etc. I am told that they will choose the church that is more polished. Really??????? Is that all there is to it?

What about with music, (which is my area)? I was told that I need to strive to be as close to what people hear on the radio with regard to musicality and quality. Really? Is that what people want? Is that what my job is about? Bringing us to the same level of professionalism that is played on the radio?

We lament that people are too me-oriented and too consumeristic but aren't we feeding the beast with the level of perfection we demand from our volunteers? Are we sending a mixed message of we want you to be real but we also want you to be pretty polished people?

I love my church family. The past three years have been one of the best experiences my family and I have had in a church. We feel loved and we love the people here. It really feels like a family to us. So don't misunderstand this post and think that I am saying that we have got it all wrong. Also, please don't think that I am saying we should not seek to improve and get better or just show up and "see what happens". I'm not, but I do think that we need to re-examine some things.

I have never been one who tries to put on a "church-smile". If you ask me how I am doing you're going to get the real answer. If I ask you how you are doing I want the real answer. When I am leading worship from the stage I don't want to perform, I want to worship God in that moment. Sometimes I'm tired, sometimes I'm grumpy, sometimes I am struggling with a area of sin, sometimes I do it because I want to, sometimes I do it because I have too, sometimes I do it because I don't know what else to do. I'm not perfect and I have never claimed to be. I am not a pretty person (I'm not talking about physically prettiness although I probably wouldn't fall into that category either) and I don't want to be part of a church that is made up of pretty people. I want to be a part of a church that is made up of real people. People that know that they are broken and sinful yet also know that they are continually being made more and more into the likeness of Christ. People who don't claim to know all the answers but know the One who does have all the answers.

So I guess what I am trying to ask is this: When is good enough...good enough? My answer? It is good enough when you are giving everything you can at that moment for God.

What do you think?