And there could be no excuse for such a low output of volume from the crowd because they didn't know the words of the song, as the words of the song were emblazoned in vivid relief by projectors against the back open wall of the stage for all to see and follow along with.
The lack of participation from the crowd was in sharp dissension from the praise team gathered on stage who were blaring music out and shaking all around as if they had ants in their pants. Forget pants, when it came to that.
The lead worship singer could've benefited from a pair of pants, as her dresses hemline was so short that she unconsciously from time to time reached down to try to tug the dress lower to no avail. Short was short.
What a disgrace this was!
Truly it could be said that Christians could be the phoniest of people. If she was an unsaved person nothing about this congregational atmosphere of lackluster belief would convince her to step forward in conviction of faith. She now full well understood the pastor's anguish over the condition of his wayward flock.
There was no life in this place or if there was it was buried under ceremony and false pretenses of sanctimonious worship.
Zora's eyes moved about in search of her husband to see how his mad charade of a homeless man was going. She found him on the front bench of the center aisle in the middle of the amphitheater styled sanctuary. His arms were moving, his feet were dancing, and in short he was totally worshiping God with everything he had.
He was also ticking off all those seated towards the front of the church by both his presence in the church and his overt acts of worship.
His praise reminded Zora of her own duty as a believer to give God praise, but she had no sooner than begun, then worship time was abruptly over. Four songs and done. That was it.
Everyone sat, as if relieved from a great burden, after standing for maybe less than twenty minutes.
The offering plates were passed out.
The band had continued to play mood music, while the offering was being taken, but they now stopped as a casually dressed man stepped onto the stage that had public relations guy written all over him. He began to talk into a headset mic, as he gave a few perfunctory and completely disingenuous claps with his hands, "All right! Wow! Wasn't that an awesome time of praise and worship! Let's give Katie a hand!"
There was an equally perfunctory clap of applause from a smattering of those in the crowd as Katie smiling big bowed over as if she'd gotten a standing ovation, even as she most likely had just given the drummer and electric guitarist situated behind her and eye full.