Why You Should Not Turn the Lights Dark During Worship - JD Hall

Found here. Our comments in bold.
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The author is convinced that turning off the lights in the sanctuary during the musical worship is unholy. However, not one Scriptural reference is provided. Not one biblical principle is cited. Therefore, his judgment is not based on a biblical argument.
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Here’s why you should not turn the lights dark during worship.

1. By default, spotlights are on the stage. The people on the stage then have “the spotlight.” People should never have the spotlight (Jesus should). (The author offers a false choice: Spotlights are either us or Jesus. The author does not explain to us how a darkened room automatically dishonors Jesus.

And we wonder, should Paul not have been in "the spotlight?" 

Ac. 17:22 Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious."

And how about when Paul appeared before Felix?

Ac. 24:10 When the governor motioned for him to speak, Paul replied: “I know that for a number of years you have been a judge over this nation; so I gladly make my defense." 

And what about pastors? They stand center stage behind a podium making solemn statements. Many churches have the elders and other notable people seated on stage. What about the person who reads announcements? The person who sings a solo during the offering? Do these also steal "the spotlight" from Jesus? 

Can you see the arbitrary nature of the author's objections?)

This creates celebrities, (Automatically in every case...) 

emphasizing the spectator-model (No, the traditional pastor/lecturer model does this.)

rather than participant-model of worship. (Hmmm. The author doubtless prefers the traditional church model where a few hymns are sung, the offering is taken, and the pastor pontificates. What sort of "participation model" church is he referring to?

Indeed, go to a typical traditional church and just try to lift your hands or give a little shout of praise, or even ask a question. You'll quickly discover how much they like your "participation."

We are almost completely sure the author doesn't actually want the "participant-model.")

Dark theaters are for cinema, bars and music concerts. (A summary assertion with no evidence given to support it.)

2. Historically, church sanctuaries employ light (like through stained glass or lots of windows) to aesthetically symbolize the God who is Light and who enlightens his people. (The author arbitrarily appeals to historical practices of traditional churches.

Might we ask, wouldn't multi-colored light coming from the stained-glass window be manipulative and distracting? Would such a window take the spotlight away from Jesus?

We are writing this tongue-in-cheek to demonstrate the arbitrary nature of the author's complaint.)

3. Coming to worship INTO the darkness rather than OUT of the darkness and into the light is kinda the opposite of what should happen. “Let there be light,” God said. He is the God who illumines. (Is the Bible talking about literal light, or is this a word picture regarding the illumining of the soul because of the revelatory nature of God?)

4. Rock concerts turn the lights down low so people feel less self-conscious and more prone to “letting it all go.” It is an intentional decision by festival organizers to manipulate emotions. Call me old fashioned, but as you come before God in contemplation of your sin and his holiness, maybe you **should** be self-conscious. (The author keeps offering us these false binary choices and guilt-by-association pronouncements as if they are self evident.)

5. Darkness conceals those who choose not to participate, standing in God’s presence in sullenness and indifference. Light it up, you lip-syncers. (Ah, so the author wants to shame non-participants so everyone can see their discomfort...)

6. Low lights make it impossible to use a hymnal, which for sooooo many reasons is superior to power-point (this requires an altogether different diatribe). (Another assertion based on nothing more than the author's taste. However, it seems a trivial issue to state a preference as to where the words are located.)

It also makes it hard to be a Berean, checking the preacher’s words against the words of God over your open Bible. (We surmise the author has never seen a Bible app lit up on a cell phone.

The author's preferred church service ironically seems to be the spectator model with a pastor/lecturer.)

7. “Ambiance” should be created by the Spirit, and not contrived by sensory manipulation. (Like those stained glass windows [objection #2]?

We are wearying of the author's false binary choices, as if Holy Spirit "ambiance" cannot be present in a darkened room.)

8. The Holy Spirit is not a vampire, who only comes out when it is dark. (Now the author turns puerile.)

It is not even tangentially more “spirit-filled” to worship in the dark than in the light. (Which no one has claimed. However, the author appears to be claiming the opposite, that it is unspiritual and manipulative to worship in a darkened room. Therefore, somehow it must be more "Spirit-filled" to worship with the lights on.)

9. People believe that if it is dark, then others will be more likely to “make a decision” if no one is watching (heads bowed, eyes closed). (Who believes this? Quotes? Documentation? Sources? And what does "heads bowed, eyes closed" have to do with the lights?)

I submit to you that anyone who is afraid to publicly follow Christ is not worthy of following him. (Why is it an advantage to make a decision for Christ in a lighted room? 

More crucially, why does the author think he should determine who is worthy of following Christ?)

10. A major component of dark sanctuaries is the attempt to make a less-than-full sanctuary less noticeable. (Who does this? Documentation? References?

And perhaps the author would tell us why a lighted half-full sanctuary is better than a dark half-full one?)

It’s a trick used in comedy clubs and entertainment venues.

Turn the lights up.

(The author has done nothing but tell us of his personal taste. That's it. Yet he is happy to condemn those who do it a different way for the most arbitrary of reasons.)