Pageantry and Theatre

Church Friend #1:  Since our pastor retired, our worship numbers are down
significantly.  We didn’t realize how many people came just to hear him preach.  And then they went to brunch.

Church Friend #2:  That’s not really church, you know.

Many of us have participated in Destination Worship to hear a great preacher preach.   A friend just told me over the weekend that she would be visiting Texas for Christmas and while she’s in Houston she will definitely go hear Joel Osteen.  Because he’s Joel Osteen.  (Maybe not everyone’s idea of a Great Preacher but we’d all agree he is a famous preacher.)

I’ve traveled to Grandville, MI to hear Rob Bell preach.  I’ve made several pilgrimages to hear BBT.  I’ve made special efforts to hear other fine preachers deliver God’s Word.  My faith has been impacted by their teaching and I have a richer understanding of scripture from those sermons.  But I can’t say that my experience was truly “church.”

My friend Steve Knight wrote earlier this month about Participatory Church.   For generations, many of us believed that being a Christian meant spending Sunday mornings in a church sanctuary, sitting in a chair or pew, hearing a sermon and then going home  (or to brunch) comforted or smarter or stirred spiritually.  And that’s that.

Jesus taught something completely different.

It’s easy to go hear a fine sermon and then return home and forget about it until next week.  It’s easy to go get a shot of inspiration and then continue life as usual.  But being a church together, being The Body of Christ together involves a commitment, relationships, a change of perspective and priorities.  Way harder.

Advent is often about theatre and pageantry in the institutional church.  Concerts and “special music” fill those weeks before Christmas.  Consider The Church Christmas Pageant.

Who doesn’t love a Christmas Pageant?  The kids are cute.  The pews are full. The story is familiar.  It creates happy memories and brings people together.  What’s not to love?

My hope is that this perennial favorite is more than a sentimental exercise.  I hope it touches souls and points us to something holy and beautiful.  But to be honest, sentimentality often wins.  We prefer easy worship.  We go.  We hear and watch.  We come away spiritually moved or entertained or informed.

But that’s not what it means to be the church together.  Jesus asks for more.