Seeing today a church service and a long-held favorite, Godspell, I am struck with the differences between the two. Something that concernts me about some churches these days is the grand displays people put forth. Full orchestras with accompanying dvd presentations, vocal solos with trite lyrics, monologues the likes of which are unlikely to be heard in real life, big props, the over-emphasis of emotion, sometimes using children to get the desired response. What concerns me is, who are we trying to serve in doing this? Isn't church supposed to be worship of God, not an attempt to ilicit an emotional fervor from the congregation?
At church today, there was a short sermon on the resurrection, not detailed, not involved, and then a long musical tribute. It began with the woman that leads worship at my home church walking out with a young girl and singing a song from the standpoint of a child seeing the crucifixion (and some theological errors, including Christ himself asking why, whereas the Garden of Gethsemane, the way Christ treated Judas at the Last Supper, prophecy, and the great tradition suggest that he knew what was going on), a man singing Don Fransisco's "He's Alive" (again with a full band) and an almost cult-like video of people singing the song "Because He Lives". These were interspersed with a monologue about how we were there, we were in the crowd, etc. The end had the little girl grabbing the robe off of the cross and wrapping up in it like a blanket.
Here's the thing: As much as I love the arts (and I use that term loosely in connection to what I saw today) I think that spectacles like this should be handled very carefully, especially in a service as important as an Easter service. Such a performance should not be designed to incite emotion (no acting should) but to convey emotion. In any setting, that's what it should do. So why, in church, are people trying to cause feelings to happen? This is not the role of humanity and it is not by any means the role of the church. I fear that this, in Christianity's history, has caused much action in the wrong pursuits (Crusades, anyone?).
Besides that, is church not for worship of God? When did it become "let's rile the people up" time?
This afternoon however, I saw Godspell (the movie version with Victor Garber as Jesus). While this is a secular depiction of Christ and many people reject it because he and the followers dress themselves as clowns, I see an evident reason for this. Did Christ not seem foolish or at least stand out from the crowd in his day? Are we not told in the Bible that the word of God is but foolishness to those who do not believe? The dialogue and songs are based on the Gospel of Mark, and are rather accurate in that Jesus for the most part basically quotes scripture. No, the resurrection is not shown, but again, this is a secular portrayal. Why, then, do I feel closer to God and more devoted to him after seeing this movie than after seeing that church service? It is because Godspell is aimed at portraying the events and emotions in a very real sense. They brought the story to present day (well, 1970) New York, giving application of these two thousand year old stories to today. This was not meant to make us feel any way but to tell a story. Simplicity. Not Grand, but paying tribute to someone the writer thinks was a good man, though I believe more than just a good man.
I have a bad taste in my mouth when people try to make me feel a certain way. It seems like such a manipulative gesture to try to pull sadness, brokenness, conviction, devotion from me when I would readily give it by reasoning out the truth through study, listening to well-taught speakers, and prayer. I would almost argue that the true tribute today lay not in the spectacle I saw at church, but in the movie I saw today from a secular standpoint.
Truly, however, this is open to opinion. I know that people don't often agree with me (my mother just made it plain she didn't) and in the past my opinions have been cause for some...unrest, to put it lightly. I just felt the need to put this out there.
Happy Easter, remember the truth, and know that He lives.
Kate
2 comments:
Kate, I feel that you are right on. You very eloquently put your feelings into words. Our church service was very low key. The talks were of course on the life and resurrection of our Savior however, only one very humble musical number was performed. It was lovely and helped me to remember that our thoughts need to remain on the Savior and all that He did for us every day of our lives and not just on a few days a year (i.e. Christmas and Easter). I feel that it shouldn't take performances of grandeur to help one feel His spirit touch their heart. It shouldn't take a preacher (or pastor) pounding a podium telling you to repent and be saved. It can be something as simple as walking out your front door and seeing the beauty in nature that surrounds us or witnessing a kind act from one to another. That is where His spirit lies. He was not a man of glamour or glitz so why is it that we spend countless money and hours creating such "spectacles" to honor Him when it can be done in simpler ways. Ways such as helping someone in need or sharing His teachings with others? Thank you for your words.
Great post! I absolutely agree. I have no problem including "the arts" in church services so long as they are an aid to genuine worship and contemplation. But these displays are a totally different matter! And I have to draw the line at all these songs and skits filled with heretical nonsense. Yikes! Anyway, I loved your description of the service, though (especially the "let's rile people up!" bit).
~Margaret
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