Theatrical Christianity

IT’S ALL ABOUT THE SHOW 
-rory moore

Ask any pastor or church leader "Why do we have a raised platform, focused special lighting, a sound system, and (maybe) cameras and video monitors"?  

More than likely they will answer that is so they can further the gospel or something similar.
"It's all for Jesus"?

It is?
WHO benefits from the electronics, video monitors, platforms, and is the center of focus for a congregation?  
Jesus or the man on the stage? Does God's Word need the special effects, sounds, and lights or if we are honest, does it cross the line into fleshly entertainment?
Do you realize that many Sunday Sermons are delivered by professional orators (called preachers) who have not only crafted and polished the message, have rehearsed in front of a mirror, and many are even imitating some other preacher they admire?


In today’s visible church world we find many “alternate realities” under the guise of winning souls, "growing God's kingdom", growing one’s ministry, "going to the next level", achieving some sort of destiny,
and having a successful church (and church business). 

This point was driven home one night as we watched one of Americas Best Selling Christian pastor-authors, one Sunday night television.  Not being much of a TV watcher myself, this was a revelatory mind-boggling view of what has become “Christian”.
The speaker (who rarely, if at all, even quoted from the Bible) appeared on the stage of one of the most elaborate settings this side of heaven itself.

The huge auditorium must have seated tens of thousands of people, ceiling lighting that looked like a starlit night sky, and was enhanced by state of the art lighting, and sound, and center stage of it all was the humble hero of the day. Every facial expression and every timely pause was choreographed and delivered flawlessly. 


Luke 7:25 But what went ye out to see? a man clothed in soft raiment?
      Behold, they that are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings' courts.

Acts 12:21  And upon a set day Herod arrayed himself in royal apparel, and sat on the throne, and made an oration unto them.


The “sermon” began with a cute little joke that sent ripples of chuckles through the huge auditorium. 
He went on to encourage the folks to achieve a better life, live happy, and have a winning attitude.  His message really impacted those watching from their pews and televisions as reflected in the sales of millions of his books and DVD’s.
His highly polished and timely delivery, accompanied by appropriate hand gestures and facial expressions, just made you feel good.
Surely many of the good folks drove home with anticipation of how they were now motivated and equipped to succeed in life.  

Likewise we recall how we desired our building to be improved in looks, comfort, and with the electronic necessities of modern churches. 
Better lighting, better cameras, better sound equipment, better presentation were all sought after. 

One year, we even did a major theatrical presentation called “Hotel Hallelujah” in which the majority of the membership played in various roles of the saints and sinners of our day.
I was the voice of the emcee.
We portrayed Elvis, Lady Di, Willie Nelson, Kurt Cobain, Selena, and many others as they met their fate. 
It was a huge effort by our church with rehearsals, stage props, and advertising in an effort to “reach” people for Christ.  (We were copying another church in this production).
Despite the advertising, rehearsals, and the expense, there was only moderate attendance and it is highly questionable that anyone actually got “saved”. 

But it sure was a great show.

We use these two illustrations to demonstrate how shallow church has become as the focus has shifted from “a temple made without hands” to the works of men’s hands. So much time, effort, and finances go in to support the typical “church” operation which culminates in the Sunday Show Case.
There are other matinées such as classes, special groups, etc., but The Sunday Show is the Big One.

Can there any doubt who the focus is on?



Do we realize how vain it has become?
We now have the spectacle of SUPERSTAR PASTORS.  
The Sunday show determines the financial success of the business side of the ministry and how the players performed. 
In some churches efforts are made to "follow-up" with visitors and those who may have made a "profession of Christ".  
You  can sugarcoat the "show" with words of concern for souls and changing lives, but if you were to strip away the tithes, salaries, buildings, and lifestyles from the typical evangelical pastor, how many real servants of God do you think would be left?   

People sub-consciously know something is terribly wrong with the theatric Christianity
that is so prevalent, and pleases our flesh, but they have nowhere to turn, so they think.
 For many of us the thought of not attending church was off the radar and it was only by God's grace were we delivered from our institutional ideas about church and Christianity and have found wonderful simplicity in gathering with others to seek God's Presence without the showmanship.  

Church Walls Got You Down?

Out of church but not out of God, Christianity Outside The Box

Churches without names, buildings, or a hired pastor?  Ideas that once sounded "out there" are rapidly becoming one of the largest spiritual movements in the world.
The George Barna Research Group in a startling survey found that the fastest growing segment of Christianity is among  Christians leaving the institutionally organized churches and finding fellowship and support as they gather in homes and other places.  (Google "Barna organic Home Church"

Approximately 7% of adults surveyed were participating in an "organic church", typically, one where people gathered in a home for worship, sharing of faith, and study of the Bible.
In his article, Barna stated "

71% say they are “more likely to develop my religious beliefs on my own, rather than to accept an entire set of beliefs that a particular church teaches.”  And he found, "Levels of distrust toward churches, church leaders and organized Christianity have been growing over the past two decades. 

That concern – along with the heightened independence of Americans and the profound access to information that has characterized the past decade – may have led to the emergence of a large majority of adults feeling responsible for their own theological and spiritual development." There are many authors such as Frank Viola, Andrew Strom, and A.J. Kiesling to name a few.

There are also Christians choosing to gather as the early Christians did in the book of Acts.
In fact, a quick word search for "church house" in a Bible Search Program (http://www.htmlbible.com/ )
yielded numerous references such as 1st Corinthians 16:19 The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Prisca salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.
Colossians 4:15 Salute the brethren that are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church that is in their house",  -and more.

Reasons for leaving institutional are greatly varied.
Some leave church because they are bitter over spiritual and/ or clergy abuse.
Some leave because they cannot live up to expectations. Either their own, others, or even God's expectations as they are perceived.
Some leave because they experience emptiness in routines, programs, financial manipulation, and performance-oriented services.
Some leave the assurance and affirmation of church in order to find a more meaningful relationship to God.
Some leave because they began to read the Bible and saw how the words of Christian church scripture disagree with commonly accepted practices such as tithing, controlling leaders, spiritual covering, and more.
Some leave because God told them to.

Usually the establishment church views them with labels such as "lone-rangers", "disgruntled" "discord sowers", "false prophet", "heretic", "lone wolf", "murmurer", "discord sowers", and all the labels we ourselves once used to put on people when they left OUR church.

However in church history, a surprising perspective is found when we realize many of God's people separated themselves from the "mainstream" faith around them.

Jesus Himself was labeled, castigated, and persecuted by the establishment religious order.
Paul was converted but did not go to "church" for three years. He later suffered outside the camp of Judaistic Israel after Christ revealed Himself to him.
And of course, ALL of the followers of Jesus came out from among the mainstream sects and denominations of the Jewish religion. For this, they were persecuted, labeled, and spoken evil of by the religious establishment of the day.

Jesus Himself said He came to bring division in Luke 12:51 Think ye that I am come to give peace in the earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division, and that the first followers of Jesus Christ ALL came out from the divisions and sects of Judaistic Israel.
It is an astonishing parallel to our day in which there are countless sects, denominations, and divisions under the banner of "Christian". Anyone looking at the "church directory" in the Yellow Pages will quickly become overwhelmed by the Smorgasbord of church ads.   

Yet it is an amazing discovery to find that the overwhelming majority of early Christians met in homes with no overhead, hired minister, or the typical furnishings found in the typical church building. It comes as a further shock to realize the pastors of that day were told by the apostle Paul himself, that they (the bishops) should be "so working that you ought to support the weak" (Acts 20:35)

The New Testament knows nothing of a professional clergy.
In the typical home church "assembling", families and individuals will gather together for a meal, fellowship, worship, and open sharing.
In this atmosphere, everyone participates or is welcome to; the body of Christ functions as a loving, caring, and sharing spiritual family.

In our own home gatherings, which are rotated among several families, meetings tend to last 6-8 hours in a very enjoyable atmosphere in which most of the people stay well into the night.
One typical Saturday we assembled with spiritual "family" as the Body of Christ from around 2:30 to 11 pm.  We talked, ate, prayed, discussed the Bible, testified, and shared what the Lord is doing in our lives.

Several experienced physical healings including a migraine headache and a back condition. 
The intimacy of a home meeting is more conducive to personal ministry, confession of struggles, and ministry one to another which the typical church service does not have time or room for.
Without the formal structure of a programmed church "service", the home meetings facilitate openness and frank expression of needs, problems, and personal giftings each member may have opportunity to exercise. 

Another common objection aimed at non-institutional church goers, is that there is no denominational or spiritual covering, or accountability.
While this may be partly true, especially with those "leaders" who desire to build their own "church kingdom" and seek to be supported by others, many have networked and have learned to make themselves accountable to God and those they gather with.
In fact, there is no such thing as the phrase "spiritual covering" given in the scriptures. Nor is there a titled clergy, structured church hierarchy, or even the position of one man called "pastor" put in charge of an assembly.
Again, it comes as a shock to find a multiplicity of elders were given oversight of the churches.  One or several men were exercising the gift of a pastor alongside the other unpaid, ministerial gifts of service to the church.

Giving and tithing according to the tradition of the offering plate is another area where many home churches depart from church traditon.
Although we personally found no scriptures instructing churches or saints to pay a tithe of 10% from income, giving is an important part of our fellowship. 

Since a home group has no paid minister or church overhead, 100% of giving  goes directly to meet the needs of others, as opposed to typical church overhead and salaries which take 95% of the typical churches income. Some ministries may be supported by choice "as a man purposes in his heart" but not by the subtle manipulation of a weekly offering plate being passed.

  Home churchers tend to eschew "tax deductible" offerings in favor of private, that is, secret giving without any desire for record keeping by a church secretary or pastor. Jesus appeared to encourage self-less, secret giving also, (Matthew 6:4 that thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father who seeth in secret shall recompense thee),  and Saint Paul testified how that he "I was careful to remember the poor"  in Galatians  2:10

That is how the home churches tend to function, once they are free from the typical church-mindset.  More of the people become involved in caring and ministering one to another and those around them.
We were personally amazed at the first home church meeting we visited in another city. The simplicity and lack of formal orchestration was like a culture shock but we quickly adapted and came to love it, and we would never want to exchange the close fellowship for a large building and watching others "lead church" up in front.

Admittedly, "home church" is not for everyone, but for many, it fills the need for closer, more intimate Christian fellowship than does the Institutional, program-driven setting of the formal church.

Jesus said simply "where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am in the midst". -That also is church.
-rory moore