Act 1…
The church council is in session…
“We cannot allow this sacrilege in our church.”
“But it won’t be in the sanctuary!”
“It’s still in the church.”
She wanted to stage a play. The church council was outraged.
“Play acting”, they said “is not appropriate at church…”
Someone whispered a quiet reminder that her family was one of the church’s biggest donors.
The play was a great success.
Act 2…
He walked to his closet to dress for church…
He picked the expensive designer suit, the tie that cost more than most people earn in a day and the custom shirt with French cuffs. His cuff links were made from real gold set with semi precious stones.
As he walked into church, a woman stopped him.
“I am so glad some of us still dress for church”, she said.
She laughed. “After all, we have a role to play.”
“What would my church friends think if they saw me the way I look every day?”
Act 3 …
The church service hadn’t started. People talked quietly in the pews…
“How was your week?” the person sitting next to him asked.
“Fine”, he answered.
But it hadn’t been fine. He’d gone to the doctor for a routine check up.
“Before you go home”, the doctor said, I want you to see cardiology.”
“You,” the cardiologist told him, “had a minor heart attack in the last few weeks”.
They’d do tests tomorrow to see if he needed surgery. He envied the guy next to him. His life was always perfect.
“My week was fine”, he said again. “How about yours?”
“Great. Just great.” But it hadn’t been great.
At work, stress was off the charts. The boss yelled at him every day.
At home he and his wife were in a constant state of war with their teenage daughter.
“Stop ruining my life”, she screamed as she locked herself in her room.
He envied the person setting next to him. His life was perfect. “Sounds like we both had a good week”, he said.
“Play acting”, declared the council, “is not appropriate at church.”
…let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Ephesians 4:25
4 thoughts on “Church as Theater-What Role will You Play?”
Nice way to write on this topic. Sadly, these are real things that happen in the church. I’m sometimes guilty of the third act, pretending to be fine. God is faithful though, He perfects the church though it’s filled with imperfect people like us.
I’ve a different problem with my church. If you have time, I hope you can read my entry http://thelovelycup.wordpress.com/2014/02/03/help-the-preaching-is-boring/.
Thanks!
Thanks for your comment. Over the years, I have certainly been guilty of the third act and sometimes probably the second. Thanks also for leaving the link to your own blog.
So good! Like the way you brought this about. Great post.
Thanks for your comment!