Are America's Churches Overly Dramatized?

[Spinach]

I've been thinking a lot about this since the Pastor in IL was shot. One news article I read said that many in the church thought it was a skit. A skit? For real? Would a church put on a skit with a gun?

We've gone the way of Hollywood, haven't we? We're numb to reality, aren't we? What happened to little families sharing the same pew (or row, or floor space), listening to the preaching of the word of God, and allowing the Spirit to move in their hearts? When did we turn to childrens' church, complete with puppet shows? When did we turn to babies/toddlers in the nursery, watching Veggie Tales? And what about teens having popcorn and watching Left Behind?

I'm not saying that God cannot use those things. He doesn't fit in man's box. What I am saying is that I think that the church has been sucked into the rut of entertainment and feel-good community, and are lacking an old-fashioned, Holy Ghost meeting!

/end of rant.

 

[TCGreek]

I've been thinking a lot about this since the Pastor in IL was shot. One news article I read said that many in the church thought it was a skit. A skit? For real? Would a church put on a skit with a gun?

We've gone the way of Hollywood, haven't we? We're numb to reality, aren't we? What happened to little families sharing the same pew (or row, or floor space), listening to the preaching of the word of God, and allowing the Spirit to move in their hearts? When did we turn to childrens' church, complete with puppet shows? When did we turn to babies/toddlers in the nursery, watching Veggie Tales? And what about teens having popcorn and watching Left Behind?

I'm not saying that God cannot use those things. He doesn't fit in man's box. What I am saying is that I think that the church has been sucked into the rut of entertainment and feel-good community, and are lacking an old-fashioned, Holy Ghost meeting!

/end of rant.

(Yes, the pastor's incident is unfortunate, indeed. I pray for his family and folk.)

But I do think some churches are too drama-driven and so on.

Here's why: we think that the growth of a church is up to our human cleverness.

 

[Pastor Larry]

It is interesting ... or at least should be ... that when God set out to bring hope to the world, he didn't do it through drama, even though drama was a very popular form of communication in that day.

The shooting incident also brings a painful reminder that people are so entertained that they don't know the difference between reality and entertainment.

 

[Revmitchell]

(Yes, the pastor's incident is unfortunate, indeed. I pray for his family and folk.)

But I do think some churches are too drama-driven and so on.

Here's why: we think that the growth of a church is up to our human cleverness.

And sub-culture

 

[Spinach]

Snip

The shooting incident also brings a painful reminder that people are so entertained that they don't know the difference between reality and entertainment.

This is my thought as well, but what made them think that this kind of entertainment should belong in the church?

 

[Revmitchell]

We need to not demonize this church for its poor perception of that moment. Another truth is no one expects a murderer to just walk in and confront the Pastor this way. The whole moment most likely was very surreal and unexpected. It is normal to think extreme moments such as this are not real, as a reaction, and not having had to to consider the whole matter.

 

[Spinach]

Shock can do any number of things to the mind. I don't "demonize this church", but it does leave me wondering just how many churches are overly dramatized and what impact this could have.

 

[TCGreek]

We need to not demonize this church for its poor perception of that moment. Another truth is no one expects a murderer to just walk in and confront the Pastor this way. The whole moment most likely was very surreal and unexpected. It is normal to think extreme moments such as this are not real, as a reaction, and not having had to to consider the whole matter.

I quite agree.

 

[Palatka51]

Isn't drama an ancient Greek thing? It seems to me that many are slipping back to our ancient gentile roots. However, I do not feel that a drama presentation is to blame in this case and that congregation deserves our prayers. raying:

 

[rbell]

The shooting incident also brings a painful reminder that people are so entertained that they don't know the difference between reality and entertainment.

I think another factor can come into play here, that has little to do with drama itself.

A few years back, an IFB church where I used to work had a stabbing on Sunday morning, during worship (the victim would recover). This church was extremely traditional in its worship style. Drama would be unheard of in that church...in fact, the pastor often criticized churches that used drama.

People in that church thought for a moment it was a skit as well.

I think sometimes when a horrific event happens, observers go through at least a momentary denial: "No way that's happening in my church." An observer's brain flies through some explanations to explain away what just happened. A skit is a plausible explanation...at least in that momentary rush of denial and processing what one has just seen.

Now...the discussion is still a valid one (though I might see a different opinion)...but I don't think drama vs. no drama is the driving force during these events, in most cases.

 

[abcgrad94]

Drama is simply a means of communication. So is preaching, singing, talking, overhead projectors, puppets, Christmas cantatas, etc. We could argue that Jesus didn't use hymals or bulletins or Sunday School fliers, but that doesn't mean the usage of such is sinful.

I haven't been in church when a pastor was shot, but I would imagine shock and disbelief would be most folk's reaction. When faced with a shocking situation, sometimes the human mind tries to convince a person that what they are facing is not truly real. (In fact, denial is one of the stages of grief after a loved one has died.) It's a coping mechanism. So, it is quite understandable that the church members thought the situation was just a drama instead of for real. That doesn't mean they are worldly Hollywood lovers. I don't think it's fair of us to jump to that conclusion about them. They have faced a very heartbreaking situation and people react to that in different ways.

 

[Revmitchell]

Drama and preaching are not equal in communication and should never be seen as such.

 

[Berean]

When the Church made the decision to become like the world we deemphasized the word and began to imitate the world. Todays quote worship services are more like a Hollywood Productions or Las Vegas Shows. We have introduces strob-lights with percussion instruments that almost demand earplugs in some cases. The Message of the Pastor has become become Five Simple Steps To ........ (fill in the blank) If there aren,t several funny stories followed by raucous guffaws we leave sort of dissappointed. Sort of like a late show monolog. What ever happened to telling; Who Christ is, What he did and what it means to us? Isn't this still the message?____________

Does your church serve both sausage & pepperoni?

 

[Tom Bryant]

If you want to condemn the "overly dramatized" churches of today, that is fine. You won't be called into judgment for what I do. But to somehow tie that drama to the shooting of a pastor is a bit of a stretch.

Or maybe we could blame Columbine on the fact that we teach in school classrooms. Or the shooting in the church in Texas a few years ago to the music group that was playing a concert...

The debate about dramas in the church is one that we ought to have but the idea that because people thought it was a skit when the man murdered the Pastor isn't grounds for condemning or complaining about using dramas.

just my 2 cents worth...:tonofbricks:

 

[abcgrad94]

Drama and preaching are not equal in communication and should never be seen as such.

I didn't say they were equal. I said they were both forms of communication. Telling others of Christ can be done in many different ways, and there is no sin in that. That was my point.

 

[Alcott]

What ever happened to telling; Who Christ is, What he did and what it means to us? Isn't this still the message?____________

As there must have been a time before you were saved (supposing you were), then was the message that converted you just that and no more? Did somebody say, "Hey!-- Jesus Christ is the savior of the world who died for the sins of all those who believe in him-- will you accept him or not-- yes or no?" Was that all it took to convince you? And then, if someone does not accept the gospel based on that simplicity, do you just shake the dust off your shoes and go on?

 

[donnA]

I think most people are able to determine reality.
Entertainment? You mean dramas in church? Who says people try man made ways to draw people to church, why can't it be people worshipping God, relating the gospel message through a method of story telling thats been around for millennia (sp?)? But no, if yu don't do it, or don't approve of it then automatically God can't use and won't use it. Because you don't approve.
this just sounds righteous doesn't it, blaming a murder on drama in the church, how about simply blaming the guilty man.

 

[Baptist Believer]

We need to not demonize this church for its poor perception of that moment. Another truth is no one expects a murderer to just walk in and confront the Pastor this way. The whole moment most likely was very surreal and unexpected. It is normal to think extreme moments such as this are not real, as a reaction, and not having had to to consider the whole matter.

You're absolutely right!

When something unexpected happens, it takes a few moments for the brain to adjust to a reality you had not considered. That's one of the reasons why first responders, the military and healthcare workers conduct simulations and train, train, train... They don't want to lose seconds (or minutes) trying to process what is going in. If you have a plan of action, you can start implementing the plan of action and then modify it more appropriately as you assess the particulars of the emergency.

In sincerely doubt many (if any) churches are doing skits that involve violence (other than the crucifixion), so I'm guessing those reactions are the normal response of disbelief.

 

[LeBuick]

It is interesting ... or at least should be ... that when God set out to bring hope to the world, he didn't do it through drama, even though drama was a very popular form of communication in that day.

The shooting incident also brings a painful reminder that people are so entertained that they don't know the difference between reality and entertainment.

Isn't that a razor thin line?

 

[swaimj]

I've been thinking a lot about this since the Pastor in IL was shot. One news article I read said that many in the church thought it was a skit. A skit? For real? Would a church put on a skit with a gun?

I don't know that this church made use of drama in its services. Without knowing that, it is not only impossible to relate the reaction to drama, it is very unfair.

Many people thought 9/11 was a fake story at first because similar destructions of prominent buildings had been portrayed in movies. I do think it is a quite natural reaction when a traumatic event occurs to have many conflicting emotions including denial. We don't conclude from this that people are at fault because of their own reactions.