What’s So Exciting?

I just returned from an astounding local production of the musical RENT and one prominent thought is running laps through my mind: If church is not the most engaging, emotionally soul-moving experience of our week, it’s time to ask some serious questions about what we’ve allowed church to become.

My expectations were frothing on the drive to the theatre as I wondered how deep this production would reach into me. I’ve seen enough bad performances of this immensely challenging show to know how common it is to walk in, sit down, clap a few times, and walk out.

Even though I can sing nearly every word of the libretto and know the details of each character, there is an element within live theatre that, when done with honest excellence, bypasses what we know and touches the deep dormant areas that need rousing in our souls.

From the opening scene, I knew I was in good hands. As the strongest vocal cast I’ve seen began to release their gifts and the power of the story began to unfold, I trustingly allowed my emotions to be shaken, not stirred, as I laughed, cried, and marveled while inviting the goosebumps to stay as long as they liked.

I drove home singing so loudly, I caught nearby drivers pretending not to stare.

Straight away, my fellow Christians may astutely rebuff my accolades for this show based on its content. I won’t spend time on that point except to say: While RENT’s bold and brash air assault against the social struggles of the late 1980s were fortified and warranted, the war zones of 2022 make it look docile in comparison.

And, if Jesus had been born in New York City, 1958, He most certainly would have walked the East Village in 1988 healing, restoring, and delivering all who were suffering.

The Idol of Excitement 

As I reveled in the afterglow, I was quickly met with a stark reality: Why are these deep-set emotions of mine rarely even stirred during the Sunday rigors of a church service? Shouldn’t church be the most profoundly moving and meaningful event of my week? And if live theatre is so special, so uniquely powerful, what to say then of the Living God communing with His people being anything less?

How many times have I walked in, sat down, clapped a few times, and walked out? And how many times have I not sung on the drive home but instead, leaned on my horn to hurry the mud turtles blocking my progress?

What have we let church become?

I often imagine what it was like to enter Israel's portable yet grand tabernacle during the 40 years they wandered in the desert. Did Moses dispatch a bevy of over-caffeinated greeters at the entrance of the tent to pretend they were more excited than God Himself that you showed up?  

Welcome to Tabernacle! We’re so glad you’re here! I don’t know who you are but let me give you an awkward three-fingered swipe of a high-five, a fabulous Connect Card, and a Tabs bumper sticker for your donkey sacks. We are so excited you are here! The next greeter will land a much more solid high-five than I did, so move along. Welcome to Tabernacle!

Can someone please remind our church leaders how this makes us feel? Imagine walking into the Hallmark Store and before you can get near the birthday card rack, no less than three dusty old ladies who look like Dr. Ruth Westheimer before makeup saucily say to you, “Welcome to Hallmark, what can I help you find today?”

I’m just making my way to the pillar of fire, thank you very much.

Why the constant push to tell us how excited everyone is? Through cramped smiles, the greeters assure us how excited they are that we somehow found the building. The high-production videos are jam-packed with exciting events that are promised to be so much fun! The worship cheerleader rallies the room to shout because we should be so excited!  

C’mon! You can do better than that!

Then the preacher tells us with beaming excitement how excited he is about the exciting message God has for us today!

Can we please exodus the excitement?

The Director’s Chair

I am not saying church shouldn’t be exciting - but precisely nothing exciting has happened yet. How about we gather as we would for a banquet of fine dining and trustingly wait for the Host to guide us through the evening.

Because the undercurrent I begin to pick up on is a restless striving that hints, “We’re not sure God will show up in power today, but that's ok because we’ve planned a really exciting service for you!”

Don’t hear me wrong; I love the church. And my harmless riffing is to highlight something I believe to be vitally important: The people of God gathered around the Presence of God should be the primacy of the Sunday event.

Every Sunday, all across the country, churches gather around a sermon. Israel gathered around The Presence.

~Pastor Bill Johnson

The performers in that show didn’t spend an ounce of energy telling us to be excited. Instead, they embodied the identity the author had bestowed to them. Resultantly, they said what the author told them to say, moved where the author told them to move and sang only what the author had first sung himself.

The Father himself who sent me has commanded me what I should say and what I should speak.

I tell you the solemn truth, the Son can do nothing from himself, but only what he sees the Father doing.  

~Jesus in John’s Gospel

Christians have little issue with declaring Jesus as Head of the Church — yet we are terrified to hand Him the mic during a meeting. But why?

If Christ is indeed the Head of the Church, then permitting Him the role of Master of Ceremony seems precisely appropriate — if not mandatory. Likewise, we should tremble and quake at the thought of The Author patiently waiting to deliver a heavenly line — but we fearfully had failed to allow time in the script to bend a knee, cup an ear, and make the time to listen.

The Israelites learned how to follow the presence of God from the cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night. This manifestation of glory provided the people with precisely what they needed: Shade from the blazing sun and light and warmth in the darkness. He is always postured to provide precisely what we need. For heaven’s sake, why do we feverishly plan and provide the congregation with binkies and baby bottles as the King of the Universe stands before us with unopened gifts in His hands.

Harnessed Predictability Or Unleashed Power?

A cursory reading of the Gospels reveals that Jesus can never be called; predictable. Yet, on 52 Sundays a year I can accurately predict what will happen in each service long before I pass through the car wash of happy greeters.  

Jesus rarely did the same thing the same way twice. Further, some of His most powerful miracles and teachings came on the heels of interruptions — the very thing a well-scripted or liturgical service makes no accommodation for.

Scripture permits us to dare to have a powerfully unpredictable Jesus-take-the-mic type of worship service. But it takes real faith. Instead of dusting off the same set of blueprints week after week, what if we considered this first formulary of the early church:

When you assemble, each one has a song, has a lesson, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all these things be done for the strengthening of the church.

Two or three prophets should speak and the others should evaluate what is said. If someone sitting down receives a revelation, the person who is speaking should conclude. For you can all prophesy one after another, so all can learn and be encouraged.

~ Paul to the Church in Corinth, Chapter 14

My favorite word here is each and my favorite phrase is you can all. What an invitation — and what responsibility.

I was a pastor for over a decade and the weeks I preached were immensely challenging. 15-20 hours was not an uncommon amount of time spent in preparation. Now that I simply attend church again, my preparation for the service is somewhere between zero and no hours.

Why? Because I inherently know everything will be done for me or on my behalf by those in specific positions to do so.

I wish I had thought more about Paul’s prescriptive concerning the gathering of the church back in my preaching days. Maybe the centerpiece of the service wasn’t intended to be my rehearsed biblical oratory or compelling illustrations. Maybe the sermon should have been less so the indwelling Christ within each of the people could have been more.

Imagine for a moment: Every Sunday, at any point of the service, you can all be called upon to share a prophecy, a song, a revelation, or an interpretation. Where would your thoughts be on the Friday before? What would your prayers be that Saturday night? How frothy would your expectations be on the Sunday morning drive in anticipation of what the Holy Spirit was going to release in and through the people at the service — including you?

Now, that is exciting!

Resurrection

The creator and author of RENT, Jonathan Larson, died of an aortic aneurysm on the eve of opening night. The performers carried their devastating grief to the stage and allowed it to be transformed into one of the most breathtaking and astonishing performances an emotionally overwhelmed crowd has ever beheld.

The Creator and Author of the greatest story ever told also died — and He resurrected! And we are promised that the same power that resurrected Jesus is at work within us. Today. Now. And every Sunday morning.  

When He spoke, didn’t His words burn in our hearts…