Preach the Word and Engage in Drama
My regular readers may think that I have finally and fully lost my mind or at least radically changed my position on church worship. Take a deep breath…I have not. Today's title is certainly not a call for churches to get into the skit business. Sadly too many have embraced the drama stage and called it worship. That being said it is true nevertheless that preaching and drama are important elements of worship. Let me explain:
Preaching
Though the cry of many in the modern church is that preaching is out of style and certainly not an effective means of reaching our present generation—the reality of the matter is that the Bible has not changed. The preacher is still today, regardless of whether the preaching season is in or out, to preach the word. Preaching is a terrifying enterprise because God the Father, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the holy angels are all watching (2 Timothy 4:1-5; I Timothy 5:21). Preachers are accountable to God for the way that they live, the example that they set, and their preaching (Hebrews 13:17). Yes, preaching is terrifying but the joy of preaching is discovered in Who it is that we preach and in knowing that God has chosen to use the preaching of His word to accomplish His purposes in salvation and sanctification.
Drama
We need drama more regularly in our churches—that is a fact. It is traditional in my denomination for churches to engage in drama once a quarter towards the end of a Sunday morning service. The demeanor of Scripture seems to be that the early church participated in drama more regularly—likely every time that they gathered. I do not want to set a numerical standard for how often we witness the dramatic presentation that I speak of—but I do think that most of our churches are not engaging in this drama nearly enough. By now I think you get my drift. The drama that I write of is the Lord’s Supper (though baptism is certainly a drama that we should desire to participate in more regularly—but since we cannot schedule biblical conversions—we must work and wait for them before we schedule baptisms). The Lord’s Supper (a specific meal devoted to the Lord to remember Him and purify ourselves) proclaims in drama the death, resurrection, present work, and future return of our Savior.
John Calvin sums up our need for preaching and drama in the church of our Lord (though we might disagree with his usage of the word sacraments). Calvin says, “Whenever we see the Word of God purely preached and heard and the sacraments administered according to Christ’s institution, there, it is not to be doubted, a Church of God exists.”
A true church is a church of preaching and drama. No Hollywood presentation comes close to the power of God demonstrated in the faithful preaching of His Word and the faithful participation by the people of God in the ordinances of the Lord’s Supper and Baptism. We need no costumes. Just a Preacher, a Bible, some water (a tank full), and bread and wine.
My regular readers may think that I have finally and fully lost my mind or at least radically changed my position on church worship. Take a deep breath…I have not. Today's title is certainly not a call for churches to get into the skit business. Sadly too many have embraced the drama stage and called it worship. That being said it is true nevertheless that preaching and drama are important elements of worship. Let me explain:
Preaching
Though the cry of many in the modern church is that preaching is out of style and certainly not an effective means of reaching our present generation—the reality of the matter is that the Bible has not changed. The preacher is still today, regardless of whether the preaching season is in or out, to preach the word. Preaching is a terrifying enterprise because God the Father, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the holy angels are all watching (2 Timothy 4:1-5; I Timothy 5:21). Preachers are accountable to God for the way that they live, the example that they set, and their preaching (Hebrews 13:17). Yes, preaching is terrifying but the joy of preaching is discovered in Who it is that we preach and in knowing that God has chosen to use the preaching of His word to accomplish His purposes in salvation and sanctification.
Drama
We need drama more regularly in our churches—that is a fact. It is traditional in my denomination for churches to engage in drama once a quarter towards the end of a Sunday morning service. The demeanor of Scripture seems to be that the early church participated in drama more regularly—likely every time that they gathered. I do not want to set a numerical standard for how often we witness the dramatic presentation that I speak of—but I do think that most of our churches are not engaging in this drama nearly enough. By now I think you get my drift. The drama that I write of is the Lord’s Supper (though baptism is certainly a drama that we should desire to participate in more regularly—but since we cannot schedule biblical conversions—we must work and wait for them before we schedule baptisms). The Lord’s Supper (a specific meal devoted to the Lord to remember Him and purify ourselves) proclaims in drama the death, resurrection, present work, and future return of our Savior.
John Calvin sums up our need for preaching and drama in the church of our Lord (though we might disagree with his usage of the word sacraments). Calvin says, “Whenever we see the Word of God purely preached and heard and the sacraments administered according to Christ’s institution, there, it is not to be doubted, a Church of God exists.”
A true church is a church of preaching and drama. No Hollywood presentation comes close to the power of God demonstrated in the faithful preaching of His Word and the faithful participation by the people of God in the ordinances of the Lord’s Supper and Baptism. We need no costumes. Just a Preacher, a Bible, some water (a tank full), and bread and wine.
Ray
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