Easter Detox
This weekend is SO spiritual. This Friday was SO good.
Don't get me wrong. He is Risen. He is fuckin' Risen indeed! I find myself lost in the realness of Christ being alive. I accept it. I own it. I LOVE it.
But I hate the production that has become EASTER.
I started a new job. (Yes ... another one. It's a long story.) I work for a christian owned and operated company, though the business has nothing to do with Christianity. One of the salespersons attends and is involved with one of the local churches. He invited me to his churches Good Friday and Easter Sunday services. I don't blame him. I have no problem with that.
Though, his "sales tactic" was way off. Or at least when selling me. All he sold was the show, the production his church was putting on. He spoke about the "special" lighting and sound effects that were going to create a meaningful experience. Not much about the meaning of easter was discussed. Just a lot of selling a service.
Now, I don't want to just throw him under the bus. He DID invite me. He DID reach out knowing that I am not currently attending a church. I have absolutely no issue with him.
What scares me is the event and production that is called EASTER.
I am not going to church this Sunday. I am still in the middle of my church detox and I do not think that would be the most healthy thing for me right now. Most people go to church on Easter Sunday. For most it is one of the only times they attend a church service all year. It would be almost sac-religious to not attend a church service this Sunday. Why? Does my attendance prove my commitment? If it does ... oh well, I guess I am going to hell.
Most churches use Easter Sunday as an outreach event and a marketing tool to attract as many people as possible...all in the name of Jesus Christ. Churches want their best and most polished foot forward. Every church has compiled a quota of people they expect and wish to attract to their "open" and "real" church. Because this year, God is going to grow their churches numbers. God = Numbers. Nah. Marketing = Numbers. Closer. Entertainment = Numbers. You got it.
Oh yeah, If I hear another person complain about their churches Easter Sunday service I am going to flip out. Easter Sunday has nothing to do about you. Easter Sunday is about Christ. You know, God. God in the flesh. God dying for us. God taking all our sins away. God raising from the dead. God living with us everyday. God and us. God and you. God and me. GOD.
Christ might be entertaining. But Christ is also reality.
posted by Joshua Sager at
11:00 PM
7 Comments:
Josh, Easter in the church is just a really big show. Church is just a show nonetheless.
I can remember when I worked on my former churches' sound team. Everything was so scripted; everything, even the apparent ad libs, was scripted. If the Holy Spirit really wanted to move in a church, would He be able to override the agenda set forth in order to present the show?
Evangelical churches are all about production aren't they?
Why should we expect Easter or Christmas or any "special" day to be any different?
The Pete and I went to a local church service on Easter (I refuse to use the term "going to Church" any longer--we ARE the church, a collective body--everything else is just masquerading that fact). Afterwards, we got into a discussion about the value of weekly services, church buildings, etc. The Pete was noticeably agitated. I finally asked, "Going to a church service just pisses you off, doesn't it?" to which he replied "YES!!!"
Apparently, we're still going through detox, too. :) The poison is still deep in the wounds, I guess.
My younger daughter had a solo in a small ensemble that sang at the beginning of the service, so I stuck my head in long enough to hear her, then headed out the door with my family and went to Lancaster, PA for an overnight getaway. We swam in the pool and played in the hotel arcade and had a nice dinner out.
It was the best freaking Easter I've ever had.
I think the problem is that people have become used to the idea that you have to "sell" something to get someone to come along. In my career as a Stupid Church Person I have tried the same thing, "tricking" people into hearing the gospel. Since fanaticism and irrelevancy is often associated with forceful, obvious, intolerant preaching - "BELIEVE OR BURN!!" some churches seem to go the other way completely, hoping to lure people in subtly by simply promising entertainment and trying to sneak the gospel in by the back door.
Detox is right. What do you do if there are different version of you walking around though? How do you reconcile the version that people expect of you with the version that you tuck away and makes you angry? I am so tired of the shit in church, but am so scared to make people angry.
ex pastor's kid--when you make people angry, their true self comes out. Then you see who your *real* friends are.
Sadly, I know this from experience.
So what do you do? Mostly, get new friends. Friends who can love you and accept you for who you are, and who don't get defensive when you point out the bullshit that goes on in most churches across America these days.
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