churchmart, pt. 3
My wife and I go to see a film from time to time. We go, stand in line, look at all the posters for the new films yet to be released as we talk about which one we will see next. We wander over to the refreshments counter with the smell of stale popcorn fresh in our noses as we decide what candy, snacks and drinks would best accompany us for our trip to the theater. Our tickets are taken, we walk down the hallway, stopping at more dispenser machines to grab more candy, and eventually make our way into the theater. We talk softly so that we do not disturb anyone around us who may be talking softly, then the lights dim, the screen flickers and the room goes quiet.
The Previews start to roll. “That’s a rental,” my wife says after one that seems like an entertaining couple of hours. “No way,” I say to her as we roll our eyes at the next preview on it goes. Then the theater goes really dark. The movie has finally begun. We watch, discuss quietly, laugh, cry (I’m sensitive), become happy, sad, angry and involve ourselves as much as possible in the lives of the characters on the screen. Then as soon as it started it is over.
There have been many times when we leave disappointed having spent 120 minutes of our lives watching something we would just as soon forget. I want to go to the counter and ask for a refund (of my time, not the money). Other times, we talk about the film the entire ride home, think about it as we fall asleep, tell others that have to see it, talk about over lunch with friends who have seen it, because we know we saw an amazing thing that night in the theater. Film is an amazing thing.
Through these experience we grow to love fictional people, places and events. We sit in a large room with total strangers, and allow people we do not know to play on our emotions. We have no interaction with the people on the screen, we have no interaction with the people sitting next to us, we are all alone. Fighting back tears, wanting to punch someone, scared of what is about to jump out, bursting out with laughter. Yet, somehow this experience in meaningful to us, and we do it over and over again.
When put like that it sounds like a depressing reality. Sure, films are a great thing, in their place. However, if that is the only thing any of us did, we would not function well in society, for we would live in a world of hobbits, self-guided fighter planes and people who can fly while on fire. My wife and I enjoy our time at the theater, but more often we go on walks around our neighborhood with our children. Sit on our patio with our friends talking and laughing until late in the evening, and spending time with our families over meals. My wife and I would have a miserable relationship if all we did was meet at the theater and watch films together, and then after a quick embrace part ways and go home. Our only conversation would be in the popcorn line, and before and during the previews, and even then, our discussion would only revolve around films.
This however seems to be the life that we pursue in relation to the church. We show up once a week, Saturday nights, Sunday mornings, maybe one night during the week to sit and watch something on stage. Before it all starts, we mingle briefly while waiting in line to grab a cup of coffee and a bagel. We then walk into the room where many are already seated, take our place and talk quietly to the people with whom we came. Then the music starts, and depending on how we feel we smile, raise our hands, clap, sway, and if it’s really good we cry. The people who are on the stage are characters who touch our emotions. Then the central character to the event stands and speaks to us about God, the Bible and ourselves. What he or she says moves us inside, angers us, disinterests us and maybe even changes a significant portion of our life. Someone prays, perhaps several times, and then as soon as it began it is over. We are done. We stand we leave and seven days later repeat the cycle.
Through this experience we base our theology on people we do not know, we watch the program unravel on stage through people that we can not interact with, we are left to respond to what they have planned in their program, we sit in a room filled with strangers, and we contemplate the mystery of the Eternal ... alone. If this is the only thing any of us did, we would be warped individuals who have a misguided view of God, His Son Jesus and what His movement is all about. The upsetting thing is this, while there are a few people who spend their life alone in a movie theater (see Gene Shalet), there are many who spend their life alone in a building where a "church" gathers for a service.