Reflecting the Creative Nature of God
“So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them…” Genesis 1:27
No other part of creation shares the image character of God. Of course, we do not possess the holy, omniscient, omnipresent, righteous, and sovereign characteristics of the Creator. We do, however, have the privilege and mighty task of reflecting God’s nature and actions.
What characteristics come to mind with this task of reflecting God’s nature? Our minds most likely go to His loving, forgiving, and gentle heart, just as Jesus reflects in his very being. However, have you ever thought of God as the ultimate creative? We call Him the Creator, but have you ever studied the intricacies and creative aspects of His creation. From the millions of species of plants to the vast lands, seas, and galaxies. From the cellular make-up of our bodies to the millions of species of animals and other organisms. Our minds can’t even begin to comprehend His vast creative attributes.
So, just as we are called to mirror His loving, forgiving, and gentle heart, we are also called to mirror His creativity. With this statement in mind, we will look briefly to the worship arts ministries of the local church.
Whether you are the worship pastor or a congregant, take a moment to reflect upon the worship ministry of your local church context. What components exist within the Sunday morning liturgy or seasonal calendar? As a worship pastor, I will be first to admit that our liturgy consists almost exclusively of music, Scripture reading, and the preaching of God’s Word. Though I find ways to be creative in musical selection and production, I fall flat in the other artistic fields. Outside of music, worship arts encompass a variety of other acts used to glorify God. Dance, theater, visual artwork, and poetry are just a few. Each of these fields within the artistic community can be acts of worship used to demonstrate, reflect, and draw attention to the incredible attributes of God.
Using Theater in the Local Church
How can we take this art form and worship God while demonstrating His magnificent characteristics? Theatrical acting gives a visual illustration of the message being portrayed. What better message than that of The Gospel?
Theatrical acting in the church can do the following:
· Demonstrate the salvific work of the cross.
· Make Scripture jump of the pages.
· Create a memorable image of the Biblical narrative.
· Pull out the emotion and depth of Scripture that music and preaching sometimes cannot accomplish.
· Draw people to the local church in order that they hear and receive the Gospel.
These are just a few ways that theatrical arts can expound upon worship experiences. I think of my experiences at the Sight and Sound Theater, located in Branson, Missouri and Lancaster, Pennsylvania. I had the privilege of meeting the owners and founders, Glenn and Shirley Eshelman, a few years ago. Glenn explained to me his vision for the theater in the 1960’s. He wanted the Scriptures to jump off the pages and give people visual representations of the gospel. His high-quality productions have drawn people in from all over the world. As people are often drawn to something that is great, the Eshelman’s team’s magnificent attention to detail, design, and story have drawn masses of unbelievers into the doors of the two locations. Through this vision of Biblical theater production, thousands of lives have been transformed in response to the Gospel message.
Now I am not suggesting that the local church replicate the production of the Sight and Sound Theater. In fact, this would be nearly impossible for most churches. However, we can be creative in using theater to demonstrate the Scriptures.
Here are a few ways the local church can incorporate theatrical art:
· Easter Passion Play, demonstrating the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.
· Christmas production, demonstrating the prophesy fulfillment in the birth of Christ.
· Journey to Bethlehem, an incredible walk-through production that allows people to witness the journey the wisemen took to see the birth of the King.
· Dramatic Scripture reading in corporate services, allowing the depth of Scripture to come to life with tones that reflect the passage.
· Children’s plays, allowing children to act out the gospel story.
These are just a few ways to incorporate theatrical arts in corporate worship.
A statement of warning!
If not done wisely, theater can be distracting in worship. You should know your context and plan carefully to best minister to your congregation and community. Be creative but also tasteful. Your end goal should never be high production for production-sake. Your end goal should always be the truthful portrayal of the gospel. Check your heart before producing an event and budget wisely for Kingdom impact. Anything outside of this is a waste of Kingdom resources. Be evangelistic in your approach!
Just as God is creative, demonstrate His likeness in worship arts. Don’t let your natural tendencies and abilities handicap you. Rather, surround yourself with creatives and work towards creating worship moments that draw people closer to the Lord.
Here’s your starting place for theatrical production in the church — The Gospel.
Resources for further study and production:
· Skit Guys
· Willow Creek
· Houston’s First Baptist
· Bellevue Baptist Church
· Lillenas Drama
· Tallowood Players
