Should I Refuse?

[no1special18]

This summer (God willing) I am going to go on summer missions in South Carolina. It is possible that I will be the only guy on a team of six, and they are going to want me to play Jesus when we do skits for different churches. Initially I had some real problems with it, but after talking to a trusted friend of mine, I am not sure it is a bad thing. What do you guys think?

 

[wsw201]

For what it's worth, I wouldn't do skits in church to begin with. And I definately would not do a skit where anyone played Jesus.

 

[Me Died Blue]

to both points.

 

[no1special18]

I am some what newly reformed and this whole idea of not doing skits in church is new to me, therefore, will you guys tell me why you would not do skits in church?

 

[no1special18]

Can of worms? is this one of those things that reformed people are not so unified on? Like I said, I am some what new to reformed theology.

 

[no1special18]

I am open to some of those reasons.

 

[Me Died Blue]

James, it's because of what has come to be known as the Regulative Principle of Worship, which is summarized well in the Westminster Confession of Faith chapter XXI.I:

But the acceptable way of worshipping the true God is instituted by Himself, and so limited by His own revealed will, that He may not be worshipped according to the imaginations and devices of men, or the suggestions of Satan, under any visible representation, or any other way not prescribed in the Holy Scripture.

So any element of worship that cannot specifically be shown to be commanded in Scripture is seen as forbidden. Prayer, preaching and reading of the Word, sacraments, singing and offerings are all seen as biblically commanded and thus acceptable elements of worship. Something such as drama, however, is nowhere commanded by God in Scripture to be used in the worship of Him, and is thus viewed as an abomination when brought into the worship of the Church.

I give a more thorough treatment on the RPW and its direct Scriptural basis here.

As to the can of worms thing, it is true that today there is a lot of disagreement and, I believe, compromise on worship, even within otherwise Reformed circles. Historically, however, the Reformers, Puritans and writers of all the Reformed confessions have been essentially united on the subject.

 

[JonathanHunt]

James

I think you'd find this article an interesting start to give you some thinking points. It's by a reformed baptist:

http://www.metropolitantabernacle.org/Pages/ISSUES.html

and specifically about drama:

http://www.metropolitantabernacle.org/Pages/DRAMA ARTICLE.html

Jonathan

[Edited on 1-2-2005 by JonathanHunt]

 

[cupotea]

For what it's worth, my dad is directing a play called, I think, Garden of Eden. It's by the guy who wrote Godspell. I have to admit, I have some problems with it. Now, that it's an unscriptural form of worship never occured to me before, and you guys have a really good point with that one. However, the thing that bugs me about this play is that it actually has God in it. He actually appears, and sings about how He's creating the world, etc etc. In my opinion, that's not right at all, to me, that's definitely, definitely disobeying the Commandments.

With Godspell, and other plays that display Jesus, I don't have as much of a problem since you can say it only displays the man part. I mean, God chose that image Himself as a way of showing Himself to us. At least I always thought you could try to justify it that way, if it's any consolation.