Prime Time

The apex of the Christian calendar is upon us.  As churches all over the globe “ramp up” for Holy Week, culminating in the glorious celebration of the resurrection, the stakes are high.  Once or twice a year—usually Christmas and Easter, we enjoy a heightened curiosity, if nothing else, in the Christian gospel from outsiders.  As irreligious as our culture is becoming, there remains a tradition, at least, of attending church on these two holidays (originally “holy-days”), giving the local congregation a semi-annual opportunity to state its case.

On the plus side, the Church can anticipate a larger than normal “captive” audience—however one might define that term under these circumstances. On the down side, some within the flock have actually grown to resent these “Chreasters” as they are sometimes referred to, indicating a brand of Christianity which assembles only on Christmas and Easter.  This is, of course, the very last thing one would hope for when opening our doors and welcoming anyone who joins us…on any given Sunday. The moment I detect you resent my visit as your houseguest, I make it a point to avoid future engagements.

Additionally, we as worship leaders and artists can feel greater than normal pressure to “produce” a spectacle, to create services which will move and stir people…perhaps to even manipulate the telling of these stories to produce a desired effect.  After all, we only get this one chance to make a lasting impression.  To say we’ve come a long way from how these events originally took place is the grossest of understatements.

No, there were no special effects, no power ballads, no stirring videos or brass ensembles...not on that first Good Friday…not even on the original Easter morning.  In fact, for a culture that is fairly big on “reenacting” these nodal events, we’ve rather strayed from their original elements and from the emotions that they evoked.  Think for a moment of just a few:

mystery

wonder

confusion

humiliation

terror

pain

abandonment

grief

shock

awe

joy

When is the last time you experienced even a small dosage of any of these attending or participating in a Good Friday or Easter service? And yet, I believe, Jesus cautioned us at his last meal to not forget…not only these events, but the impact they had on the human experience.  “Do this in remembrance of Me,” He said.  Savor this story.  Live in its profundity.  And under no circumstances, let its retelling devolve into mere entertainment.

Might I propose that as Christian musicians and artists desiring to make an impact this season, we begin by saturating ourselves with the narrative recorded in all four gospels.  Under the banner of “I was there when they crucified my Lord,” let us make time to meditate on those very first days of what today we call Christianity.  Through eyes of faith and the gift of a sanctified imagination, place yourself in the upper room at Christ’s last meal, find a space under the cross on Golgotha’s hill, huddle with friends in yet another upper room on Easter evening, and timidly approach Jesus on the beach as a forgiven disciple, and hear once again Him ask and answer: “Do you love me?  Feed my sheep.”

Musicians, technicians—that’s all we’re really called to do as we fulfill our ministry this upcoming Easter season.  Feed.  Nourish.  Share.  Comfort.  Inspire.  Forget relying on the bells and whistles, the big moments, producing the requisite “wow” factor.  If you wish to “reenact” those first events, allow yourself to be poured out like Jesus, giving of yourself sacrificially, and considering it an honor and privilege to offer even one cup of cold water to a thirsty soul.  Yes, even to a curious “Chreaster.” Remember, for him or her, it’s prime time…perhaps even more so than they know.

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