DISPUTED DOCTRINES -- Chapter Twenty-Four

THE CRAZE FOR PAGEANTS

Within recent years the tendency to turn everything into plays has taken strong hold upon the Church. The Church of Rome set the pace in the Middle Ages with its mystery plays and its passion plays, of which the Oberammergau play still continues with unabated interest. In our own times the Roman Catholic hierarchy has introduced a new thing in its Eucharistic Congresses, which are celebrated with great pomp and dramatic display.

But Protestants, in their own small way, have not been falling far behind the Roman lead. The theatrical or "movie" spirit of the age has caught them also in its meshes. And today, even in our Lutheran Church, scarcely a single concert is held or a Christmas or Easter, or children's service given without a pageant of one kind or another connected with it.

What is to be thought of this tendency? Is it necessary? Is it right? These questions call for serious and earnest consideration.

In the spiritual poverty of the Middle Ages, there may have been some excuse for such things. The Word of God was not published in the vernacular, and the people had little access to its treasures. But now, when the Scriptures are accessible to all and the Gospel is preached in the language of the people, such representations are uncalled for and are out of place. The amateurish presentation of sacred plays, which has become a popular fad, is a concession to the spirit of the world and is on a parallel with the traffic in the temple in Christ's day.

There seems to be a fulfillment here of Paul's foreboding when he says: "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears." Only here there is not only an itching of ears, but of eyes as well. The spirit of the Athenians, "who spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell or to hear some new thing," has found an entrance into the Church and demands satisfaction there.

This tendency was bad enough when it was confined to the presentation of missionary scenes in plays which were supposed to take off the dress, customs, and habits of the natives to whom the missionaries carried the Gospel. But even here these plays were often caricatures of the natives and the words put into their mouths carried with them a sense and feeling of unreality.

But this tendency became worse when Bible scenes were presented in this way. Soon the most sacred things, things too holy to be played, were seized upon as the best subjects for pageants. Even the birth and the crucifixion of the Lord are thus depicted. The Person of our blessed Lord is assumed by a sinful man, who endeavors to repeat His actions and words and allows Himself to be looked upon as the Lord Himself.

Can we conceive of St. Paul or St. Peter or any other apostle as getting up a play of this kind for setting upon the stage? Such a make-believe display is irreverent, to say the least. It is also a reflection upon the Gospel as though it were not sufficient to touch men's hearts and move men's souls. And at the very times when the Gospel comes with its most affecting message these plays are most frequent.

The writer recalls an instance at which the birth of Christ was portrayed at a Christmas service or entertainment. The "Wise Men" were arrayed in long flowing locks and straggly beards and wore robes borrowed from the Knights of Pythias for the occasion. A little baby (it happened to be a female) lying in an improvised manger, represented the Christ Child. The Star of Bethlehem was an electric light rigged up on a track to move along ahead of the Wise Men. But a hitch occurred in the procession. The Star of Bethlehem jumped the track and refused to function. The Wise Men had to find their way to the manger without the guidance of the Star. The whole thing was rendered ridiculous.

But even when such things are acted with becoming reverence, they are a shock to spiritually sensitive souls and should not be tolerated. The Church cannot compete with the movies or the theatre and should not descend to its level by thus depicting sacred scenes. The Church would be well advised to curb this tendency before it has become too thoroughly entrenched to be eradicated.

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