Pasión Eterna: Christian Performing Arts

Tonight after church, there was a performing arts night at a nearby club where different people from the church would perform “Christian pieces.” So Alicia, Juhee, and I walked over together to check it out. There was a cover charge of 6 euros (which I’m pretty sure I can get reimbursed for). Then I ordered the most expensive coke of my life, which cost 4 euros. Some interesting things happened at the club:

1) I must confess that I have a huge distrust in guys here. In the past two months I’ve had to restrain myself from yelling/slapping several individuals of the male gender. In fact, there was an episode where I chose not to restrain myself. Anyway, it kind of sucks because even if a guy has no bad intentions in approaching me, I assume he does. So at the club this guy tried to talk to me and I kind of blew him off. But then I thought, this is “Christian night,” and if he’s not a Christian and is assuming I am, what kind of impression am I giving here? Then I started thinking what I usually start thinking in these awkward guy situations: How am I being the light of Christ? I go around with a mean look about me and I’m not friendly to strangers…at least not guy strangers. I mean, it seems like the safe thing to do, but what if I’m supposed to be sharing Christ with that person? Arg, it’s frustrating. Well, if I failed the evangelism test that time, God gave me another opportunity right away. This other guy who was sitting at the table next to me started asking me about the church. So I gave him some information on it and stuff. Then we got on the topic of faith and he kept saying things like “earning you way to heaven” so I started sharing about God’s grace. It was a good conversation, and was the first time I’ve shared my faith like that in Spanish. We didn’t talk too much since there was always a piece being performed, and my friends and I decided to leave at the intermission, but I hope that what was said will stay with him. He was invited by one of the performers and told me he was a great guy. So I’m glad to know that there’s at least one person in this man’s life shining for Christ.

2) Alicia’s majoring in theater, so clearly she has a passion for the performing arts. Tonight her heart was hurting a little (and I’m going to have to agree with her) because of the quality, or lack thereof, of the pieces being performed. While some were pretty decent, others made me want to look away they were so bad. Why is it when a song has the word Jesus or a dance is a Christian “interpretive movement” we automatically accept it as good art? Why do we lower the standard for performance pieces? If we believe that God is the author of creativity, why aren’t we overflowing with it? But then again…God wants heart. And you can give all the talent you want, but if it’s not done with a praising heart, it’s not a sacrifice the Lord will accept. Scripture tells us to “Make a joyful noise to the Lord,” not necessarily a “beautiful” one, or “talented” one. Where’s the balance? As Christ followers, we should be at the forefront of the creative arts, business, inventions, social work. But is it one of those things that’s easier said than done? Could we really turn away someone who wants to serve the Lord with their talent, even though they don’t have much of it? Any thoughts?

3) While I was talking to the guy from point number 1, I looked over and saw that a friend of mine from BU was there. Weird! So I excused myself from the conversation for a sec and went to get her. She was there taking pictures of the event for her internship. She knows Alicia and I are Christians and now she knows we go to that church. I think Alicia and I were both kind of holding our breath because she would be witnessing not so great Christian performances, but also thinking, God can use absolutely anything to bring others to Him.