A couple of weeks ago, I was asked, “How do you justify theater and religion?” Just the other day, I was reminded that I needed to “put religion” in my acting classes. This led me to wonder, “Am I incorporating enough of God in my theater?” After much reflection, I realized I might be approaching this from the wrong angle. The real question should be, “Why am I separating God from theater?”
Skeptics on both sides argue, “Theater is not mentioned in scripture.” However, consider the stories of the Good Samaritan or the Prodigal Son. Hearing these names conjures vivid images of compassion, a father’s love, and redemption. And who can forget Samuel’s story to David about a man whose ewe lamb the king killed—a story that changed David’s life forever? If you ask me, the entire book Song of Solomon is a powerful one-act stage play.
Then, we have another perspective. As a Christian, why do you involve yourself in plays like Life Derailed, Orphan Train, or Twelve Angry Men? These works, much like Winnie-the-Pooh, do not explicitly mention God, quote scripture, or use hymns as background music. Yet, they shine a light on God’s principles:
- Life Derailed – A great comedy written by one of our own, well-written, clean, and undeniably funny. It offers a valuable lesson on not judging before knowing the facts.
- Orphan Train – A look into our past, reminding us of the capacity for both evil and goodness in people.
- Twelve Angry Men – Perhaps the best anti-racism piece ever written.
As a Christian, I need to stop trying to explicitly insert God into my shows and instead recognize God’s hand in any play. However, I believe Christian theater needs a clear boundary. If my goal is to shock Christians, I am not doing theater to please God, who is never shocked. If I seek recognition from the theater world, I am not doing theater for God. If I aim to “get MY point across,” I might be trying too hard to preach my agenda instead of letting the Holy Spirit speak His message.
Why am I sharing this? I humbly ask for your prayers. The line between what I can do and what I should do is sometimes thin. To God be the glory, great things He has done, and I pray, will continue to do in my life as I work at Master Arts.
Walt
P.S. If you have any play suggestions, please feel free to contact me at walt@masterarts.org