Have you ever made the mistake of using some performing art form in your ministry such as drama, story, dance, theater, music and not rehearsed it enough? It happens much more than artists may care to admit. It is a little known fact, but the second unforgivable sin against the Holy Spirit is “Bad Drama.”
That’s a little goofy, but maybe you know what I am talking about. Maybe you have seen (or even been a part of) a performing arts ministry group that works under the assumption that because what they are doing is “for Jesus” that they don’t need to have a well rehearsed and prepared performance. “After all, if we pray about it, Jesus will fix it, right?”
That attitude is a somewhat like driving to church at ninety miles per hour thinking that your speed is okay because you are on your way for Jesus. Keep driving like that and you will be meeting Jesus at the end of the road in more ways than one. Keep producing poor performing arts and you will soon find that you have no audience. You can’t minister if people aren’t watching and listening.
I know the amount of work it takes to produce good theater. It is so tempting to really believe that you can open a book of “no prep” skits or quick “one minute” sketches and actually produce something of quality. Sorry, it just doesn’t work.
It is because we are doing performing arts for Jesus that regular, consistent rehearsal, prayer and preparation are so important. It is because it is for Church that we need to seek out collections of strong, challenging scripts.
Doing it for Jesus? Great. Give it your best efforts- all the time.
