News, Commercialization of Christ? Church Puts On Lavish Production.

[Robert43]

First Baptist Church of Fort Lauderdale Spent More Than $1 Million on Its Pageant.

A Florida megachurch has garnered national attention with its annual Christmas pageant. The First Baptist Church of Fort Lauderdale's production is filled with extensive pyrotechnics, live stock and a bevy of actors.

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/ChristmasCountdown/story?id=3974590&page=1

[aiki]

Gotta' compete with the World by being like the World, eh? An unpackaged God is an unpalatable God, right? (I'm being sarcastic here...)

There is something terribly wrong with a church that thinks this sort of thing is appropriate.

Peace to you.

[jax5434]

Gotta' compete with the World by being like the World, eh? An unpackaged God is an unpalatable God, right? (I'm being sarcastic here...)

There is something terribly wrong with a church that thinks this sort of thing is appropriate.

Peace to you.
And just last week the food pantry I volunteer at closed temporarily due to lack of food.I will not question their faith but I do question their understanding.

btw I am not in florida but this kind of foolishness is rampant everywhere. As a christian i am ashamed of their behavior.

jax

[Hisbygrace]

I was listening to the news yesterday and heard a story about this. It is good to have plays to help people understand God's message, but this is I think an outrageous way to use God's funds when there is so much need in the world.

[Canuckmom]

I don't think the Lord is impressed either. Especially since He niether commanded or gave us an example in His Word to celebrate the day of His birth. And furthermore Christ Mass is of pagan origin to begin with.

[HappyChicken]

I definitely agree that it went way too far. There is no reason that you have to have pyrostuffwhateveritscalled and live animals to demonstrate the birth of Christ.

[MrJim]

...yesterday my wife visited the church where she grew up. They built a new facility~her dad took by the multipurpose room which has a permanent stage for the "contemporary" service~she got to see the "smoke", which was a dry ice machine gizmo, and the light show-'cause ya can't reach people with the gospel without the show ya know :doh:

[MsScarlett]

I don't like that kind of stuff at all. BUT, at the same time, I feel bad about judging. They said that it practically paid for itself with ticket sales. So in that respect, it's not like they're using church funds for it that could be put to better use. (And pretty much anything would be better use.)
Just looking at both sides here. All that glam and glitz bothers me, but it IS such a great story.

[Koontzy]

I don't like that kind of stuff at all. BUT, at the same time, I feel bad about judging. They said that it practically paid for itself with ticket sales. So in that respect, it's not like they're using church funds for it that could be put to better use. (And pretty much anything would be better use.)
Just looking at both sides here. All that glam and glitz bothers me, but it IS such a great story.


Ok so it paid itself..... But if the only reason all those tickets were sold is because of the live animals, the phyros, and glitter than it was done in vain, ifthe tickets were sold because people want to know about Jesus, then its all good.. I myself think it sold all those tickets because of the lights and effects..

Jesus wasnt born on Dec. 25th, nor was he born in December.... Chritmas is a pagan holiday.... built uponthe RCC churchs religion, me and my family do not celebrate christmas...

[MsScarlett]

Oh yeah, I'm certainly not making the argument for it. It's a great story because of its humility. Pyrotechnics do not belong!