I Would Rather Be An Entertainer

The battle rages from nearly every ministry across our country. The war is neither won nor lost, and the enemy often hard to identify as both sides march under seamingly the same banner. One group stands on the platform of ministry while other appears to cross the border into entertainment.

You have heard one opponent shout messages of “ministry.” “Well, OUR church or OUR music group is ALL about the ministry. We are NOT about entertainment;” Generally followed by a cheap shot at a church or group that seems to “entertain” more than they “minister.” Generally these shots are fired out of insecurity and jealousy, in an attempt to rationalize small numbers and disengagement.

Have the "entertainers" ever fired a shot across the “ministry border? Have you ever heard a group say they were all about entertainment and not about the ministry? Could it be that these entertainers truly believe they are ministering on behalf of Jesus? Could there really be some validity to these groups that seem to assemble the masses?

I think before we choose a side, we ought to evaluate the terminology.

Ministry is carrying out the acts of a minister. Ministry, then, is defined as an agent working on behalf of another. In our spiritual context we recognize that the ministry is about representing Jesus Christ, and sharing the message on His behalf.

Entertainment means “to hold the attention of, pleasantly or agreeably. To have as a guest. To admit into the mind. To hold the mind. To divert and amuse.

So, my question is, can a minister do his job apart from entertainment? Yes. Preachers can preach and singers can sing without entertaining an audience whatsoever. They can stand on platforms and speak with people and never engage a single mind or touch a single heart. Ministry apart from entertainment then becomes a noun, pointed solely at the minister rather than a verb that fulfills a commission. A message that does not entertain the mind will not allow the mind to entertain its message.
An effective minister realizes that the message will change people’s lives when they receive it. He will do everything he can to hold the people’s attention in a pleasant manner. Excellence only serves to better represent His Excellence, the King of Kings. An effective ministry seeks to invite outsiders to throne room of God, pointing their attention away from today’s struggles and holding it at eternity’s Savior.

I want to be an entertainer presenting a message people will entertain. I long to see people pause to entertain the thought that Jesus loves them more than I could ever explain. I hope worship in an environment where the musings of the world disappear as we direct our attention to One greater than I. Amused and amazed.

Yes, it is possible to separate ministry from entertainment. But should we?

Reel-Time Review: Frozen

There have been numerous blog posts, and countless updates regarding Disney's latest success, Frozen.  Christians from both sides of the fence have been at war throwing darts at the movie or selling it as a  gospel derivative.  Some have laid claim that the relationship between a man and his pet companion was pro-homosexual, and that this is Disney's attempt to directly promote the catholic church and universal values of "acceptance."  Then there are those who have said Anna is a picture of Jesus Christ, and the storyline majorly follows a Christian theme.

Dear both sides,  CAN WE PLEASE JUST ENJOY A MOVIE?!  I get it, some people are paid to be critics.  But when it comes to Frozen, I don't believe there was an agenda overtly righteous or evil.  I believe the Disney machine was doing what it should,  generating family-friendly entertainment.  I'm a sucker for a good musical, and this definitely was.  And for the Christian,  there were a few valuable tips we can take from this storyline.  Here are a few:

-Sometimes the most effective acts of love come from the person who has been wronged.
In a flood of rage, resulting from a sisterly squabble,  Queen Elsa's suppressed powers break loose and bury the entire kingdom under snow and ice.  In a self-righteous manner, Queen Elsa "lets it go," abandons her post, and sets out to live free from life's pressures.  Though wronged and placed in great danger, Princess Anna sets out to restore her sister to their once tightly-knit relationship.  Those who have sinned cannot restore themselves.  Galatians 6:1 tells us that if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one...  The reason most people will never see restoration, is because most Christians aren't spiritual.

-There is a major difference between attractional love and true, sacrificial love.
You have to hand it to Queen Elsa.  I mean, she was right!  How can you marry a man you just met?  I find this to be a painfully accurate picture of today's society.  People desperate for love are willing to jump at the first sign of acceptance.  When those who should be loving shut people out, they will unwittingly cast themselves into the arms of evil.  Anna finds out that real love is putting someone else's needs before your own.  When she discovers the TRUE meaning of love,  she is able to identify he who truly loves.

-"A frozen head can be persuaded, but a frozen heart only melts with an act of true love."
Princess Anna is initially placed in grave danger when she takes a blast of magical ice to the head.  The elder troll is able to remove memories from the mind, but warns that a cold heart is not so easy.  He foreshadows to when Anna will take a icy blast to the heart, which only an act of true love can restore.  Unlike the typical Disney flick, we find that true love isn't defined by a kiss, but when the "cold heart" loves another with reckless abandon.  The same is true for us!  Memories can be suppressed,  but a hardened heart can only be unfrozen when we choose to love Jesus and even our offenders more than we love ourselves. As Olaf said, "some people are worth melting for."

- Your greatest fear can be your greatest asset. 
Elsa, the possessor of "the gift accursed"  lives in fear of others discovering her secret.  Wise counsel advises that this ability can bring both great joy or great destruction.  Fear will be her enemy.  Once Elsa realizes she does not have to live in fear,  but rather own her gift, it becomes just that.  A beautiful blessing to those around.  The insecurity you hide will continue to haunt you and plague you until you identify with it.  When you accept your "thorn in the flesh"  God can use it to produce great beauty.  But only when you turn it over to him.  The haunting from hiding will hinder your healing.

- Even cold people need warm hugs.
OK,  who didn't love Olaf the snowman?  Should I ever come across a stuffed version of him, I will not resist the urge to purchase several.  This snowman was peculiar, because cold as he was, he liked warm hugs. Never have I seen a snowman that yearned for the warmth of summer. Let this serve as a reminder that even the "coldest" of people will melt with a little warmth. In fact, like Olaf they yearn for the warmth of summer that would forever change the structure of their being.  When the fire of God's love is kindled in our heart, our desire will always be to spread it.

* This article was originally posted to Venn Magazine as seen here.