Techno Church

[Tracey]

It's been awhile since I've formerly visited a Christian church service, but after a recent visit to my mother down in Florida, all those reasons came flooding back. It always amazes me to see how progressive churches try to be hip to the "outside" world by using what they consider as clever means to hook their patron saints "inside." This church was no different utilizing their now techno savy tentacles to accomplish their goals.

First off entering pon the lobby, was served huge cookies on a platter along with coffee in a huge silver plated urn, with assigned greeters to come around and help make you feel welcome. Once inside the sanctuary, the seats were well cushioned and comfortable with a live band off to the side. The preacher made his appearance up in the high glass enclosed balcony where he started the service off with a baptism. He then returned to the main floor with a sleek michrophone headset modestly wrapped around his ear and then launched into a music video (MTV style) with images of a bloody Christ hanging on the cross flashing through the video like bolts of thunder and lightening, accompanied by booming music, and 3 different screens to catch the action from any direction. They used a multicultural cast representing the 4 major ethnicities - Black, White, Chinese and Latino. Not one dark skinned kinky-haired Black (only light), Indians or Middle Easterners were to be seen. They were all smiling with opened arms to recieve this version of Christ while the words "you are worthy" and "you are loved" flashed on the screen along with the chorus "He died for your sins" accompanied by much subliminal guilt. Then another video program launched quickly after to show how "fun" this church is for the youth using the nascar theme with their own hand made racing cars the kids (adults) made over the weekend, complete with trophies, and plaques for the assisting adults. These little cars were slick and all had mock Christian emblems on them like the one decorated like a brown UPS truck that stood for "united prayer service." If that was not enough overload, then came the preacher's sermon on center stage with what seemed like a comic club comedy act using personal anecdotes peppered with bits of scripture to back up the theme. Then came the plate with a quick closing to come up to the front of the church to recive prayer and join this hip, fun, new " family." And of course quite a few rose to accept.

Well, it was very interesting to say the least and provided quite a bit of fuel for fodder to discuss with my two accomanying teenage daughters who often reason matters of religion.

For my mother it was quite a different experience, using the service to show off her visiting pride to her selected friends while sharing the inside scoop of it's not-so righteous members. We were touched by such piousness.