The Christmas Gift of Mass Ministries

Last night my friend Christine and I thought we would engage in a little Christmas cheer by attending a Christmas concert of sorts. We were under the impression that a "live Christmas tree" concert included the merriment of classical holiday songs that usually accompany this time of year. So, after a good dinner, we set out to UT campus' Thompson-Boling arena to the Sevier Heights Baptist Church's annual concert.

Due to parking confusions by poor policing and direction, we spent about 20 minutes trying to find our way through the garage closest to the arena. We ended up being about 15 minutes late to the concert and had difficulty finding seats. It seemed to be a full house. Where did all these people come from? I mean, a free concert seems cool, however, they were playing three different days. How many people live in Knoxville anyway? Did everyone in town end up going?

Well, finally we found a seat by squeezing ourselves past a couple to get seats directly below the nose bleed section. We settled in and the first song I remember was about the bustle of shopping, followed by a short monologue about the materialism of it all and how the only perfect gift is that of our Lord and Saviour. What better a song than that to put one in the spirit of the season? So, guess what everyone, rather than getting you presents this year, tough luck, I have decided to share the gospel with you. Not really. Okay, so this little skit was poop, but I let it pass.

Then, as the set was being changed we got to watch a lengthier skit about a doctor, nurse and another who helped people in Poland right before the invasion during WWII by running a clinic. They demonstrated how noble and generous they were to those who were Jews and went on to discuss their faith in God and the "truth" of the bible (or at least their version of the truth--sorry rest of the world, guess you are all wrong and going to hell!). Anyway, after suffering through this rather lengthy skit, the stage was set for another song. I won't give many details, but there were live animals, as well as several women dressed as angels being precariously hoisted and swung through the air. Scared me. I wasn't sure if I was at the circus or a Christmas concert. So, after the angels got down safely, a continuation of the skit continued...(I am giving the abridged version mind you)

The people who had the clinic got hauled off with the Jews as they were being rounded up and shipped off. There was a child behind me in the seats during this time asking his father what was happening. Here this family thought they were going to see a Christmas concert and they get this heavy crap that they are now subjecting their children to and having to explain. I was waiting for the father's answer, yet one never came. Back to the skit...The doctor, being the good Christian that he was, declared to his companion not to be scared because this was an "OPPORTUNITY" to share the gospel and the truth with these other poor souls (the Jews). Okay, this is when Christine and I decided to leave. So, honestly we don't know how it ended. As we were doing so, I am sure there were people thinking "they are going to hell," but probably just as many if not more thinking, "take me with you, please!"

I was just dumbfounded. I could not fully register and comprehend what it was I witnessed. For any group of people to have the audacity to put such a production on under the guise of a holiday concert, then purport that their way of dealing with the holocaust was that it was an opportunity to share their beliefs and "save" these poor souls is so f*%$ing far beyond my comprehension. What really appauls me even more is that the people in the audience were not leaving. That people didn't just walk out. They must have more tolerance, endurance and patience than I. But hey, looks like you can subject people to just about anything if it's "free" entertainment. I guess I cannot ask for a refund now and the only person to complain to is God.

I am sure Christine will and can elaborate on this story. She had her own stuff in which to be offended.

BTW, my phone camera didn't quite capture the pictures of the camels and flying angels...too many bright lights. Oh well. So much for Christmas cheer and good tidings...bah humbug.