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October 16, 2007
Two Types of Prosthelytizing
In New York there are many forms of Christians from Ultra-conservative to City-serving to Charismatic to the Universalists. Who among them actually have a relationship with Jesus? Good question, yet only God knows the hearts of men.
Among these Christians are a few forms of Prosthelytizers. We've all encountered one or two of them, and everyone enjoys reading the hellfire warnings on the path between Times Square station and the Port Authority.
The other day I had two very different experiences with prosthelytizers, both on the subway and both provoking me to wonder about this whole idea of street or subway preachers.
The first prosthelytizing encounter was a black woman preaching on the A train. She angrily described the way some young people treated each other and called it murder. She than yelled about how much we needed Jesus, and told us we could not say on the day of judgement "Oh God, I never hear about this. You didn't tell me nothing." because she was telling us right then. She than handed out tracts. A couple police officers told her she had to leave.
The second prosthelytizing encounter, if I can call it that, was on the 1 train later in the day. A black man was playing guitar and singing a couple worship songs. He sang "Be unto your name" and the one that goes "Jesus, Lamb of God worthy is your name." His voice was tired but he strained. He didn't ask anyone for money. Both the songs were sincerely worshipful. It reminded me to worship since that day I hadn't thought about it yet.
Sometimes I am embarassed to be a part of the "Christian" body when people are yelling and saying the same things over and over, demanding change without interest in who people are, handing out tracts like advertisements. I have no idea if or how God may use those things, but they don't seem like intelligent or engaging conceptions of the Great commission.
Thoughts, anybody?
Posted by lukedavidh at 7:09 PM | TrackBack
October 4, 2007
Vanya Bacsi - Hungarian Theatre of Cluj
Uncle Vanya. Its a Chekov play. A humorous rendition of a
seriously sad story.
Wish I got pictures of the whole thing but I went and found my borrowed camera during intermission and was told to stop using it during ACT3
As we drop our coats and bags, the actors walk among us in the foyer already in character, unbeknownst to us. I see a dapper bald man wearing a white trenchcoat and white hat. A sexy woman in a satin white dress and white shades walks with him. At first I think they are just fancily dressed theater attendees. I then realize the sexy young woman is a girl I talked to last night at a cook out, an actress. I take a second look. The dapper white man gives me a dirty look. They call us into the theater. There are a few people seated randomly in an auditorium much like hunter colleges but about half the size. They walk the entire audience on to the stage to sit in chairs facing the auditorium. I recognize sexy woman and dapper white guy up in the balcony watching us. The play begins and they hop around the whole auditorium delivering their lines. They lounge in theater seats, they climb over them and walk up onstage right in front of us, stepping over our feet. They run around, sit on the balcony railing. One guy walks down a banister on the balcony, walking on the railing, delivering his lines. Another person carefully delivers a shot of vodka to him walking along the railing with a tray.
not taken by me
ACT II: They move us back stage in the studio space, using every possible room in the theater it seems. They are up above us, in the sound box, climbing "drunk" and falling down steep wall steps. Then it rained, and there was mud. They were getting covered in mud. Mud!
ACT III: An actual set this time, in a space they hadn't used yet. In this act they spend much of their time walking among the chairs we sit in, spaciously spread on the studio floor. They walk among us while talking and shouting. Sometimes they run. Its wonderful.
ACT IV: Everything happens on the entire backstage set, all around the audience. Mud. Rain. Balancing. Tearful goodbyes. Awkward moments. Makeout sessions. Chanting. Brilliance.
not taken by me"
Fortunately I was able to read the play beforehand... Before the play I climbed up a hill next to the theater to get a coffee and read the script. I approached a building that looked like a cafe. Their was a bunch of people gathered inside looking like a party. I wasn't sure so I ducked in to check. One guy said something. I said that I didn't speak Romanian. A woman told me it was a private party. Than the main guy said something cheery in my direction. The woman asked me if I wanted a beer. The guy that seemed to own the place gave me a beer and motioned for me to go. I asked about paying. The woman said the main guy had given it to me cause it was his birthday. I said happy birthday, took the beer to a viewpoint and read the script while drinking my free beer. It was tasty.
Posted by lukedavidh at 12:55 AM | TrackBack