The Gospel according to Sight & Sound

[Jazman]

I didn't know where to place this one... it's got everything... theology, current events/politics, church history...
A little context: Because of work connections, geographical proximity, family... I've had the privilege of attending numerous S&S shows, participating in an exclusive tour of the production/back-stage of the 'ministry' and very recently, a special small group private tour of the elderly founder's artwork, personal museum/founding family story of the 'ministry-er-family business, with the founder as guide.

So here's a random jumble of thoughts, questions, analysis/skepticism, observations, inspirations, etc...

I found out that Middle Creek Church of the Brethren was the spiritual seedbed for the founder. He is working on an autobiography or autobiographical film or something and had a fascinating diorama of his baptism, and picture collage including a photo of supposedly him going forward during revival meetings... (I couldn't quite believe that one... who has a shot from the back of the church, up the aisle and them walking up in response to an altar call? I wondered if some creative license (and an Adobe/Photoshop license as well) was used for that one...)
Related question based on numerous eschatological tangents that our host was prone to go on (all of these from a clear pre-millennial dispensationalist/rapture perspective) Were Church(s) of the Brethren more open to, or earlier open to or more influenced by the premillennial dispensationalist ideas than other Anabaptist branches? Any more or less than say, Lanc Menno Conference or the umbrella they used to be under?

I learned from our host that they believe Trump is our time's John the Baptist, paving the way for Jesus' second coming (I was not interested in derailing their presentation with probing questions, but it felt like general support for the admin or movement...the vibe towards the president was favorable).

I learned that AI is probably the beast (a view I can sympathize with... but the speaker of this view seemed to support Trump/Trumpism-including a number in his audience, but excluding me of course. BUT the same group seems unaware of the Trump admin being keen on using and/or benefiting and/or gaining power through the use of AI...

I learned that numerous providential occurrences happened over the years to lead them to the media/production empire they have now. (I wonder too if a lot of the early audience explosion came from plain or fundamentalist churches/youth who weren't allowed to go to theatres but now had an outlet to go see a picture 'show'/production! Finally! And if elders questioned it, they could say, "but the founder (er owner) is an ordained minister who comes out on stage and preaches at us for a bit!" (1 person in our tour group said they remembered that and being annoyed, but they could now thank our host for doing that because it really had an impact! I'm younger and didn't go to the shows as a young person and don't recall that, but I would love to know what was preached to the scores of Lanc Co youth, many from Menno churches or background...)

I was struck with the thought that all the rapture pictures/art I've seen over the year's (including our host's) depicts the calamities happening to suburban/modern america... the planes falling, the cars crashing, etc. How would it look different in other cultures? (If the rapture happens in the way they are certain it will...)

The Jesus in all the paintings (and other characters as well) looked like the white golden hair Jesus of most art produced by western Christianity... it was all very Bible-story book from big publishers of yesteryear (or today...) Fascinating that a person/institution vocally committed to the Bible (and I assume study of it) lens or perspective, at least in some areas, doesn't seem to have changed...

I learned that the maxim that artists can't make a living (and certainly not wealth) has exceptions. Our host is one of those exceptions. (he ascribed a lot of this to his wife's business sense...) Even before the theatre/show business really took off, his art/photography/etc business seemed to have been pretty successful... the diorama of their home estate after their first-married apartment was sprawling with numerous outbuildings, including in-ground pool, etc (I assumed this diorama was depicting the property at a more developed stage... but this was not the property they are at now as elderly people; I do not know when they left that property, but the current residence with the barn gallery is a pristinely rustic historic farm estate; all in all the art/ministry has provided an upper level of comfort by all appearances.

Have any of you been to shows and if so, what 'gospel' was presented throughout or at the end (at the ones I've been to there's always a short monologue/invitation to accept the 'gospel' / get saved etc. What was your reaction/feelings about the 'gospel' people are being given or lead into? (Our host claimed thousands have been saved through the ministry of these productions; I could be wrong on this; but are people invited to submit something indicating a decision? Or there's a collection place or something? A way for the ministry to get some idea of the impact?

Reminded me again, that like myself, people are complicated; they're/we're a mixed bag of good, great, wonderful intentions and then weird, off-track and maybe disturbingly wrong too... But despite all of that, God uses people and their gifts... in ways we don't understand or maybe even feel comfortable about?

Finally, I was reminded again of how famous, successful enterprises, ministries, institutions tend towards some or a lot of hagiography (My co. does the same thing btw...). That vibe seemed to be in the air a bit... Part of our human instinct to present our best face always.

Curious if anyone has any thoughts or related reflections of past or present Sight & Sound experiences, etc.

[barnhart]

How does taking vocal positions on end times events or the Trump administration advance their mission?

[Valerie]

We have been to 2 of Sight & Sounds productions. It’s been a good 14 years since the last time.

I remember pulling in the first time in awe of the building- “Is this supposed to represent the New Jerusalem?” Was my thought. It caused the night sky to glow it seemed.

For a production conveying true stories in the Bible it is unmatched to what I’ve seen before or since. Nothing else line it!

I do remember hearing somewhere it was “Mennonite owned” but from what you say it’s a Brethren sect?
I was really pleased at the end there was a short “outreach” to the audience of a Gospel message which if there were unbelievers in the audience certainly it could be a beginning of a journey in faith they hadn’t considered before. For that I felt pleased but I can’t honestly remember details of the end message they offered.

Your experience on the “inside” of all things S & S would certainly leave me bewildered at some things said & I wouldn’t be on the same page as them either. I may be a fan of Trump as “president “ compared to what could have been, and I know he has said many times he wants America to return to God, (which I realize the forum would not see that the same way) but I certainly disagree that he is a John the Baptist forerunner for Christs second advent- that is quite a claim! If you know the Scriptures, how can one see him that way?

I don’t know. Seems just a sign of the mixed bag of interpretations we have to sift through today- until Christ does return.

I was hoping to go again soon so will certainly pay close attention to the message/invitation at the end - if it prompts anyone to seek Truth, I hope they seek Jesus, the Way, the Truth and the Life. God seems to use a lot of ways to seek and save the lost.

[Grace]

I learned that numerous providential occurrences happened over the years to lead them to the media/production empire they have now. (I wonder too if a lot of the early audience explosion came from plain or fundamentalist churches/youth who weren't allowed to go to theatres but now had an outlet to go see a picture 'show'/production! Finally! And if elders questioned it, they could say, "but the founder (er owner) is an ordained minister who comes out on stage and preaches at us for a bit!" (1 person in our tour group said they remembered that and being annoyed, but they could now thank our host for doing that because it really had an impact! I'm younger and didn't go to the shows as a young person and don't recall that, but I would love to know what was preached to the scores of Lanc Co youth, many from Menno churches or background...)

LOL, I was one of those "plain" youth. From what I heard Glenn Eshleman (hope it is okay if I say his name) started out with slide shows in his first auditorium. However, that didn't pay so well, so he started showing movies after he cleaned them up some. I remember seeing "Pollyanna" at the old Sight and Sound theater. Years later I watched "Pollyanna" with my children and was surprised to see a part where the maid's boyfriend asks Pollyanna if she wants to go for a beer. Glenn Eshleman had somehow cut that part out.

Sunday evenings he often showed movies with a Christian theme. Afterwards he and another minister would preach a short sermon and give an alter call. Those messages were Biblically sound as far as I could tell. The other Minister's first name was Wayne, but I forget his last name. He was part of the Brethren church as well.

We have seen several of their current shows and I will admit they are astounding. However, they have too much singing and dancing to suit my husband's taste. They also are expensive.

One thing I do remember, the nickname many youths had for S & S, "Sit and Stare".

[QuietlyListening]

We went to one of the earlier shows before the fire destroyed one building and the new bigger one was built. Have been to several since but as the price has gone up and the productions have become more and more showy we haven't been inclined to return. Don't mind the singing etc but for us it has gotten over the top.

Didn't know anything about their beliefs politically.

[Valerie]

Interesting the belief is AI being “the beast” that’s a first for me. I certainly see that Satan can use it to deceive as he has used many tools to deceive & mislead the masses. Trump, I don’t think, is that familiar with all the “eschatology “ of our day so he’d be oblivious to that connection and I have heard so many wrong connections to the beast these last 50 years I wouldn’t consider AI “the beast” - on Christian radio I’ve heard both pros and cons of it. Just like I’ve heard pros and cons to TV, radio, computers, internet, etc.

I remember around 1973 our Pastor (big on eschatology) coming back from Brussels (if I remember right) considering some large computer “the beast”.

Personally my spirit is troubled by AI - while recognizing it can be useful (?). It just seems Satan operates through many ways and means but I am not seeing any of those as “the beast” in prophecy.

[JohnH]

I enjoyed attending a few S&S productions. Going to one is a popular youth activity amongst Keystone etc.; some Holdemans will also go much as they will attend certain live theatre at Branson.

There is no pushing of politics nor dispensational / premil eschatology there.

[Neto]

....
... "Sit and Stare".

I like that!

[Neto]

I do not recall when it was, but we have only been to one - the Noah story. (I think I've heard that they do it every few years, but this was no more recent than 2000 or early 2001, at the most recent, possibly well before that. I've also heard that they are "mixing it up" a bit now, because they got tired of doing it the same every time.)

I do not recall any message ("altar call") at the end, but would not be surprised if there was one. That can tend to be a characteristic of 'Once Saved Always Saved" people, as it can be a "gotcha" moment for the "unsuspecting convert". From my earliest childhood memories up until I went away to Bible institute and Bible college I had never attended any church meeting that was not Mennonite. (Nearly all Mennonite Brethren, but a few 'Old Mennonite' mixed in.) Well, just once. One Friday evening (while I was in HS) an End-Times 'scare movie' was showing at the Southern Baptist church in the town where I attended public school. They had an altar call at the end, and a man who went forward was converted and the preacher announced that he would be baptized and taken into the congregation on the following Sunday. They don't let any grass grow under their feet.

President Trump as WHAT?!? (I'm more afraid, for his sake, that it might be something entirely different.)

[barnhart]

I've never been to SS but I have been to two similar style productions on Broadway before we had children and could more easily afford such things. I wouldn't be more or less attracted by a simplistic message tacked on the end, I would judge it more by the art and the message. Was it worth saying and did they say it well?