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For more than a quarter of a century one megachurch has put on an extravagant and opulent Christmas show with the intent of reaching their community for Jesus—but now they are under fire across social media.
In a video circulating on TikTok which has received over 200,000 likes and 14,000 comments, you can see multiple people flying midair playing “Little Drummer Boy” dressed in costumes. The church under attack is Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas.
Each year the church comes together to put on an extensive Christmas show with fancy decorations, acting, props, lighting and equipment.
@tonydaussat Little drummer boy, but TX’d #christmas #church #fyp #texas ♬ original sound – Tony Daussat
The church uses the play as an opportunity to share the gospel with the 75,000 people that attend the event each year. Now, people are wondering if this is what churches should spend so much of their time, energy and money doing. Here’s what people had to say:
One TikTok user wrote, “Why people are leaving churches: reason 3,452, not enough flying drums.” Someone else commented on the viral video “Let’s play, ‘Is this church or a concert?'” One viewer who says she works as a theatre professional wrote, “I tell people that most big churches have more sophisticated gear then Broadway and they don’t believe me. Well here you go.”
The megachurch released a statement in an email to the Houston Chronicle saying, “At Prestonwood, we believe Jesus deserves our absolute best, especially at Christmas. It’s unfortunate that the perennial American tradition of the church Christmas program now draws hateful ire from some.”
The statement continued saying they hoped that those who are coming against them would “come to know the joy of Christmas the love of our Savior.”
Tickets for Prestonwood’s annual Christmas play start at $19 and go up to $59 depending on seating and parking. The multimedia event runs from Dec. 2-4 and 7-11, and is complete with special effects, 1,000 member cast, choir, live orchestra and flying angels.
This begs the question, is the focus some churches have on fog machines, fancy lights and equipment driving people away from the church building? Or is it an opportunity for the gospel to go forth to those who may have not heard it otherwise? {eoa}
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Shelby Bowen is an assistant editor for Charisma Media.
