Church

Dearest Hollywood,

I just watched your production of "Four Christmases" and was heartbroken at you portrayal of church.  Yes, it's funny, and it does exist in America more and more these days: church being a huge production, like a theatrical performance that you have to dress up, go through all the motions and say all the right things for.  I'm not heartbroken because of the way you did it, im heartbroken because it's true, and you do a great job of putting it onto film, not just in this movie, but in past movies too.

But is there someone out there, anyone who values reality more than entertainment? Lifechange more than satire? Will anyone be daring enough to put onto film a church, a true body of Christ that is real and loves people? A church that maybe meets at a park, in a garage, or a prison chapel? Because there are churches out there that are reclaiming the Church as the Body of Christ and going into their communities, maybe having no idea what they're doing except trying to love people.  Is that not film worthy? Can you put away the fact that entertainment and satire sell and show the world that Jesus still lives and breathes in some churches?

Because He does, and I'm yearning for people to see that church doesn't have to be tainted with images of a large building with a cross towering over them, but that the word "church" can be the faces of people loving and being loved by their Savior,  and in direct response loving and serving others, with eyes full of hope and desperation to see redemption and reconciliation take place.  I want people to know that the people are the church.  Without them, it's just a building.  A piece of architecture that took months and months to build but can be demolished overnight. 

I just want people to know that they don't have to be anything to come to church.

That Jesus lives for the ordinary, simple and normal people

and yearns to bring abundance and overflow into their lives.

And no, there's no satire or entertainment in that,

but there is 

raw

bare

undeniable

Life.

Thank you for your time.

Elise