Which way are our lives oriented? Mid Week Lent Service

Which way are our lives oriented?  Do we build them around what culture says we are to do or around what God says we are to do?  The gospel of Luke dives into these questions with Jesus as an example.  We had several Bible readings (Luke 2:41-51, 4:5-8, 4:20-30, 13:31-35, 23:32-37) which make the contrast between the way the world says Jesus should orient his life and the way God the Father says Jesus should orient his life.  Over and over again we find that the world’s ways are reasonable and logical.  Perhaps they are even good, but they are not what Jesus is called to do.  They are not oriented towards God’s purposes. 

Following is a skit I created to be performed on the 1^st Sunday in Lent, but since I wasn’t here we didn’t do it.  However, we have it now and notice the way the devil often gives reasonable and logical responses – but they aren’t necessarily right.  For every decision big or small we should not look to the world for answers but to our God.

 

Lent 1 Year C Skit

Synopsis: A person contemplates the purchase of a new car – a Honda minivan – while the Angel and Devil try to influence the decision.

Cast:    Angel, Devil, Person

Set: Person sits while the Angel and Devil stand at either shoulder.  Person has a copy of Consumer Report or similar information about minivans.

Costumes: Something to designate Angel and Devil

 

Person: I think I’ll go with the Honda Odyssey.

Devil: The Honda Odyssey!?!  Are you nuts?  That’s about the most boring vehicle ever made!  Do you really want to make the statement everywhere you go that you’re the world’s biggest bore?  Go for a sports car or a big SUV!

Angel:  Don’t listen to him.  You have no need for a sports car or an SUV. 

Devil:  Of course you do!  You want to look successful don’t you?  You want to look like you’re making it – not just scraping by driving a boring shoe box with wheels tacked on.  Where’s your sense of style?

Angel:  You can’t think that way!  Who made you who you are?  God did.  Who made you worthwhile?  God did.  You don’t need a car to give you style.

Person:  Minivans are kind of boring, but that’s what I need to get the kids from place to place and haul a big item from time to time.

Devil:  Okay, fine!  Buy the minivan.  But at least get one with some options.  What are the choices?

Person:  (Consulting paperwork) Let’s see.  The base model has…

Devil:  (Interrupting) The base model!?!  You’re kidding me right?  Not only are you going to drive the world’s most boring vehicle, you’re also going to go cheap?

Angel:  There are a lot of benefits to keeping things simple.

Devil:  Benefits?  Sure.  Like what?  Like nothing!  Every time you park that thing in the parking lot by the ball fields do you really want every other parent to look at your minivan and think, “That’s the base model.  How poor must they be?”  Can you ego handle that?  No it can’t!  You’ve got to show the world you’ve got it by the horns.  At least buy something further up the ladder.  Something that says you’re not just scraping by at bare minimum.

Angel:  Don’t listen to him.

Devil:  Look, how about this one (pointing at the paperwork) – the Touring Elite model.  Now that makes a statement of success!
Angel:  That costs fifteen-thousand more than the base model!

Devil:  Of course it does!  It says, “I’ve made it.”  It says, “I’m a practical parent who wants to keep my kids safe, so I gave in to a minivan.  But I’ve also made it and I don’t really have to drive this.”  It even sounds kind of humble like that – that you’re a caring parent and successful community member.  Yes, that’s the image you want!

Angel:  There’s nothing humble about a strategy of humility.

Devil:  Sure there is.  Everybody does it!

Person:  There’s no way I can afford the Touring Elite model – it’s nearly fifty-thousand-dollars!

Devil:  (Resigned) Okay, but at least don’t go for the base model.

Angel:  The base model has everything you need to get safely everywhere you want to go.  And even the base model is really quite luxurious.

Devil: (Sarcastically to the angel.)  Well listen to you!  Next thing you know you’ll be trying to talk him out of a minivan altogether.

Angel: Maybe, but there’s more to it than that.  He’s/She’s skipped over the first question already.  That question is, does he/she really need a minivan at all?

Devil:  Of course he/she needs a minivan at the very least!  Every parent with kids needs at least a minivan.  It says, “I’m a parent and I have responsibilities in this world and I keep my kids safe and want them to be well-rounded and do well.”

Angel:  That’s a total lie, and you know it!

Devil:  No it’s not!

Angel:  Oh yes it is!  (to the person)  Don’t let pressures trap you.  Have you really thought this through?  What made you think you needed a minivan in the first place?  Think deep.  Be honest.

Person:  Everybody has a minivan, at least.  It’s just what you do.

Devil:  Exactly!  You need it!  You have to have it.  It says to the world that you’re a good person.

Angel:  It says to the world that you’re going along with what everyone else says you are supposed to have.

Devil:  Don’t listen to that angel.  People are going to think you’re weird.

Angel:  Did God make you weird?  No.  God did a good thing when you were made.  No one can take that from you.  And nothing can enhance it either.

Devil:  Absolutely do not listen to that angel!

Angel:  And there’s more.  Here’s the real question to ponder.  Does this equip you to show the love of God in the world?  You always pray, “Thy kingdom come.  Thy will be done.”  That means big decisions and small are made with God’s will in mind.

Person:  Maybe I’d better pray about this more before I make any decisions.

Angel:  That’s the spirit!

Devil:  I hate tempting faith filled people.  Next time I want to be on the winning side!