UNRESOLVED. This is a lead-in drama for a sermon on healing, or a sermon on the simplicity and perfection of God's instructions, way, and will, especially compared to man's attempt to impress God with big words and lofty speech. The faith of a child...
(a pompous and proud Bishop stands at front, contemplating his goodness and God's blessings upon him -- he speaks in sepulchre, sonorous tones, nose ever lifted to the sky, pleased with himself and a God Who answers Him with such blessings and righteousness, his voice is nasal and self-important, a man with all the answers, and the knowledge that he is placed in his high station by God Himself)
BISHOP:
(fingers steepled, nose lifted to heaven) Ahhh. Hmmmm. Yes, Lord. Ah. How good you are. Yes. (smacks lips) Thank you, um, uh, Heavenly Father, that I am not like the common, um, uh, sinners of this world -- because Lord, the world, um, uh, is obviously no friend of Yours. You have um uh led me, Lord, on the paths of righteousness, and though those paths have been long and troublesome, You have brought me here to this holy place -- or should I say, um, uh, this holy condition, as my particulars find me still upon earth, an earth which is no friend of Yours, but in a condition of holiness, as Thy Holy Ghost has transmogrified my flesh so miraculously, has metamorphosed my character so perfectly, and with such perfection, to such an utter state of perfection...
GIRL:
(approaching, reluctantly, with fear) Um -- excuse me?
BISHOP:
(blinks out of reverie) What? Um-uh, that is to say, what did you say?
GIRL:
Hello, I'm from the village, and the Elders told me I should come to you. Because I have some questions. I'm confused about some issues in the Holy Word.
BISHOP:
(extreme gratification and confidence) Ahhh. The Holy Word. Yes, my daughter, the Elders have advised you wisely, for, um uh, being wise, they have sent you to one who is mature and sanctified in that same Word. For when we are young, we think as children, but the hardships of the world, and the clarification of the Word DOES lead us on the paths of righteousness -- um uh, that is to say, the world attempts to lead us on the wide path to utter destruction, whereas the Word turns up the heat, we might say, for the Holy Ghost doth work mysteriously in conjunction with the Word, and the Word was made flesh... (trails off as his train of thought is lost)
GIRL:
(reluctantly interrupts his reverie) Um, sir? Mister Bishop?
BISHOP:
Oh, um uh, yes my daughter?
GIRL:
(with a little exasperation showing) My question...?
BISHOP:
Ah yes, thy question. Yes. Um uh, this could be employed as a prime example of the aforementioned maturity, that is to say as we discussed the apostle's words concerning thinking as a child when one is actually, in all sense of the word, a CHILD, and hopefully this answers the majority of your, um uh, question...
GIRL:
(a lot of exasperation showing) But SIR! I haven't even ASKED my question yet!
BISHOP:
Ah well there it is, then. For you see girl, time doth elapse, girl, and as the wise maxim goes, time flies, and in another place, time is money, and as our Lord rebuked "the love of money is the root of all evil," and the state of union has obviously and definitely proved Him correct, yes, um uh, so so so true... (lapses into reverie, wanders to look out window)
GIRL:
(shaking head, follows him to window) ...um, uh (mimicking him) Good Mister Bishop?
BISHOP:
(perceiving her, blinking) Oh we have a visitor! What can I do for you, young daughter of the village?
GIRL:
Can you tell me how to have a relationship with God?
BISHOP:
Oh, um uh, to have a relationship with the Heavenly Father, so utterly high, high, high, raised upon the breast of the sky! And with the Heavenly Son, who set aside His robes of righteousness to garb Himself in the rough raiment of poverty, in short, becoming a servant, a suffering servant for our sake. And with the Holy Ghost, that effervescent Spirit of the Most High and Holy God. Ah, such a noble aspiration, especially for one so young as yourself, to have enjoy a relationship, um uh, that is to say, to daily walk with Him...
GIRL:
Well, what do I need to do? He just seems so far away!
BISHOP:
Far away? Why yes, my daughter, what an excellent perception, especially for one as young yourself, because as familiarity breeds contempt, so doth youth breed stupidity -- um uh, that is to say that we here upon the earth see as it was through a glass most darkly. That is to say that our understanding, darkened, dimly clasps at the illumination. The mysteries, and the confoundings of the Most High Lord.
GIRL:
(snaps) I don't understand!
BISHOP:
(snaps right back) Precisely my point!
GIRL:
But I want to talk with God. I want to obey Him. I want to see Him and hear Him and be heard by Him. But what's the Number One thing I need?
BISHOP:
FEAR.
GIRL:
Fear!
BISHOP:
Fear the Lord. The fear of the Lord. Terrible, frightening and most mighty is He, a towering pinnacle, the Lord, over a quivering ant, um, why, YOU, girl! Fear Him, lest He crush thee. Amen, and amen.
GIRL:
But how in the world is fear going to help me . . . I don't understand, this is all just so confusing!
BISHOP:
You are learning, girl. For the plan of salvation is a labyrinth, a veritable maze of twistings and turnings, for um uh as the Word says, mysterious are the ways of the Lord. And I believe we have discussed the glass, that is to say the "Glass Darkly," and how this references our understanding. But don't worry, child, for that is what you are, but a child, and when you are a child, you think as a child... (lapses into reverie)
GIRL:
(shaking head, exits) Fear God. How is that going to help me have a relationship!
BISHOP:
(coughs, rubs at throat) The throat, um huh, it seems rather dry... (goes and gets a glass of water, drinks) That is better. Infinitely better! (turns to talk to girl) The youth often find it difficult to relate to God, but with age... (looks around, notices girl is gone, blinks) Ahhh... such is inconstant youth! Loves to ask questions, but hates to hear answers... (coughs again)
My, but I do feel under the weather! How odd. How inconsistent! How troubling! (puts hand to forehead) Hmmmm. Rather warm. But this is fascinatingly odd, for I am a Christian, and a good one at that, and as illness is a product of sin...
(sways with illness, seats himself upon the ground, breathes with wheezes) Oh my. I must have sinned. I must search my soul out for whatever transgression is bringing to bear this full brunt of sickness in the body of Christ...!
GIRL:
(coming back, notices ill Bishop) Sir? What's wrong? Are you feeling sick?
BISHOP:
Ah, daughter of the village. I am -- a tad -- under the weather. But, by contemplating the Word, I am -- confidant (feeling throat and forehead) that I shall overcome, for blessed are those who... (slowly sinks to lie upon the ground)
GIRL:
Wait here -- I'll go get help! (rushes away)
BISHOP:
(swooning, very ill) Yes. Um, uh, I'll just wait here! (he groans and moans, now as pitiful as moments before he was proud)
GIRL:
(returns I in a moment, with 4 or 5 people) Here he is. He looks and sounds terrible!
ELDER #1:
Poor brother. (kneels by Bishop's head) Gather about him, we will pray for him and anoint him... (the elders gather close, laying hands upon the Bishop)
GIRL:
(worried, crouching nearby) Is he going to be okay?
ELDER #1:
We have to trust in God, and follow His word. Come close, girl, and pray with us for the Bishop...
GIRL:
Me? But I'm just a kid!
ELDER #2:
God uses kids, too!
GIRL:
(excited, gathers close) Wow. This is amazing. Will God heal the Bishop?
ELDER #1:
We'll leave that up to God, trusting in Him, and following His Word. (removes a small bottle of oil)
GIRL:
What's that?
ELDER #2:
Simple oil. It's symbolic, but God says to use it, and so we do... (rubs some oil on Bishop's forehead)
(talking portion if concluded, but Elders and Girls continue to kneel about Bishop, and begin to pray for him, silently, laying their hands upon him)
(sermon begins here, and group aid the fallen Bishop from the room)
* * *
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Art et Amour Toujours
Douglas Christian Larsen
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Completely free Christian scripts, sketches, and mimes.
Always a Parable. Storytelling making the Difference.
Soldier On. You were created on purpose.
You were created with a purpose, a True mission.
The Power of Words combined with
all the Amazing Colors of the Rainbow.
