What to Know
You might have seen mega churches depicted in TV shows like HBO’s The Righteous Gemstones, but apparently, that show was not messing around when it came to art imitating life. When someone on TikTok and then on Reddit shared a video of what a service is like during the holidays at a mega church, they proved that.
In the video, you can see actual real life camels being moved around the performance area, likely in an effort to recreate a three wise men scenario. There is also a woman who flies in on a platform with a glittering ballgown and microphone. Is she some sort of mashup between Glinda from Wicked and the Virgin Mary? Who knows.
Mega churches go all out without a care about the expenses.
@xila_____ This was a wild experience to say the least 😂😂😂 #megachurch #prestonwoodbaptistchurch #fyp #foryoupage ♬ original sound – Xila
The idea of the service depicted in the video is to elaborately tell the story of Jesus and his birth, which to Christians, is what Christmas is all about. But the mega church service also has santa flying in on a sled, and elves that appear to be attached by wires as they too fly through the air. The budget must be wild for these mega church events, especially during the holidays, and it seems like no expense is spared when it comes to showing off the church.
Joseph and baby Jesus also make an appearance. But so do some zebras and sheep, for good measure. Maybe I can even get behind the animals, because if they are part of the service and are being treated well, maybe, just maybe, it’s not that bad. This is especially true when you compare the presence of animals to performers flying around on wires and moving in a way that suggests they have jetpacks on.
I mean, I don’t think they do, but with these mega church services, apparently you never know. But don’t think that these fever dream-like experiences come cheap. Just because the church has enough money to afford light shows and concert-level audio, it doesn’t mean you aren’t still expected to give to the church out of your own pocket.
“Oh yeah, it’s not an exaggeration,” one user commented on Reddit in response to someone likening the clip to The Righteous Gemstones. “The mega churches are that over the top with their productions while begging people for all their money.”
When someone else asked if the performers are paid, experienced dancers, actors, or otherwise trained, or if they are church members, someone else replied, “Some performers are hired professionals. I know several aerial dancers that have been performing annually for years at one in Texas.”
Other people wanted to know why Santa was included in church service.
If the theme is Jesus and his birth in Bethlehelm, as told in the Bible, then really, what purpose does Santa serve in the show?
“Yeah that confuses me too,” another user wrote in the Reddit thread. “I was raised Evangelical and we did not do Santa. The whole point of a Nativity play would be to do biblical entertainment. This is just P.T. Barnum with some men in robes.” Yeah, they clocked it hard with that one.
