“The Show Must Go On” By Jeannette Haley

What comes to mind as we embark on another new year are these words from the well-known and beloved hymn, “Amazing Grace,” “Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come; ‘Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.” It has always amazed me how jubilant and excited people get every New Year’s Eve as if just because we have to change our calendars, everything will somehow automatically improve even though “dangers, toils and snares” will surely come.

However, the truth is for everything to keep going in this world “the show must go on,” and that includes the organized church of today. Some churches used to hand out printed bulletins (and some may still do so) with the order of service all printed out for people to follow, much like the secular programs handed to attendees of plays, circuses, concerts, operas, or other performances. That way everyone can sit back comfortably in their seat with the knowledge of what to expect from the listed order of events.

The problem with man’s meticulously programmed organization in the church, however, is there is never any space, or expectation, for the intervention of the Holy Spirit. It’s as if His presence isn’t expected (or even welcomed) to move in any of the spiritual gifts, or in the well-rehearsed order of worship, or through the message, or deeply touch hearts and lives as a result of prayer. Even if He does desire to move upon His people, then any spiritual gift has to either be pre-approved by the clergy or ignored altogether because, 1) none of the leadership are prepared for His presence, or 2) because they have failed to properly teach the people concerning the Holy Spirit, or 3) they don’t recognize Him when He does manifest, or 4) they don’t know what to do with Him, or 5) worse yet, He is not welcome in any service of the church at any time, period. After all, any interruption of the planned program means an unwelcome disruption to the plans of man, and no matter what, the show must go on.

Through the years we’ve witnessed many heart-wrenching situations in churches where the Holy Spirit was quenched, grieved and vexed by controlling leadership because the number one priority, goal, agenda and purpose for the whole thing has been “the show must go on.” At this point, however, an interesting exception comes to mind which took place over 35 years ago. It happened in a church in a small Idaho town where a Spirit-filled, discerning pastor was interrupted by a man with a wrong spirit. This man was apparently working in the sound room which was located above the congregation. As Pastor K launched into his sermon, the challenging sound of a loud, male voice suddenly echoed through the church, interrupting him. Instantly, Pastor K recognized the source, looked up at the sound room, raised his arm, and with pointed finger rebuked the interrupter. I’ll never forget what happened in that instant, for the man crashed to the floor, and was out cold. Several men of the congregation ran up the stairs, rushed into the sound room, and after a short, hushed pause announced that he was okay, but unconscious.

This is an example of the power the children of God have who know God, know His Word, and are filled with the Holy Spirit. Pastor K recognized that the attack against him and the Word he was preaching came from a demon and he did not hesitate for one second to stop what he was saying and rebuke him. Sadly, far too many leaders in the well-organized, post-modern churches of today, however, are either not willing to recognize and face the enemy head on, or are totally ignorant of the enemy and how he works. Some are even scared out of their wits of the dark forces of evil, satanism, witchcraft and the occult, so when something unsavory surfaces in the church, they tend to ignore it altogether. After all, they have a schedule to keep, a protocol to follow, and they weakly hope any such interruptions can hopefully be discouraged by ignoring them, even though sometimes a tortured soul is on the line and needs help.

For example, back in the late 70’s I went to a Baptist church for a few Sundays. One day, while conversing with the pastor, I casually asked him what he would do if he met a witch. I rather expected him to explain how he would try to win her, or him, to Christ, but instead he visibly tensed, and with wide eyes said, “I’d run as fast as I could in the other direction.” And that was that. Needless to say, I didn’t want to be part of a church that didn’t have a clue about what the Bible tells us we are to discern, confront, rebuke, cast out and overcome. Obviously, this pastor was ill-prepared for anything, or anybody, who might pose even the slightest threat to his predictable, “the show must go on” Sunday services, and years later I sometimes wonder if God was able to “grow him up” in the knowledge of the whole counsel of the Word of God and faith. After all, he had sheep to feed and watch over.

Back in the 1960’s, I had a very dear Christian friend who had suddenly lost her husband. She had two teenage children at the time, and the loss was utterly devastating for her. She was a totally committed wife, mother and homemaker, and had no job skills to fall back on; however, the Lord helped her to secure a job. On New Year’s Eve of that year, she and I sat together in the church we attended for the New Year’s Eve service. The program was moving along as planned, and it seemed to me as if the entire rigid congregation was made up of cold, silent, wax figures. Suddenly, my friend silently broke. It was as if all of the tension, suffering and sorrow within her soul had built up to a breaking point, but not one sound did she make, and she never moved a muscle as rivers of tears cascaded down her cheeks. I was young and inexperienced, and knew I must not do or say anything to interrupt the service. Nope. No matter what. So, I quietly moved closer to her and took her hand. It was a moment I will always remember, for the Lord was beginning to teach me how to enter in, as well as take note of how stoic and unfeeling Christians can be when their priorities are upside down. In other words, well-trained church goers in the Americanized culture automatically stay in line, regardless of the needs of others because the show must go on.

Decades later, one Sunday morning (in a small country church we attended) a young woman, with small children entered and slid into a middle pew on the right side of the sanctuary. At the sound of muffled gasps and whispers, I turned to look at her and was shocked at her appearance for her face was swollen and covered with red, black and blue bruises. It was obvious that she had been cruelly battered and beaten. The pastor couldn’t help but see her, but, “the show must go on” so he commenced with his sermon while trying to ignore the sniffling and muffled sobs coming from her, along with the apparent distress of her little girls. Again, I turned to glance at the situation and to see if any of the women closer to her had moved to where she was to comfort her. But, no. She sat alone, except for her sullen children, with tears streaming down her wounded cheeks. Everything inside of me was screaming, “What would Jesus do? Would He ignore her and keep preaching?” Of course not! I don’t remember a word of his sermon, but I do remember getting up, disturbing some folks while making my way out of the pew, and hurrying back to where she was sitting. Sliding in beside her, I took her in my arms, and gently tried to comfort her while others looked on. The pastor was not happy, and was obviously perturbed at this disruption, but he kept going while trying to ignore the whole incident. Again, of course, “the show must go on.” No matter what.

In another small country church situation that the Lord led us to, it wasn’t hard to discern that there was something very wrong with the pastor. It was also obvious to us that the Lord wanted to set His sheep free from the overbearing, controlling, evil spirit that held the people in its sway. We knew from the start that the pastor had “another spirit” and it was dark and strong, so much so that to this day I believe he was a warlock. Needless to say, the spiritual battle began to rage (which is another story) but as usual, his façade demanded that “the show must go on” the way he wanted it to go. The tragedy of it was the people were so deeply under his spell that they failed to stand on the Word, believe the Word, use the Word, and hold him and themselves accountable to the Word! His sermons amounted to unbiblical nonsense, yet no one held him accountable until we began to challenge him. Then one Sunday the Holy Spirit came down in that church. His presence was so powerful that this fake preacher began pacing back and forth in front of the church. His eyes rolled wildly as he muttered under his breath. Then, as he walked past us, we heard him say, “Something is happening! There’s something here! I can feel it! But I don’t know what it is!” After much spiritual warfare, the Lord brought about situations that exposed him to the people, and he was forced to leave. There was much more to this story, but I am sharing it here to use as an illustration of how whole congregations or groups of Christians, if they are not watching, discerning, praying and walking according to the Word of God can become docile supporters of the “show” that “must go on.”

One experience we had, that none of us will ever forget, happened when our gospel soloist and another singer were invited to sing at a monthly dinner one of the local churches sponsored in a small community center. The idea was to give free dinners, gospel music and a message. That evening the room was packed, and the Holy Spirit powerfully anointed the music, and His awesome presence filled the room. It was so powerful that I knew without the shadow of a doubt that if the pastor opened it up for prayer, miracles of healing and deliverance would take place. Expectation rose in our hearts as a holy hush filled the room. The pastor stepped forward, and looked at the people. Then, as every eye was upon him, he told a corny joke. Our hearts sank as the Holy Spirit lifted. After all, the show must go on.

Lynette Hughes wrote, concerning the church and the Holy Spirit, “The spiritual gifts have been given to us to equip us to glorify God and strengthen and encourage the children of God. Spiritual leaders who believe in the gifts of the Spirit have failed to properly teach on the gifts, and it seems that the cessationists have picked up the slack. Also, in most churches believers are not given any room to function in the gifts of the Spirit. And the gifts that we see the most in Spirit-filled churches are simply words of exhortation or prophecy. There is much more. When a church shuts down the gifts of the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit is grieved and eventually quenched.”

The bottom line is, we must determine in our hearts to believe and receive the Person, works and gifts of the Holy Spirit if we are to be in obedience to the ways and will of God and the commandments of Jesus, for which is greater, our weekly tradition of “the show must go on” no matter what, or the indwelling Spirit who empowers us, and leads us into all truth? “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me; for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you” John 16:13, 14. “And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption” Ephesians 4:30. “Quench not the Spirit” 1 Thessalonians 5:19.