In the Christian church year there is a day called Transfiguration Sunday. This day commemorates the time when Jesus and his disciples Peter, James and John were up on a high mountain. What happened there was a terrifying experience that scared the disciples. The event is thought of in Christian circles as a time when the historic connection of Jesus to ancient holy people was made evident and the authenticity of Jesus made evident. (see Matthew 17:1-9)
This event is usually interpreted as a grand display of otherworldly spiritual excitement. I think there is another side to the story. This was in fact a very familiar scene to folks who climb up mountains. The sudden changes in weather that happen in mountain climbing can disorient and challenge the best climbers. A thunder storm when one is exposed on an open mountain face is quite memorable. The scene was about as earthly as it gets.
I am considering the connection of Transfiguration with present day video projects that present sound and visuals that give people a mountain top thrill in the comfort of their own living room. I think of the attempts of pastors and other worship leaders to give folks a taste of the Transfiguration event in the comfort of their own church sanctuary. Good luck on that one! Even with full surround sound and huge screens in mega churches the attempt is doomed if the purpose is a spiritual transformation for the attendees. There may well be an emotional thrill that will be familiar to video devotees but the familiarity of it all will soon fade into the wallpaper of life.
So is Transfiguration Sunday of any use in the 21st century? I intend to find out on March 6.
This event is usually interpreted as a grand display of otherworldly spiritual excitement. I think there is another side to the story. This was in fact a very familiar scene to folks who climb up mountains. The sudden changes in weather that happen in mountain climbing can disorient and challenge the best climbers. A thunder storm when one is exposed on an open mountain face is quite memorable. The scene was about as earthly as it gets.
I am considering the connection of Transfiguration with present day video projects that present sound and visuals that give people a mountain top thrill in the comfort of their own living room. I think of the attempts of pastors and other worship leaders to give folks a taste of the Transfiguration event in the comfort of their own church sanctuary. Good luck on that one! Even with full surround sound and huge screens in mega churches the attempt is doomed if the purpose is a spiritual transformation for the attendees. There may well be an emotional thrill that will be familiar to video devotees but the familiarity of it all will soon fade into the wallpaper of life.
So is Transfiguration Sunday of any use in the 21st century? I intend to find out on March 6.
