Maybe 10 years ago I came across this web page – a self-referential story titled, “This is the title of this story, which is also found several times in the story itself”, and a few years later tried to take this self-referential test.

Every once in a while I bump into a video that stands out from the vast sea of usual-ness. In the above vein, some 4 years ago on YouTube.com, ‘bramsvan’ from Community Christian Church uploaded a (not terribly good) cover of ‘DaVinci’s “Title of the Song” from their 2000 release CD called “The Life and Times of Mike Fanning” – a song about boy-bands. The song is self-referential – see it here.

Then at the beginning of the year, Charlie Brooker (who has a satirical news show in the UK on BBC 4 called ‘Newswipe’) put on a self-referential piece about how today’s broadcast news shows build each piece from a template. This meta-news piece was bumped up to YouTube.com in late January – you can see it here, but be aware that there are occasional outbursts of inappropriate language.

This was followed in March by a brilliant meta-drama – a satire on what goes into making an Academy Award movie.

And 2 days before that, this self-referential trailer appeared on Vimeo.com – North Point Church made this video for a series called “Sunday’s Coming” …

… which I’m guessing was about how stuck in a rut we can get in worship. Yesterday’s liturgical tradition has become today’s contemporary tradition. It rings almost painfully true for the contemporary worship that we see in large churches (and that many smaller churches are moving towards). And just like any music worship anywhere you go, there are many, many people who have dug down deep to provide wise criticism without having the faintest idea about why the video was put together – check out all the comments if you want to see sadness in action. Truly, no area of church is more criticized than worship, and nothing there more than the music.

Isn’t it also true, though, how we need to keep on changing? This last video shows us that already, even though we’ve only been doing ‘contemporary worship’ for 20 or 30 years in even the most progressive churches, we’ve got it down to a formula. If God wants us to grow (and He does), that means we have to change. Maybe it’s time to think of new and different ways to do worship – not just for the sake of, but for the reach.

The local Cineplex was bought recently, and has received a great many upgrades. The unbelievably wealthy new owners, Father and Son, Inc., want to make it a heavenly experience to go to, but it’s not set up in quite the usual way – there are some strange changes that take some getting used to. They’ve spared no expense, though, and they have a reputation for miraculous quality. It’s not just a movie – it’s an experience.

After a while, opening day rolls around. A number of folks decide to go see a movie there.

As people get out of their cars, a man is standing there. He has a fistful of tickets, and is offering them to people as they near the front door. He asks what movie they’re going to see: “Ah yes, that’s a good one. Have a free ticket….”

• One of the moviegoers, Alfie, says, “I pay my own way – no one can say they’ve helped me out.”
To which the man replies, “You can’t pay to get in – we’re not interested in your money and there’s no way you can ever pay enough for what we give you. The movies are all free – but you have to get your ticket from me. It’s me or no one.”
• Another person, Bertha says, “I don’t know whether this is legit or not. I’ll just go inside and ask. If it’s for real, I’ll come back out and take one.”
To which the man replies, “Once you go inside you can’t come back out to get one of these. It’s now or never.”
• Charlie says to his buddy, “I’ll bet there’s another door you can get in.”
To which the man responds, “Nope. No other doors, just this one. And no other tickets – just the ones I’m giving out for free. It’s here or nowhere.”
• Danny says to his buddy, “This is too weird. Movies aren’t supposed to work this way. Let’s go to another movie house where they do things the way we’re used to.”
To which the man replies, “Well, my father and I own the Cineplex, and this is how it works. You don’t have to be here – but I wish you would stay. And I’ll guarantee it will be better than anything you’ll experience at another cinema.”
• Later on, Ethel says much the same as Danny, and gets the same reply.
Her family owns another local cinema and she drives off, furious, to speak with her father.
• Fanny asks, “What’s the catch? There’s always a catch – no free lunch – you only get what you pay for.”
To which the man replies, “No catch. Just take the free ticket – then the house is open to you.”
• Gus simply says, “Great! Thanks!” and takes the ticket.
To which the man replies with a wide smile, “Welcome home! Got a feeling you and I are going to be good friends.”

Turns out it’s a lifetime pass. He walks into the theatre and into the most incredible place he’s ever been.

Alfie: Believes in working his way into heaven.
Bertha: Wants proof of heaven before she commits.
Charlie: Believes there are other ways into heaven besides Jesus.
Danny: Doesn’t like the way Christianity works – prefers the way of the world.
Ethel: Actively acting against Christ because of vested/rival interest – in Jesus’ day these were the Pharisees.
Fannie: The cynic, doesn’t trust that there are no strings attached to the free gift.
Gus: Gus Gets the Godly Gift of Grace.

Imagine that you are in high school and best friends with someone who is a superb athlete. It could be any sport – we’ll say football. This friend has speed, power, stamina and brains. It’s obvious to everybody that he’s not just good – he’s exceptional. His plan is to get a football scholarship through a big-league college and then turn pro; and while for other people you’d just think it was a dream, for him everybody is convinced that it can be accomplished. He’s just that good! He’s also friendly, confident, approachable and popular.

He’s so good that the whole school turns out to watch him play. In fact, he’s so good that the whole community comes out. He’s so good that the college scouts have visited. Then one day in his senior year, he is hurt – deliberately and brutally. He’s hurt in such a fashion that he will never play ball again. He won’t get a football scholarship. He won’t turn pro. He can barely walk.

This premeditated attack was made by a person he recognized, and he took his attacker to court. As his best friend, you are with him in court. The evidence is presented, and it is irrefutable. Witnesses saw the attack, and they give testimony. There’s no question in anyone’s mind that this person will be put away for a long time. Further, he’s enormously wealthy, and will be able to pay for the mounting medical costs. The jury gives their verdict – guilty on all charges.

The time comes for the judge to pronounce sentence. He says something along these lines: “It’s very clear that this attack was deliberate and premeditated. It’s also clear that the attacker is very young and foolish, and that this is his first offense – this must be taken into account. He has shown remorse in court for his actions – this too must be taken into account. I have therefore decided that his punishment shall be limited to a written warning and probation. He will not be put away, and will not be liable for payment of any fines or fees.”

Everyone sits there stunned! It’s inconceivable! Slowly the courtroom empties. Your friend hobbles painfully out on his crutches. The room is empty except for the defendant and the judge gathering up his papers. On your way out through the door, you overhear the defendant say to the judge, “Whew! Sure dodged a bullet there, Dad!”

What do you think of this judge? Do you have any shred of respect for someone who should have recused himself before the trial began? Any respect for someone who perverts justice to that degree? We expect someone who has the authority of a judge to uphold the law – no question, no deviation from the absolute rightness of the matter.

Yet we expect God to go easy on us because we are His creation. We are so taken with – so indoctrinated with – the idea that ‘God is love’ that we expect all law-breaking, all failings, all sin to be forgiven and glossed over. For everyone.

I guess what that says is that we have lost respect for God. Because although we are told that God will judge us at the end of our days, we’re assuming that He will say, “No problem. I forgive you. I won’t look at all the wrong-doing you’ve committed. You won’t be put away from my presence, and there doesn’t need to be payment of any fines or fees.”

We hear so much in church today that reinforces this view:

• God will forgive everybody for everything.
• Live a fairly nice life and be fairly nice to others.
• What matters is that you mostly do your best.
• Be sincere.
• Just believe in God.

At funerals, what priest is going to say, “Well, sorry about this … Alice never believed in Jesus, so she’s in Hell now.”?

People have acquired such distaste for ‘Hellfire and brimstone’ sermons that the priest or pastor believes the very mention of sin from the pulpit will empty the church – so he doesn’t speak of it. And in the avoidance, he does his congregation a great disservice, for a warning now and then is essential if we are to counteract the view that the world has of a wussie conflict-avoiding God.

The truth is, God does want to forgive us. He understands better than we do why we commit each sin. He doesn’t want to condemn us, and He wants us to live forever in a loving relationship with Him. But He’s not just Love; He is also Holy, and Righteous, and Perfect. And there will be that reckoning at the end of our days.

A judge that would say “I’ll just forget about your crime” is a judge who cannot be worthy of our respect. He merits no glory, no praise, no honor. He is the kind of judge in our story. God cannot cover up our crimes; He has to punish wrongdoing – to fail to do so would be to be untrue to the Righteousness and Justice that is His nature, and He cannot be that. But the punishment that should be exacted is a punishment so complete and eternal that no one could ever be in relationship with Him.

In our place, and in an act of extraordinary Grace, He sends His infinite Son as payment of any fines or fees for our sin, so that we won’t be put away from His presence. And all He requires in return is that we own up to our own sin and acknowledge Him as our Savior. The debt is paid in full; we get a new start. We’re not even expected to be perfect (we are expected to try, though) – and in the new life we have His strength and His guidance.