Texas megachurch is slammed for extravagant Christmas service with 1,000-strong cast, live camels and flying angels

UK Daily Mail ^ | 12/14/2023 | GERMANIA RODRIGUEZ POLEO

[DFG]

A Texas megachurch has been slammed for its extravagant Christmas service, which featured nearly 1,000 performers, several camels and flying angels.

Prestonwood Baptist Church in Dallas has gone viral on social media for its yearly The Gift of Christmas show - a Vegas-style spectacle that retells the story of the birth of Jesus.

Footage of the event on Sunday shows real sheep walking across the stage before flying angels appear over the crowd, followed by hundreds of performers and three live camels entering the scene.

A TikTok video posted by Lawson Martin - titled 'They say everything is bigger in Texas' - has been watched more than 10million times. It showed airborne performers dancing to The Greatest Show from the musical The Greatest Showman.

The clip sparked massive backlash, with some mocking the event and others expressing anger that a church would hold such a lavish affair, which costs attendants between $19 and $69.

One commenter wrote: 'I can no longer tell what’s sarcasm and what’s an actual mega church.'

Another added: 'no taxes just vibes.'

A third said: 'Do they pass the money bowl around before after or during this ???'

Other social media videos showed a performance to Michael Jackson's Thriller.

'Nothing says Christmas like creepy dolls dancing to MJ's Thriller,' wrote the poster.

A TiKTok user replied: 'Nothing about this glorifies God in anyway way. Absolute trash.

Another echoed the sentiment, writing: 'This is evil.'

But the church was not faced by the backlash, and issued a statement saying the event was ticketed and not a service.

'Prestonwood Baptist Church is not ashamed to pull out all the stops in celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ during the Christmas season,' the church told San Antonio Express-News.

[Songcraft]

The late Dr. Robert Schuller was a great old, smiley, white-haired guy, with his "Hour of Power" TV show, and "possibility thinking" books, (even if he borrowed a wee bit from Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, and his "power of positive thinking").   I always enjoyed listening to his talks on TV, whenever I saw one.

[SaveFerris]

(Other social media videos showed a performance to Michael Jackson’s Thriller.

‘Nothing says Christmas like creepy dolls dancing to MJ’s Thriller,’ wrote the poster.)

That’s bizarre 😮

[roving]

I decided to read the article. It gave both sides. So once again, DM is wrongly trashed.

[21twelve]

“Let your works so shine before men...”

I recall a great sermon by Melisa Scott (TV preacher - mega-church??) where she talked about how in the Bible there were three(?) different words translated into “work” in English.

When God works, or a person is doing/showing God’s work it is “dynamos” (as in dynamite, energy, or whatever).

When it is man’s own work it is another word, and then another word for the works of Satan iirc.

I knew a guy that was very wealthy due to his own hard work. But, he was also very generous with both his money and time to help others - doing God’s work. He was also very perceptive to the needs of others and would offer help even if it was not requested. (And refuse helping them - at least with money - if that would not have helped them.)

[Organic Panic]

“Democrats outraged at megachurch ticketed show.”

“Democrats celebrate Hamas liberation or occupied Palestine...”

[ViLaLuz]

I believe that’s the church that does a massive Christmas production every year. The church members all volunteer to put it on.

[Samurai_Jack]

Everything else seemed okay to me.

Why not go all out to celebrate the miracle manifestation of the living god into the flesh. The ones upset over the extravagant celebration are those who don’t believe in it. And why do they care anyway?

[catnipman]

“live camels and flying angels”

live angels and flying camels woulda been more entertaining ...

[Jamestown1630]

I have no problem with extravagant celebrations of the birth of Jesus. But I think the reality (not to mention the iconic images of the manger, the Three Kings’ journey, etc.) were all Outdoors.

People should get themselves outside to perform and view a spectacle like this :-)

[Some Fat Guy in L.A.]

We should be extravagant in our worship......as long as that is the purpose. If the purpose is to put on a show and get butts in the seats, it’s misguided.

I’ve been involved in some fairly intense Christmas programs over the years, but never with live animals. Besides, the wise guys were not at the birth of Jesus - they came later.

[Jamestown1630]

I think Jesus was the original proponent of ‘positive thinking’ - if it wasn’t some old Greek guy...

[Dawgreg]

I see nothing wrong with the pictures. I guess I would have to read the article to figure out what people are complaining about. Cost seems to be in the comments shown, but how that is an issue for anyone not forced to participate is a mystery.

I want to thank you.....my sentiments exactly. Merry Christmas!!

[Songcraft]

You may be right.

(Another person in the Bible who demonstrated an extraordinary level of positive thinking, was "Job", who "had everything", lost everything, but still had enough faith to say "The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord."   Job 1:21.)

[Samurai_Jack]

Yeah, outdoors would be good sure...

I still don’t understand the reason for they’re ‘slammed’ for it. I guess the same people who think that space travel is a waste and the money should go to feed and house the poor. Like Judas who ‘slammed’ Mary for using oil to anoint the feet of Jesus. He didn’t get it.

I reckon faith is hard to explain to some people.