Church Turns itself Into Super Mario World For Mario-Themed Service

Protestia ^ | July 12, 2025 | staff

[Morgana]

Life.Church South Broken Arrow Life kicked off their At the Movies campaign with a Super Mario Brothers theme, decorating their church and crafting a sermon based around the adventures of Mario, Luigi, Bowser, Princess Preach, and whatever stray Koopa that may make it into a sermon illustration.

South Broken Arrow is one of more than 40 locations of the 85,000-member, seeker-sensitive, multi-site-based Oklahoma church. Led by Craig Groeschel, their promo material explains:

At the Movies is an annual summer event at Life.Church. We decorate our lobbies in our favorite movie themes and invite friends and family. During the experience, we show snippets of popular films, and Pastor Craig creates a message based on themes from the film. It’s one of our most popular and fun series, and we look forward to it every year.

They also have a mantra:

[Texas Eagle]

Ohhhhkayyyy. If this is what it takes for people to realize that they are created in the image of a loving Creator and they possess the spark of that Creator within themselves, so be it.

I guess.

[Morgana]

I think it’s childish and a turn off.

[V_TWIN]

I think what your saying is the direction....my church dies similar things, just not this e extreme

[V_TWIN]

Does not dies

[fidelis]

What would Jesus do?

Safe bet he wouldn't do this.

[Texas Eagle]

Yeah. I don't know. I kind o put this in the category of churches that play loud rock music with the electric guitars and wah-wah pedals and synthesizers and reverb effects and flashing lights and other such things to keep people entertained. The kind I attended for almost 30 years.

If it gets people to sit and listen to how valuable they are instead of sending them into a 90 minute guilt trip, then I'm okay with it. I didn't read the whole article (I'm a FReeper ! I have standards to uphold!) but that's what I'm more interested in.

I understand the counter argument.

[Openurmind]

"Ohhhhkayyyy. If this is what it takes for people to realize that they are created in the image of a loving Creator and they possess the spark of that Creator within themselves, so be it. I guess." Except... Maybe they are not aware maybe they are, but Super Mario is directly associated with Amanita Muscaria.

[Texas Eagle]

Decent point. He recognized that that a lot of people only "followed" Him because of the signs and wonders He performed instead of desiring to grasp and understand that they were created by a loving Father who wanted them to understand just how loved and valued they were.

Hard to say.

[No name given]

I’m with you on this one.

[No name given]

At all.

[Honorary Serb]

Oh bosh!

[Dr. Franklin]

The Greek word “philia” translates as the brotherly love. The Greek word “delphia” translates as “from the city of Delphi”. The city of Delphi was considered by the Greeks to have been the center of the world, and the place of the oracle of Apollo. Put the two Greek words together, yields, “Philadelphia” which translates as the city of brotherly love, (which opposing players don’t feel when play sports games in Philadelphia). However, the pastor isn’t right to say that “Philadelphia” means brotherly love.

It is worth noting that in the ancient world, the city of Philadelphia in the bible, is the present day city of Alaşehir in Turkey. Amman Jordan was also known as Philadelphia in antiquity, and today there is a Philadelphia University there.

[scrabblehack]

So this is false etymology?

ἀδελφός [α^], (ἀ- copul., δελφύς, Arist.HA510b13; cf. ἀγάστωρ) properly,
A.son of the same mother:
adelphos

φι^λα^δελφ-έω ,
A.show brotherly affection, Not.Scav. 1919.66 (Jewish).
philadelpheo

φι^λα^δελφ-ία , ἡ,
A.brotherly love, Alex. 334, Ph.2.558, J.AJ2.6.9, Babr.47.15; in NT, love of the brethren, Ep.Rom.12.10, al.
philadelphia

φι^λα?́δελφ-ος , ον,
A.loving one’s brother or sister, brotherly, sisterly, “φ. δάκρυα” S.Ant. 527 (anap.); of persons,
philadelphos

[Old Yeller]

Not as cool as turning a wafer into Jesus, to be re-sacrificed, at a Catholic mass.

[Dr. Franklin]

So this is false etymology?

I think yes.
The present city of Alaşehir in Turkey was named Philadelphia because King Attalus II (r. 159–138 BC) of Pergamon wanted to honor his brother. So it was literally the city of brotherly love. Amman Jordan was named Philadelphia after Ptolemy II (284 to 246 BC) married his sister.
I was always taught that the love between brothers is philia. Philadelphia is a place, coming from the "delphia" root.

[Dr. Franklin]

Citing Aristotle:
Philia
Now, I am not a Greek scholar, but coming from Philadelphia and remembering my religion classes, "philia" is brotherly love, and Philadelphia is a place.