Theatrical Theology by Ken Dohse

I beseech you, therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, which is your reasonable service.

Romans 12:1

As artists created by GOD, it is our reasonable service and calling to worship God the Father with all we have within us. Preachers preach, pianists play, trumpeters trump, singers sing and so on. Why? Because it is their natural calling and makeup within their soul. It is what we, as artists, do! Additionally, in my experience in directing, writing, acting, and singing, I have come across more and more people who want to just get out of their comfort zones and try something new. This is wonderful and highly encouraged; yet, I tend to ask, is this a calling or an extra-curricular activity to lift yourself up just to suffice the creative juices.. or is this a calling you must do so that the rocks do not cry out in your place? The arts are expressive and open to all without apology 100% of the time; however, what we do with our talent can define who we are in Christ and what it is He wants to use us for. Certainly, God does not NEED me, I mean, He did not ask my opinion on where to hang the moon or planets and yet they still orbit in perfect universal harmony. If, rather, BECAUSE, He can do that with planets and moon and more, imagine what He can do in your life when you utilize your talent for His magnification.

For me, as an actor, no matter the call (within reason, of course) I am not a ‘performer;’ rather, I see myself before an Audience of One as a presenter. As God chose me to worship Him through the art forms of drama and singing, I see this verse as a commandment, ‘to PRESENT MY BODY A LIVING SACRIFICE’ for His glory. If the story line of the drama, the song, the film, or scene calls for me to sacrifice my body as a means to bring the human audience to a closer knowledge of the creator or even feel the truth that is being told in the story line by the writer, then I must adhere to that calling and apply all I have to do so. As a presentation to my GOD, it then becomes an offering (of love and worship). On the same token, If I go into a stage presentation with the attitude that ‘I am the star’ and ‘the people will applaud me.’ I sell myself short of the full opportunity I have for GOD to bless me back. As artists we make the offering, He receives, He blesses, and the cycle starts again.

In this same verse Paul says, ‘I BESEECH YOU.’ This, of course, is his way of saying, ‘I URGE YOU WITH ALL MY SOUL AND BEING BECAUSE I KNOW..’ Why then, would we not want to heed Paul’s instruction? Paul also writes, ‘BY THE MERCIES OF GOD..’ To me, this means that we are gifted by Him who made us to give Him glory and praise with the very fiber of our soul. For, by which, had we not had mercy for all the wrong and sin, we would not even have acting, singing, dance, instruments.. or AMTC in the first place. ALL of it is HIS, and all of it will be blessed as we present (NOT PERFORM!) and offer our bodies and praises in song, dance, film, stage, commercial modeling, cold read, scene read, television acting, photography, monologue.. and on and on.
Bible Study Special Addition

Ken is a Drama Ministry Director in Jacksonville who, along with his daughter, will be performing in AMTC. Thanks, Ken!