Tenets of faith: Hilton Head play tells us we should at least ask questions | Opinion

How would you feel if you were sitting in the pews of your church and your pastor who you respect and has served your congregation well, preaches a sermon where he proclaims that he no longer believes in the existence of hell?

Let’s also clarify that the pastor is a Christian clergyman and he does not offer a different interpretation of hell in Christian theological terms but explains that this concept no longer fits into his spiritual identity.

Would there be consequences from such a change of thinking inside today’s house of worship? What would happen to the pastor’s career? What would be the reactions and repercussions from the congregation and his staff? And finally, would such a pronouncement from the pulpit have consequences upon the pastor’s family life, such as his relationship with his children and his wife?

How would this pastor who is revealing his new theological truth balance this conviction with all the unintended consequences that might befall him?

These questions arise from a new play called “The Christians” by Lucas Hnath, a young playwright who is a PK, or a preacher’s kid, and is being presented by Hilton Head Island’s cutting-edge Lean Ensemble Theater (from Jan. 23-25 and Jan. 30-Feb. 1 at 7:30 p.m.; Jan. 26 and Feb. 2 matinees at 2 p.m.).

“The Christians” is a relevant play for our times and not only for Christians. This play could have applied to a clergy person of any religion who is questioning a fundamental tenet of their faith tradition.

The play is not just about the concept of Christianity’s belief in heaven and hell and the larger theological paradigm of salvation in Christianity. It is about a matter of conscience by facing the aftereffects of how people see the pastor after he has made the announcement to his congregation.

It is about how he faces the reactions from a board member, an associate pastor and his cherished wife.

This play leads us into the mind of this pastor wondering if he realizes that, upon reflection, he caused a lot of hurt and controversy. And if he had it to do again, might he have handled rolling out such a radical change in his thinking with more skill than simply getting up one Sunday and announcing he does not accept Hell anymore.

The playwright, whose mother attended seminary and took him along with her to classes when he was a child, was expected to become a preacher. Was his past as a child of a clergy person an underlying factor in writing this play?

I feel for children of clergy, who are periodically subjected to petty scrutiny and hurtful comments from parishioners. Some PKs end up rejecting religion entirely while others follow in their parent’s footsteps. Being a PK can be an equally delightful and fascinating life experience, as it can be traumatic and psychologically damaging to the children of a servant of the Lord.

There is also something in this play that speaks to the congregation and how they handle their spiritual leader’s revelation that hell is not part of his theology. This is such a fundamental tenet in his branch of Christianity.

The reaction appears to be that the pastor has ripped out the spiritual rudder to the ship. The play compels the pastor to pay a heavy personal and professional price from his decision to renounce hell.

The dialogue between the pastor and his wife on why he changed his beliefs, and the impact upon their marriage, lead to questions on whether they both share the same values anymore as co-partners in this religious stewardship of the church and as husband and wife. Pastor Paul learns how all these people have been impacted by this new announcement.

Should religious institutions allow clergy and parishioners alike to question fundamental ideas? Pastor Paul’s questioning of this traditional doctrine threatened his stewardship of the congregation and his marriage.

Is he a selfish, self-absorbed man, or a man of faith blazing a new pathway for his congregation? Is he a man of faith, or is he a poor politician? Is he both?

Hnath writes in his preface, “The church is a place where people go to see something that is very difficult to see. A place where the invisible is — at least for a moment — made visible.”

Clergy and congregants alike would do well to address the issues raised in this play.

Change is invisible until it is made visible, and then the trouble begins. Why are we so afraid and insecure of asking questions about faith and belief? Why is change such a threat?

“The Christians” does not answer these questions directly but it certainly raises them. It is up to us to raise them for ourselves. Maybe the answers aren’t so important as asking the questions. At least we can share the questions.

Rabbi Brad Bloom of Hilton Head Island writes on matters of faith.

This story was originally published January 22, 2020 at 12:44 PM.