Christianity on Stage
Priest and congregation are prestaged and conversing as the curtain opens. Sinner enters confident and relaxed.
Priest: looks at Sinner, "Your shirt is stained, you must use this detergent I have to offer you so that you can be clean."
Sinner: Examines his shirt, "I don't see any stains."
Priest: points at Sinner's shirt, "It's right there, we've all had them. Everyone, look! His shirt is stained. He needs this detergent that we have all been using to clean our shirts."
Congregation: looking at Sinner, some point, some laugh, some sympathize and one says, "Yes, sinner, accept the detergent the priest is offering you and go and clean your shirt. We will help you if you don't know how so that your shirt can be clean like ours."
Sinner: glancing between his shirt and theirs, "But our shirts are the same. I see no stain on mine and no stain on yours."
Priest: "Oh no, Sinner. Remember all those mistakes you made in your life? The times you lied or cheated. The mean things you said or did. The goals you failed to achieve and the ones you failed to set. The people you disappointed and the ones you shamed for having disappointed you. All of these mistakes and more have left your shirt full of stains. Perhaps these stains are invisible to you but they are there. You need this detergent I can offer you."
Sinner: bewildered, looks to congregation, "I don't see any stains. Can any of you see these stains?"
Congregation: smiles and nods, one speaks for the group, "No we can't see them either, but we know they are there. They are created by your sins. You can't escape that, you just need to wash with the detergent the priest is offering you."
Sinner: "I understand that I am imperfect and have erred - I've endured the consequences of those mistakes. How could such errors stain my shirt? What are these stains? Why can't I see them? Why can't any of you see them? How do you know they're on my shirt?"
Priest: "Search your soul, Sinner. You know the stains are there. You can feel them. Ponder your past mistakes. Feel the weight of those mistakes. That weight is the residual stains. Wash with this detergent, remove the stains and with them that weight. Be free, Sinner!"
Congregation: all at once, "Yes! Be free!"
"The weight is heavy!"
"The stains are ugly!"
"Rise up!"
"Don't be weighed down! Your mistakes are grave! You need this!"
Sinner: Ponders. Looks at congregation. Looks at Priest. Looks down at shirt. The curtain closes.
