“Our success will depend on carrying forward the work in the simplicity in which Christ carried it forward, without any theatrical display.”—Evangelism, 139.DPSDAI 19.3

The following three statements offer some enlightenment as to what was meant by “theatrical display” in the evangelistic presentation:DPSDAI 19.4

“Let there be no oddities or eccentricities of movement on the part of those who speak the Word of truth, for such things will weaken the impression that should be made by the Word. We must be guarded, for Satan is determined, if possible, to intermingle with religious services his evil influence. Let there be no theatrical display, for this will not help to strengthen belief in the Word of God. Rather, it will divert attention to the human instrument.”—Selected Messages 2:23, 24.DPSDAI 19.5

“He [a certain evangelist] should cut off from his meetings everything that has a semblance of theatrical display; for such outward appearances give no strength to the message that he bears. When the Lord can cooperate with him, his work will not need to be done in so expensive a manner. He will not need then to go to so much expense in advertising his meetings. He will not place so much dependence on the musical program. This part of his services is conducted more after the order of a concert in a theater than a song service in a religious meeting.”—Evangelism, 501.DPSDAI 19.6

“The minister of Christ should be a man of prayer, a man of piety; cheerful, but never coarse and rough, jesting or frivolous. A spirit of frivolity may be in keeping with the profession of clowns and theatrical actors; but it is altogether beneath the dignity of a man who is chosen to stand between the living and the dead, and to be a mouthpiece for God.”—Testimonies for the Church 4:320.DPSDAI 20.1

Again, in 1910 we are counseled very definitely that we are not to use theatrical methods. There appears in the book Evangelism:DPSDAI 20.2

“I have a message for those in charge of our work. Do not encourage the men who are to engage in this work to think that they must proclaim the solemn, sacred message in a theatrical style. Not one jot or tittle of anything theatrical is to be brought into our work. God’s cause is to have a sacred, heavenly mold. Let everything connected with the giving of the message for this time bear the divine impress. Let nothing of a theatrical nature be permitted, for this would spoil the sacredness of the work.DPSDAI 20.3

“I am instructed that we shall meet with all kinds of experiences and that men will try to bring strange performances into the work of God. We have met such things in many places. In my very first labors, the message was given that all theatrical performances in connection with the preaching of present truth were to be discouraged and forbidden. Men who thought they had a wonderful work to do sought to adopt a strange deportment and manifested oddities in bodily exercise. The light given me was, ‘Give this no sanction.’ These performances, which savored of the theatrical, were to have no place in the proclamation of the solemn messages entrusted to us.DPSDAI 20.4

“The enemy will watch closely and will take every advantage of circumstances to degrade the truth by the introduction of undignified demonstrations. None of these demonstrations are to be encouraged. The precious truths given us are to be spoken in all solemnity and with sacred awe.”—Evangelism, 137, 138.DPSDAI 20.5

Arthur L. White
Ellen G. White Estate
Washington D.C.
February 1963
Revised February 1996, JRN
Silver Spring, Maryland

Appendix D—ENACTED SCENES