Church Quote by Edi Patterson
“My only experience with the megachurch oeuvre was a show called 'A Current Affair,' and they would sometimes put clips on of Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker. I was very fascinated with them. Not in, 'Oh, I want to go to their church.' But she had so much makeup and their thing was so theatrical. They tapped into the theater-loving side of me.”
About This Quote
Source TV Show: A Current Affair (1978‑1998) – segment on Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker
The speaker was drawn to the theatrical, makeup‑heavy style of megachurches without wanting to join them, highlighting how performance can attract even non‑believers
In simple terms: The spectacle of religion can captivate, even if you don’t share the belief
Key Takeaway
Recognize when style outweighs substance in any group
Themes
entertainment
religion
culture
media
personal taste
Mood
curious
critical
reflective
Type
observational
analytical
When to use this quote
- church visits
- media analysis
- personal reflection
- studying religious marketing
- evaluating charisma
Key Concepts
Performance art
cult of personality
media influence
Questions to Reflect On
- What aspects of performance appeal to you most?
- How do you differentiate genuine belief from showmanship?
A Different Perspective
Theatricality can mask underlying doctrine or manipulation
![“T]he church is not a place. It's not a building. It's not a preaching point. It's not a spiritual service provider. It's a people - the new covenant, blood-bought people of God. That's why Paul said, 'Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her' (Eph. 5:25). He didn't give himself up for a…” quote by Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/7a4/mark-dever-3175_blood_t-he-church-is-not-a-place-it-s-not-a-bu_3297.jpg)
