What ya got there?

A drama illustrating the dangers of a “reader response” approach to interpreting the Bible that “lifts” single verses
out of their context.

Characters (may be male or female)

Jo The naïve Bible reader
Grace The wise Bible reader
At the start of the scene we find Jo alone on stage, sitting FC on a chair. S/he has elbows on knees with hands cupped together in
front of him/her. S/he is gazing intently into whatever is in his/her hands – there is a loving smile on his/her face.

(General note – at times Jo may become petulant, even peevish or pouting, but Grace will always maintain a patient, mature and
tolerant manner, never retaliating or seeming to be hurt by anything Jo says or does. Grace is always understanding and patient
where Jo is suspicious)

After a short space of time to allow the audience to take in the scene, Grace walks on stage towards Jo. Grace is immediately
drawn to Jo’s hands and comes closer trying to see what s/he’s holding.

Seeing Grace approach, Jo frowns and turns away almost putting his/her face into his/her hands trying to protect their contents
from prying eyes.

Grace What ya got there? Let me see.

Jo No! Go away, you’ll only spoil it.
Grace No I won’t. I just want to see what you’re looking at. It must be really good – you were smiling so
sweetly.
Jo Now don’t start that. You know you always spoil it for me.
Grace You’re exaggerating. Now let me see what you’ve got in your hands.
Jo (reluctantly and slowly turning towards Grace) Promise you won’t spoil it? (starts to open hands, but draws
back) Promise!
Grace (Stands up and puts hands in the air – “I surrender” style) I promise. Now let me see.
Jo (eyes slightly downcast, opens hands to allow Grace to see ) Oh, go on then. But please be gentle with me.
Grace (looks and then smiles) Ah! Now I see. That’s a great verse.
Jo (a smile of relief spreads across Jo’s face) Yes it is – it’s one of my favourite verses.
Grace (reading what is in Jo’s hands) “Behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and
opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” (pause - looks up into Jo’s
eyes) What do you think it means?
Jo It means that Jesus is standing by the door of a non-Christian’s heart asking to come into their lives. It
means that when I go witnessing on the streets, I can tell people that Jesus wants them to let Him into
their lives. It means …
Grace (cutting across what Jo is saying) No – it doesn’t mean that at all!
Jo (voice slightly raised) You see – I told you you’d spoil it for me! (pause – then sarcastically) How should I
interpret it then, smarty pants!
Grace Well the first thing to do is to look …
Jo (speaking over Grace) I knew it – you always make things too complicated. Why don’t you just take the
text at face value?
Grace (sighs – puts on a “patient” face) Just be patient – I’m not going to make it too complicated. First, tell me
where the verse occurs.
Jo (exasperated sigh of surrender) From the Bible of course!
Grace (still patient) Where in the Bible?
Jo (drops cupped hands at last. Slightly patronising) Revelation chapter 3 verse 20.
Grace Tell me what the context of the verse is?
Jo (vacant look – puzzled) Context? What’s that?
Grace What’s the subject of the verses either side of chapter 3 verse 20?
Jo (puzzled – again) Don’t know!
Grace Then let’s look together shall we …
Jo Oh, I know what you’re getting at – Revelation is an anaglyptic book, and therefore we’ve got to be
careful how we interpret all those symbols – v e r y carefully. (short pause, during which Grace turns head
 to audience and indicates something like a “really!” reaction) You know – all those beasts coming up out of
the sea, and … and the 4 horsemen of the apoplectic.
Grace (firmly) No, Jo! Now you’re making things more complicated than they have to be. Your verse comes at
the end of the messages that Jesus sent to the seven churches in Asia Minor – modern day Turkey. In
Revelation 3 verse 20, Jesus is speaking to churches, not non-Christians. (pause) Now do you
understand?
Jo Hmmm … so Jesus is telling the church how to evangelise!?
Grace No, Jo. This verse is addressed to the church in Laodicea, and just a few verses earlier, in verse 17,
Jesus says to them: “You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do
not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.” Then in verse 19 He says “be earnest
and repent”. Now do you see?
Jo So it’s got nothing to do with evangelism at all?
(long pause – you can almost see the cogs whirring in Jo’s brain)
(slowly, sadly) It’s about Christians who have shut Jesus out of their hearts. But that’s just awful. Jesus
must have been so sad. I hope they listened and opened the doors of their hearts to Him …
(both look out over the heads of the audience and freeze – lights slowly dim)