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TOUCHED BY AN ALIEN

MAIN POINT
In the good ole days people were either for "religion" or against it. Most were for it because it was woven fairly innocuously into the fabric of our society. "Religion" itself was a fairly predictable experience, People went to church, sang in the choir, did good deeds. The church people were religious, everybody else abstained for one reason or another.

That's all changed now. Religion in America is no longer measured by the yardstick of church attendance. Today we have spiritually sensitive seekers who are looking to find transcendence in places we never used to look. To be in touch with your spiritual side is very cool. But where - or with whom - do we find the true goal of our spiritual seeking? Indeed, the very concept of things being either true or false has fallen out of vogue. So everything's in now. Everybody who's sincere is correct. Or are they?

CHARACTERIZATION
Michael is a footloose, adventurous type. He enjoys abstract ideas and the prospect of change. He's open and almost childlike in his curiosity, but don't allow him to be so "out there" that the audience can't sympathize.

Alex, while not being stodgy, is still the conservative. He's skeptical, cautious, and wary of new things, Even the surprise ending should be consistently conservative. That's part of the humor; the down-to-earth approach to astrology.

Tim is just there for fun, He's the comic relief. He doesn't think too long on anything.

DIRECTOR'S NOTES
1) Don't let the discussion escalate into an argument. Neither Alex or Michael feel strongly enough to lose their cool. They're just different.
2) Most of Tim's lines are throwaway. That doesn't mean they're not important, but they're important in their tone more than their content. Alex and Michael, accustomed to his wisecracks, hardly even notice them.
3) None of the characters are all right or all wrong. The audience should be able to identify with parts of what each character says.
4) If finding the bed is difficult, you can also place this in any home setting.
5) Block the action with Michael packing and doing most of the movement. Alex stands off to the side most of the time. Tim should be between them as a symbolic mediator.

RELATED SCRIPTURES
An excellent Scripture connection can be made with Mark 13:1-8, where Jesus warns his followers of the many who will claim "I am he." 1 Timothy 4 also mentions the false spirituality of the last times, as does 1 John in 2:26-7 and 4:1-3. False spirituality comes up quite a bit in the Old Testament in the form of false gods and idols. Israel was often led astray by the temptation to capitulate to competing religious systems. Jeremiah 2:11-13 is a good example of this.

RELATED THEMES
Use this script to begin a discussion on the spiritual climate in our country today. It will appeal strongly to people under 30. Their age group had been characterized as a restless, searching generation. Older folks may not be as aware of the paranormal references. Other linkable topics include truth, spirituality and absolutes.

RELATED SERMON
See "The Great Postmodern Soul Train," in Homiletics, October-December 1997. To order, call 1 800 992-2144.