Around this time last year, the Plano megachurch’s annual Christmas show, The Gift Of Christmas, made the rounds online for its elaborate, over-the-top, super-extra presentation. In something of a Christmas miracle, the church’s 2024 program has gone viral again.
This time, the video’s caption reads “Prestonwood Baptist Church is straight out of the Righteous Gemstones,” referring to the HBO satire series about megachurches.
The full 108-minute program is posted to YouTube, including a floating Santa, pyrotechnics, live camels, multiple flying Little Drummer Boys and a parody of “The Greatest Show” song from The Greatest Showman, sung by a snowman as “The Greatest Snow.”
Prestonwood boasted that 2024’s showcase included a 50-piece live orchestra and a cast of nearly 1,000 performers. Its 7,000-seat Plano auditorium appeared to be completely sold out throughout the show’s eight-day run.
Instagram user @thomas_gregory14 wrote: “We call it Six Flags Over Jesus”
Another user, @fordfordfordford joked: “I truly can’t understand the gospel without lasers. Who can”
Credit where credit is due. While it’s extravagant and excessive, Prestonwood does put on an incredibly competent live product. On the other hand, the church will face criticism for the unnecessary expense and for the blurry ethics of a church essentially hosting a circus act instead of helping people in need.
User @man_behind_the_curtain wrote: “That is literally a multi-million dollar theater. Think of how many families could get a head start out of poverty with that money. Jesus is weeping.”
@dawncatherinelia wrote: “Can put on a major production, but can’t feed or give shelter to the unhoused, Tax the churches!”
Many users made reference to a biblical story in which Jesus entered a temple that was being used to host a market and flipped over the tables of the vendors in a fit of anger against the commercialization of holy ground. They have a point, but the thousands who bought tickets to The Gift Of Christmas do, too.
Sure, Prestonwood could devote more of its gluttonous resources toward the DFW community and people in need, but who couldn't? They're excessive, yes, and they have a moral responsibility as a church, also yes. But viewed outside the lens of religion, if a bunch of millionaires want to throw a ridiculous Christmas show and people want to go, who should stop them? Hell, it looked pretty fun.
