The Creation Crowd

I put my car in park and leaned out the window, trying to see the front of the line of vehicles we’d been sitting in for the past ten minutes. A few kids got out of a van a little ways up the road and started tossing a Frisbee around. Beyond them, the road disappeared around a curve, and all I could see were trees. To the left of the road was a big, grassy field, and beyond that, rolling mountains. To the right was a corn field, and then more mountains. I eased back into my seat and let out a sigh, staring out the window at the corn stalks.

 

“The corn is doing really good,” I said absently and to no one in particular.

There was a short pause and Brittani, who sat in the passenger seat, answered, “I like corn.” After another short pause, we both broke out in in a fit of laughter, startling Mark, who had been dozing off in the back seat. For the rest of the trip, all one of us had to say was, “corn,” and Brittani and I would start laughing, not even sure what was so funny about it.

Brittani (left) and I

I don’t think that any of us really minded being stuck in traffic, because with every inch that we rolled closer to Agape Farm, Mount Union, Pa, our excitement (and perhaps our silliness as well) grew by miles. As the back window of my car proudly proclaimed, for us, it was, “Creation Fest or bust!”

Founded by Pastor Harry Thomas and Tim Landis in 1979, Creation Festival is now the largest Christian music festival in the world. The easiest way to describe it is as a “Christian Woodstock.” Thousands of people go and camp out for four days to hear 50+ of the top Christian bands, artists and speakers of today. Some of this year’s lineup included TobyMac, Third Day, Skillet, Newsboys, Chris Tomlin, Owl City, The Almost, The Letter Black, Lecrae, Loui Giglio, and Brad Stine.

Creation founder Pastor Harry Thomas leading an impromptu worship session in the Late Night Tent while awaiting the arrival of comedian Brad Stine

 The banner which hangs above Creation’s Main Stage each year reads, “A tribute to our Creator.” Not only is the festival itself a tribute to our Creator, however, but the people who attend (and I say this in general) are as well. 

While driving down Hallelujah Highway (one of the dirt roads that run through the farm) in search of our camp site and the other members of our group, I could tell that the Creation crowd is a unique one. And I’m not just talking about the interesting hairstyles (like the father and son with matching bright red mohawks or the girl who fashioned her hair to stand up straight around a soda bottle and then sprayed it green), the different ways of dress (like the guy with the tail or the guy in the banana outfit), and the other unusual sights (like the ambulance converted into a mobile tattoo parlor we passed on the way in). 

I’m talking about people’s attitudes. I didn’t see anyone get mad about having to wait in line or hear anyone complain about the rules. I’m talking about the spirit of community. Strangers offered each other assistance without being asked, people walked around with “free hugs” signs, everyone smiled and nodded or waved at each other as they passed. And I’m talking about the openness and sincerity that was felt among friends. In general, people didn’t seem to be out to impress each other as much as they are in the ‘real’ world. They were honest to each other about their struggles and shortcomings and showed grace to others regarding theirs.

Yes, Creation Festival 2011 and the crowd that attended was definitely a tribute to our Creator. But the question that I have for myself and all those who were a part of it is, “Is it still?”

Are we taking what we learned from all of the amazing speakers and implementing it in our lives, or did we simply apply what it means to our lives while we were at Creation, but forget about it after returning home?

Brittani and I with Christopher Hopper, who spoke about arts & the church

 Are we living in a constant state of worship right now, or have we gone back to the complaining, the distractions, the apathy? We all have great memories of worshiping God together for four days non-stop. But what happened after all of those thousands of candles that helped unite us on the hillside burned out? Are we still a city on a hill? A light that can’t be hidden?

Are we still carrying the atmosphere of Creation into our daily lives at home? It’s always hard going back to ‘real life’ after an experience like Creation. People in the ‘real world’ are harder to get along with. It’s not as easy to worship God back at work than it is when you’re with thousands of other believers surrounded by the majestic beauty of God’s Creation being led in song by Chris Tomlin or Tenth Avenue North, or one of your other favorite bands. But really, no matter where we are, isn’t it still our choice? Shouldn’t we be able to carry that experience back with us? And in doing so, might we be sharing that experience with others who weren’t able to be there? It’s just a thought.

I realize that I’ve been writing mainly to people who attended Creation, but this applies to those who didn’t as well. Maybe you’ve recently been on a church retreat, a mission trip, or a week of camp. Or, maybe you were impacted by a song you heard on the radio or something your pastor said in church. What are you doing right now to continue applying what you learned?

Or maybe you’ve read this far and you’re not really much into religion or Christianity. Maybe you think I’m crazy, or maybe you think it’s cool but not for you. Well, that’s ok. Thanks for reading anyway. I hope that someday you’ll understand what it’s all about and let Jesus be your best friend like He is mine.

And to all you crazy Jesus freaks from Creation Festival 2011, will you join me in carrying this tribute into 2012 and beyond?

Main Stage