Wednesday, April 9, 2014

The Holy Land Experience - Is it amusing?

The Holy Land Experience in Orlando was originally developed as a teaching tool to show people what the Holy Land was like for those who were unable to afford the trip to Israel.  I always wanted to go.  Zola Levitt even conducted tours there a couple of times a year before he "graduated to be with THE LORD." 

It has since been sold to a large "Christian" business and I no longer have any desire to go see it.  It is a glorified theme park.  It is advertised boldly as the nation's best "amusement' park.  But they have ordained ministers and churches and theaters and baptisms and The Lord's Supper and it's all so "spiritual" and entertaining, amusing and exciting.  Really?

No, I am not against people having fun and even enjoying the BIBLE, but the problem I have with this (and I may be on my own) is that we have grown to expect our Church to entertain us in Worship, in Sunday School, in Vacation Bible School and we embrace the world to the point that there is little difference between the Christian church house and the world we are to be separated from.  We are supposed to be sanctified, "set apart" not blended in.  We are supposed to attract people with our CHRIST likeness not our worldliness.

There was a song about 30 years ago and the only line I can remember is "Would Jesus wear a rolex?"  Wonder what JESUS would do with the HLE and their T-shirt and book sales and souvenirs?  Would HE praise them for their ingenuity or would HE braid a whip and run them all out.  I don't know.  I just know that for me it's nauseous.

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Ray Stevens
(http://youtu.be/76ohvqwsNkk)
"Would Jesus Wear A Rolex" Lyrics

Woke up this mornin', turned on the t.v. set.
there in livin' color, was somethin' I can't forget.
This man was preachin' at me, yeah, layin' on the charm
askin' me for twenty, with ten-thousand on his arm.
He wore designer clothes, and a big smile on his face
sellin' me salvation while they sang Amazin' Grace.
Askin' me for money, when he had all the signs of wealth.
I almost wrote a check out, yeah, then I asked myself

(chorus)

Would He wear a pinky ring, would He drive a fancy car?
Would His wife wear furs and diamonds, would His dressin' room have a star?
If He came back tomorrow, well there's somethin' I'd like to know
Could ya tell me, Would Jesus wear a Rolex on His television show.

Would Jesus be political if He came back to earth?
Have His second home in Palm Springs, yeah, a try to hide His worth?
Take money, from those poor folks, when He comes back again,
and admit He's talked to all them preachers who say they been a talkin' to Him?

(chorus)

Just ask ya' self, Would He wear a pinky ring,
Would He drive a fancy car?
Would His wife wear furs and diamonds, would His dressing room have a star?
If He came back tomorrow, well there's somethin' I'd like to know:
Could ya tell me, would Jesus wear a Rolex,
Would jesus wear a Rolex
Would Jesus wear a Rolex
On His television show-ooh-ooh?

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Shalom!  Pray for the PEACE of Jerusalem!

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