Great Intentions and The Holy Land Experience

I think a lot of times, we as Christians, can get caught up in this idea of potential. What is our capacity for the Lord potentially? Where and how could he be using me differently? What other possibilities are out there for me? I know for me, I think about these things a lot, especially as I approach the graduation in a year and a half. "What am I going to do when I grow up," and the bigger question, "what am I going to do for God when I grow up?" are questions that regularly come up in my life. But what I think I am realizing more and more, is that these aren't bad questions to think about, but they are the wrong questions to consume us. The better question, I think, is, "What am I doing for God right now and does it please him?" Am I, at this present moment, reaching my potential for God? Am I praising him with enough of my life? I don't know that this is even an entirely fair question, because the answer for just about everyone, if not everyone, is that there is always something we could change to honor God more. I believe that we need to be looking at the here and now, and asking God, "Like this? Is this how you want me to do it? To live?

I desire a better sense of awareness. I want to know God better and myself better. If I don't know the character and will of God or myself, then how can I know if I am even coming close to my potential, which is better phrased, how can I even come close to praising God with my life?

I went to TBN's The Holy Land Experience in Orlando yesterday on a field trip with this class I'm taking called Sacred Space. The question we were to be asking while there was, "Is this space sacred?"

There is no doubt that many of the other people there certainly thought they were in Israel or in church and were moved by the space and found it to be sacred.

I, on the other hand, arrived to see a big plastic Noah's ark full of big plastic zoo animals, a giant nativity scene with a blonde haired, blue eyed, animatronic plastic baby Jesus, and then a person in a lamb costume giving out hugs and handshakes as people entered the park. It was literally a life-sized Lambchops. Then I became a cynic, which I do regret, but I knew that this place, The Holy Land Experience, was not where I wanted to be and could not be counted as sacred. But being with my class and needing to write a paper, I had to carry on.

The park workers were mostly white people in middle eastern or roman clothing, who were ready to convert anyone with their cross diagrams and pamphlets. And the mullet having, Jesus T-Shirt wearing, park attendees ate it up.

The part that sent me over the most was the passion play. They acted out the crucifixion and resurrection of the beautiful blonde Jesus actor (the very same one from Bill Maher's "Religulous" documentary) in 30 minutes. This included an altar call from a Roman soldier, and a song and dance number at the end. While sunscreen ran into my eyes producing tears, the people around me, wept and prayed the "salvation prayer." It was a very surreal experience.


Now I realize this may sound very judgmental, but this whole experience brought up a lot of stuff in my own life. The people working in the park saw this as their opportunity to witness about their faith. They were excited that so many people came to their place of work to hear the "good word" and share in their joy. Great intentions.

But does their work please God? It is certainly God honoring, but does is God honored by it?
It is something to keep in mind when we think about our own Christian lives outside of the park, is God honored by our actions? Are we living the Gospel and not just living in good intentions?

To do this, it is my belief that we need to know God, know ourselves, and know others better.