A Marriage Made in Kitsch Heaven

  Saw this posted on Religious New Service (Click here: Modern Reformation - Religious News).  This is a great fit--two of the tackiest ventures on earth become as one!

"Trinity Broadcasting Network has become the new owner of the Holy Land Experience, a biblical theme park in Orlando, Fla.  `This marriage will bring an unprecedented synergy to both ministries and the production that is done there will be seen by a worldwide audience,' said Paul F. Crouch Jr., vice president of administration for the Santa Ana, Calif.-based TBN.

Crouch said the acquisition comes as the network offers local programming through Orlando's WGTL-TV Channel 52, which it acquired last year, and will simultaneously `provide `The Holy Land Experience' with much-needed promotion to bring more people to the theme park and Orlando as a whole.'  The ownership change came as five members of the network's leadership, including Crouch, and his parents and TBN founders Paul F. and Janice W. Crouch, were announced as new board members of the theme park.  `The mission of The Holy Land Experience is to bring the Bible to life for everyone who comes through our gates,' said Tom Powell, president of the theme park.  `The strength of the TBN leaders will empower The Holy Land Experience to carry on this important mission, in new and creative ways utilizing 12,000 television stations and 67 satellites.' 

The Orlando Sentinel reported that the tourist attraction -- which features music, drama and portrayals of Jesus' ministry, death and resurrection -- has experienced financial troubles and declining attendance."

At least TBN can't move it to Orange County near their present facility--far and away the gaudiest building in all of Orange County (and that includes anything @ Disneyland). 

Comments

[Echo_ohcE]

Speaking of Disneyland, how long will it be before they begin partnering with that other theme park in Orlando to bring in more people? If they work together, they could certainly help each other. The quote says: "to bring more people to the theme park and Orlando as a whole." Maybe a partnership is already in the works.

[Herb Grimaud]

I would love to open a Chambers of Horror theme park right across the street. With Regan from the Exorcist & Pinhead from Hellraiser walking around taking photos w/ the kiddies.
Maybe we could do a two for one deal w/ holyland?
Two horror theme parks for the price of one.
Except my park would be better of course!
People could go to Paul Crouch’s place first & get scared out of their wits & then to the Chambers of Horror theme park to cleanse their palette & feel right w/ the world again.

[Tod Samuelson]

I think there has to be some connection with the 23 million dollar creation museum in ohio.

This is what God calls being a good steward of the money he gives you..

[Brian @ voiceofthesheep]

NOOOOOO!!!

I hated their dispensational position at the Holy Land Experience, but the Scriptorium there was always great to walk through...seeing all the biblical artifacts and hearing the history of those willing to suffer persecution and even death for the sake of God's Word. And the Jerusalem Model was outstanding as well.

You can bet we won't ever be going back again! I'll be _ _ _ _ _ _ if I am going to put one nickel into the Crouch's coffers!!!

[zrim]

don't crouch and robertson ever get together to compare notes? the latter has predicted (read: given a word of knowledge that) orlando will be wiped off the map by terrorism for allowing a gay pride parade.

sheesh, with architects like these we'll never strong arm the gospel down people's throats through a theology of glory.

zrim

[Alan Kurschner]

Kim,

I have to qualify some comments here. The Holy Land Experience was anything but tacky (This is not saying that TBN will corrupt it now).

The gospel was proclaimed there daily in their presentations.

It was a place to actually learn about the Bible through the Jerusalem city model, which was excellent.

The world's largest private collection of Biblical mansuscripts and artifacts is housed in the Scriptorium there.

People who have never been there think it is some park where you go on rides. It is just the opposite---it is a Biblical teaching ministry that attempts to take you back to the 1st century. Who can be against that?

I could say more good things about it but that will do.

Not sure what the TBN folks are going to do...probably build a studio and do their thing there. I would have rather seen some other Christian outfit get involved than TBN, that is for sure.

Thanks,
Alan

[zrim]

"It is just the opposite---it is a Biblical teaching ministry that attempts to take you back to the 1st century. Who can be against that?"

anyone with a high view of the church and sees the promotion of the gospel as being ordained for her alone and not by the bright ideas of men, no matter how tacky or how seemingly sophisticated.

zrim

[Wayne Rohde]

Q: "It is just the opposite---it is a Biblical teaching ministry that attempts to take you back to the 1st century. Who can be against that?"

A: "No one with a high view of Christ and sees the promotion of the gospel as being ordained by Him alone."

Cf. Phil. 1:18 with Mt. 28:18-20.

Re: the HLE, we're not talking about the issues in Gal. 1:6-10. Regardless of one's subjective feelings about "tacky" vs. "sophisticated," I prefer to rejoice when the gospel is truly preached.

As for "the bright ideas of men," what's wrong with a little creativity and thinking? Aren't we to give thoughtful, even proactive, consideration not only to how to stimulate fellow believers to love and good deeds (Heb. 10:24f), but also to how to respect and honor all men (Rom. 12:17)? Shouldn't such thoughtful consideration extend to how we defend the faith, and give a reason for the hope that is within us (I Pet. 3:15), as we each seek to be good ambassadors for Christ (II Cor. 5:18-21)?

I have absolutely no desire to support or defend TBN; none at all (!!!). But methinks, zrim, that perhaps you not only got up on the wrong side of bed again, but also don't really know about the ministry (the HLE) you're bent on criticizing.

[Charlie]

Zrim:
Amen! to the "high view of the "holy catholic church"! What is described as a theme park in Orlando is closer to medieval Roman catholicism than the Reformational Word and Sacrament administered in the Church by properly trained and called ministers. Check the Anglican Articles of Religion. CB

[Charlie]

Dear Wayne: "Ministry" is used in the NT mostly of the ministers of the Church. Granted, there is a broader understanding of the word. That said, this necessary distinction must be maintained. CB

[zrim]

Wayne,

What makes me cranky is not that Evangelicals act like Evangelicals—that just make me snicker a little; it’s when Confessionalists (the best of whom seem to have a high view) either act like Evangelicals or give them tacit approval. Charges of this sort of crankiness seem endemic to low ecclesiologies anyway though. One of the key differences between Evangelicalism and Confessionalism is ecclesiology. I know you’d probably be inclined to say it’s eschateology. But Confessionalists are a churchly bunch who don’t happen to agree that anything can be done as long as the Gospel is tucked away somewhere in the midst of it all; Like Charlie says, this much was done in medievalism’s indulgencies and relicism. I rejoice when the Gospel is truly preached, too. But the “how” should not be despised. Form and content ought not be wrenched from one another.

With regard to the “tacky/sophisticated” thing, my point was that we all have personal preferences and tastes. We should not, in expressing true Christianity, be beholden to either. Sure, tacky is the name of the game in broad American Evangelicalism and has been ever since Whitefield landed (i.e. appeal to the felt needs of the popular masses). But the antidote to tacky is not sophisticated, for at the root of both is still a low ecclesiology that makes the Gospel captive to the traditions of men.

What is wrong with a little creativity and thinking? The assumption of the question is exactly what allows for what we see today. Why anyone acts like the state of Evangelicalism is so weird is itself weird, since the seeds were planted ages ago and what we see is the natural progression and fruition. It is odd to hear WHI interviews on the floor of Evangy conferences and then the jaw-dropping reaction from the hosts (as great as they are, no offense, just making a point): “Can you believe these answers?” Um, yes, I can—what’s the big surprise? So, the answer is plenty, Wayne. Is this to say that God cannot work through the foolishness of men (read: not biblical foolishness of the gospel but literal dumbness)? Of course not. God is absolutely free to work despite men. But He has not chosen or ordained it to be so. All things are lawful but not profitable.


BTW, I am not so sure why you changed my words from Church/her to Christ/him.

z

[zrim]

...also, i have always liked the litmus test (i know, litmus tests are at once simplistic and yet suggestive) for evangelicals/confessionalists that parallels bill clinton's litmus test for democrats/republicans. clinton has suggested a thumbnail test to be: with regard to recent american history, if you perceive the 60s as primarily beneficial you are a democrat; if you perceive the same as primarily detrimental you are a republican. granted, it is very gappy an done would hope it goes without saying to mis a fair number of things. but i think if you unpack that notion you will find some helpful guidelines.

in the same way, if you perceive the phenomenon of billy graham as primarily beneficial you are an evangelical; if primarily detrimental you are a confessionalist. this litmus test reflects an ecclsiological fulcrum, i think, which is why i like it. grahamism takes its cues from american revivalism, which owes much not only to whitefield and edwards, but just as much if not more to finney (whose protrait looms in the halls of grahmam's headquaters, btw). so if soteriology is the fulcrum, we have yet another whammie. while soteriology is crucial, i still favor an ecclessial one, placing an eschaeological fulcrum quite in the back seat (which is still in the car, mind you, just not at the wheel, as it were).

most americans, in their very evangelical piety in both cult and culture, will offer befuddled looks when suggesting that billy graham is mainly a bad thing, a detriment to the cause of the Gospel. or, as some have suggested, "what's wrong with a little creativity," or "it is a Biblical teaching ministry that attempts to take you back to the 1st century. Who can be against that?" translation: it's fine to tear the gospel from its churchly moorings. but while the human heart is a good thing, it must remain in its natural encasement to really be effective and in health. but revivalism, in its greater or lesser forms of virulance, depends upon such dismemberment. and to this confessionalist, it's about as odd as removing the human heart from behind a rib cage.

z

[Tony]

The best thing TBN could do for The Holy Land Experience is not to change a thing. Been there, done that! I would even go back to support that ministry.

[Velox_Mortis_1775]

If I asked Romeny (sp) who would have more make up, Paul Crouch's wife or Tammy Faye?.
Riö<*><
Semper Fi!