We Can't Compete with Disney
Grass dries out, flowers wilt, and Disney attractions get replaced by newer and shinier options. But the Word of our God remains forever.
One of the fun benefits of living in Florida is easier and cheaper access to Walt Disney World. Every few years, our family will buy a Florida resident annual pass, and take a trip or three up to Orlando. Last week for Spring Break we piled into our van and made the trip to the House of Mouse. Maybe it’s the “pastor-theologian brain” that I have trouble turning off, but I consistently find trips to Disney to be theologically insightful ones. For one, the pressing masses of humanity surface my own need for God’s sanctifying grace. Lessons on (dis)contentment, patience, and childlike wonder teach along each mile of the 29 (!) miles we walked in four days. I cringe at the naive telling of world history on Spaceship Earth, which talks about the influence of Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Jews and Muslims, without a word about the overwhelmingly significant cultural influence of Christianity and the Christian Bible. Reminders of mortality and tragedy slap me every time I see a family wearing matching “Make-A-Wish” t-shirts.
For all of those things, though, I was reminded on this most recent trip about our calling as Christians and churches. We rode the new Tron and Guardians of the Galaxy rides, which each cost hundreds of millions of dollars. We watched the evening lights-and-fireworks shows, which thrilled our ears, our eyes, and even our hearts. Sitting in the open-air amphitheater on the water watching the stunning Fantasmic fireworks and water show, I leaned over to Laura and said, “The church can’t compete with this. We shouldn’t even try.”
In some ways I mean churches shouldn’t invest millions of dollars into “creative” spectacles of attractional entertainment. These spectacles can’t compete with the world’s best on the world’s own terms. But more than that, such spectacles concede the battle to the world in the first place. Like Peter grabbing Malchus’s sword, they try to accomplish the work of the Word with the methods of the world.
But this isn’t mainly about “those” churches. I’m not their pastor or their Master. Instead, this is more about the ways I’m tempted—and you are tempted—to give into the temptation of the patterns of worldly power and influence. As I’ve said before:
There are as many temptations to grab the sword and do the Lord’s work in the world’s way as there are things to do.
In politics, we’re tempted toward partisanship and choosing the lesser of two evils rather than refusing to choose evil at all.
In culture, we’re tempted to cling tightly to power and privilege and only stand with the marginalized insofar as it doesn’t threaten those things.
In finances, we’re tempted to focus on accruing wealth and assets rather than on generosity and giving away what God has entrusted to us. We think that there’s no way we can tithe 10% of our total income and still have the margin to live our best life.
In family, instead of consecrating our kids, we’re tempted to either ignore our kids for the sake of our own success or to idolize our kids for the sake of their success. We’re tempted to want them to be healthy and wealthy, but to ignore the cultivating of godliness, virtue, and wisdom.
In ministry, we’re tempted to assume that the Lord’s will is “bigger, better, faster, more,” when it might actually be smaller, humbler, slower, less.
In that piece I note what Francis Schaeffer said in his powerful piece, “The Lord’s Work in the Lord’s Way”:
Imagine the Devil or a demon entering your room right now. You have a sword by your side; so when you see him you rush at him and stab him. But the sword passes straight through and doesn’t faze him! The most awesome modern weapon you could think of could not destroy him. Whenever we do the Lord’s work in the flesh, our strokes “pass right through” because we do not battle earthly forces; the battle is spiritual and requires spiritual weapons.
I’ve been seeing this reality over and again as I study and teach through Daniel. The Word will triumph over the world. Our sword is the Word so we can put down the sword of the world. The power of the world will press against the people of God. But the Word has prevailed, and will prevail. The eternal Word took on flesh as the Son of Man who was crucified, buried, raised, and ascended to the right hand of the Ancient of Days. His written Word conquered Rome by the Spirit through his people, and his Word will conquer. Not through the patterns of power of the world but the power of the Word, incarnate and preached.
Grass dries out, flowers wilt, and Disney attractions get replaced by newer and shinier options. But the Word of our God remains forever.