Hotel Hallelujah

In 2000 our former church copied a dramatic presentation of one of the large ministries in another part of the country with a production entitled "Hotel Hallelujah".  It was a play in which many of the church members took on the roles of various famous singers and stars, some of them who turned to Christ, others who died without God.
Richie Valens, Princess Di, Elton John, Elvis, Michael Jackson, Kurt Cobain/ Nirvana, Willie Nelson, Shania Twain,  Garth Brooks, Selena, and a demon or two were some of the "stars" portrayed in the play by members of our assembly.

It was the most elaborate stage production in our churches history; our pastor and his wife having traveled to Indiana to learn how a mega church in that area pulled off their "Heartbreak Hotel" production which resulted in souls saved(?)  by the bushels.  Great dreams of hundreds of new church members were envisioned by our pastor as he and his wife flew back to our small town with this exciting concept.  The "vision" was presented to the loyal church staff and we all got behind this great effort to win the souls of our city as we were cast into the various roles. (I was the voice of the emcee).

Hundreds of hours went into the practices, rehearsals, stage props, and preparing the building. Finances were stretched past the budget and it was hoped great crowds would help offset the sacrifices of the church folks with tithes and offerings that would be collected.

For two weeks we performed for our city and gave our best. At the end of each performance which was designed to evoke a response as the "altar call" was given (oops, there's another tradition), we asked ourselves "what happened?"  when so few were moved to respond after the dramatic death of Elvis scene.

A month or four later when the smoke cleared, the church actually had fewer members, there was little evidence even one soul had been "saved", and death itself stalked the aisles of our assembly. (no less than four members died from that point on over the next four years). Sure, a handful of folks "went forward" (oops, no scripture for that either), but our assembly imediately entered into a spiritual decline in which a majority of elders and many other families permanently walked out the door not to return.

(My wife Linda was given a dream in which a steeple on the roof of our building was shown with bricks falling out of it.  This showed the departure of many elders and families in the wake of HH)

What FRUIT WAS PRODUCED by this stage program?

Our efforts were typical of so many church growth programs. At best they may enlarge the attendance of a given organization that calls itself a "church" and contribute their time and financial resources. Very, very, very few become repentant, faith-filled followers of the scriptures and disciples of Jesus Christ.

In our case, HH so pointedly illustrated our corporate departure from the scripture. Can you image anyone in which Jesus Christ lives dressing like a witch or other wicked character?  What an abomination to a holy God.  What a denial of the very scripture that says in 1 Corinthians 1:21  For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe, and where Paul told Timothy to "preach THE WORD". 

You are going to reason with me that a stage play, or other "Growth Program"  IS the preaching of God's Word??? 

Then show me the fruit.

Real conversion results in real soul-searching repentence, water baptism, -being buried with Christ as we die to self (as opposed to getting a better life now), and being filled with the Holy Spirit that produces the same evidence that Jesus said it would in Mark 16:16-20. 

HH produced none of this, nor did the subsequent program "vision" we followed which was the heavily promoted Government of 12. Church growth programs are the "seed" of men sown into the body of the harlot church (apostate) of our day. And the seed (the doctrines, traditions, and programs) only reproduce after its' own kind in the image of men, not the image of Christ.

What painfully brought this back to us happened this weekend as we were helping our son with a writing assignment. He was 11 years old at the time of HH and of course attended church with us.  In his writing he traced his interest in hard rock and metal music back 7 years to the time of the churches play "Hotel Hallelujah", in particular the part that included "Nirvana" and Kurt Cobain.   Prior to that, he listened to Christian music.

We now understand our sons had the spirit of this ungodly music imparted to them while in a "church" service!  BTW, others were infected with unclean, immoral spirits, especially in the youth, through this production.   

What a shame we did not follow the scripture in Godly fear such as Romans 16:19 For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. ... I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.     simple means innocent.  Can you see why "churches" are become unhealthy for the spiritual life of Christians?  Toss in a little gold dust, some falling out under "the power", some prophets of material wealth, and a "Toronto Blessing" or two, and suddenly church becomes ".. a habitation of demons, and a hold of every unclean spirit, and a hold of every unclean and hateful bird. Rev. 18:2

Yes, it is true, in Revelation 18 the Bible foretells when there would be demons in the "church".

 Babylon is the spiritual harlot who has received the seed of men (seed like HH, and countless other programs for their churches). We notice the "wine" or spirit the harlot uses to cause "God's servants" to enter into spiritual fornication with the doctrines, traditions, and practices of apsotate Christianity.

Clearly the Bible says that "in the last days there shall be a great falling away...". But it is not from "church" as we once thought, it is a falling away from the Jesus Christ and His Word as found in scripture. This is exactly what "apostasy" means and we see it in the majority of what calls itself "the church". 

Paul warned the Corinthians  "that in us ye might learn not to go beyond the things which are written".

Oops, there God goes again with one of those pesky reminders that we must be born of the "incorruptible seed of the Word of God" and not someones grandiose strivings for greatness that has no example in His Word..  

No wonder the scripture also says "For narrow is the gate, and straitened the way, that leadeth unto life, and few are they that find it.".  Why is "the way" so obscurred that few can "find it"? 

 Because the majority of Christians follow flesh pleasing doctrines, traditions, and programs we experienced as typified by "Hotel Hallelujah" on the broadway to destruction. Their mouths confess Him but their works deny Him. 

 Come out from them and follow Jesus of the Word.