December 08, 2007
Help! Cinematic Counter-Evangelism!
It is consistent, I suppose, of American Evangelicals to get their underwear all in a wad over the latest movie to hit the American public with a distinctly anti-God agenda since they put so much stock in the supposedly “Christian” movies with the “Gospel message” that have been the banner and hope of American evangelism these past few years.
American Evangelicals are wringing their hands over the cinematic counter-punch from the Secular Left, the Golden Compass, to what they thought was a KO blow from the theologically-laden, Gospel-generated powerhouse “The Chronicles of Narnia”. They are stunned. There is a palpable tension in the Evangelical dream, a cringing disbelief. The Kingdom of the Eternal Son of God had been so advanced by the strong and invincible arm of entertainment and the glorious achievements of evangelistic works like Facing the Giants and, of course, “The Passion” that they thought revival was in the air! Yes, some even thought that The Passion would be the greatest evangelist since the times of the Apostles! And now, brothers and sisters, all hell has been unleashed and every good thing that has been done for the glory of God through the mighty instrumentation of the silver screen is being threatened by the appearance of — gasp! — a movie!
We are undone. Tell it not in Gath.
Enter Reason and Disgust
I’ve always said phooey to the giddy celebration of cinematic triumphs and I basically say phooey to the Golden Compass as well. I have the outdated notion that faith comes by hearing, hearing by the Word of God, and “how shall they hear without a preacher?” Yet (as I already stated), the Evangelical American is obligated to panic. It would be bizarre to put one’s confidence in horses and chariots and then be unmoved when one is attacked by horses and chariots. You should be afraid of what you trust in if what you trust in is being used against you.
I choose to trust in the Living God who is quite clear, I think, that His best work is done not by might, nor by power, but exclusively by His Spirit. Since I never had the least amount of hope that movies would be evangelistically useful, never did a victory dance when a Christian-friendly movie made the big screen, and have never believed that the Gospel could actually be preached via unconverted actors and money-motivated purveyors of feel-good stories packaged as “Gospel,” I think I am just as consistent to respond to the Golden Compass with a bored ho-hum.
Unfortunately, however, I’m in the minority. It is a big deal, apparently, and since I have a missionary-like intuition to contextualize, I would like to offer up some help to all those among the Evangelical Tribe who are tearing their clothes in despair. Here is a sane, more sensitive analysis of the crisis at hand by Dr. Albert Mohler. This should bolster up their faith even as they look for the glorious appearing of Prince Caspian (The countdown timer is here.)
Oh, pray, pray, pray! Brothers and Sisters, we may endure until May 16, 2008 if we can only persevere with the re-runs until then. Be of good cheer! Millions of dollars are even at this very moment being invested in “Christian-friendly” movies that will deliver on their promise to entertain everyone and deliver the gospel in such a way that no one even knows they are getting it. Yes! This is the victory we long for: a non-confrontational one-upping of the secular left with the hated Gospel message packaged in such a way that they don’t even recognize they swallowed it! Truly, as one great movie has declared, “a little bit of sugar makes the medicine go down!”
Until then, O Church of God, be strong in the Lord and go watch “Chariots of Fire.”
Posted by Bob Bixby at December 8, 2007 04:48 PM | eMail this entry! | 645 Words
This entry was posted in the following categories: Church Ministry , Politics and Culture , Preaching , Tongue in Cheek
nice. =}
i’ve similar sentiments re: the Narnia efforts.
i liked Jonathan’s review of TGC, and think you’d appreciate it, too:
http://epiphany.seattleblogs.org/archives/003954.html
I confess, yes, I do like watching movies. Yes, I enjoy entertainment. Though some decent movies have come out lately, I do agree that there is no revival in the industry. I love the sarcasm, by the way.
Posted by: Heidi at December 8, 2007 06:19 PMHere’s the thing- if some can get all worked up about movies like The Chronicles of Narnia, Lord of the Rings, and The Passion of the Christ, it stands to reason those same people will get worked up over this one, too, as a variation on a theme.
Mohler, whose opinion I respect, seems to think it was enough of an insidious tale to warn others about it. As detached as our family is on the cinema scene, I frankly wouldn’t have known of it but for the warning. However, many of those with whom we sit in the pews are saturated in the stuff, and it probably isn’t a bad idea to mention the agenda behind the flick. Pity most stop there…
Posted by: Greg Linscott at December 8, 2007 07:36 PMGreg,
‘gree. I am glad Mohler wrote what he wrote. Someone needs to. It’s just amazing that Christians get all worked up about flicks. As if that is where it all happens. I personally doubt it will have as much an effect for the cause of atheism as the countless hours of “good” tv that is watched by millions of unsuspecting kids.
The post Joy linked to confirmed my own suspicions about the movie and its potential to inspire atheism.
Posted by: bob at December 8, 2007 07:48 PMAfter reading the review Joy linked to, I will say this- children don’t look at films the way we (grounded) adults might. For that matter, even many parents don’t really monitor what their kids watch as long as it’s not “R”. Don’t underestimate the influence of a s child seeing that Lyra “hates being told what to do” and “lies a lot.” Portraying those kind of things as heroic and “normal” may not convert anyone to atheism immediately after viewing- but then again, maybe it doesn’t have to in order to meet its agenda. I have been amazed at how my children can just pick up a cocky sounding phrase after watching a tv program.
Heroes that lie and despise authority are things we should be looking out for. Unfortunately, many of us consider films “clean” and acceptable as long as certain words aren’t uttered (much) and no graphic nudity is shown.
Posted by: Gregory Linscott at December 8, 2007 09:29 PMI appreciate this post, Pastor Bixby.
Unfortunately, many of us consider films “clean” and acceptable as long as certain words aren’t uttered (much) and no graphic nudity is shown.Yeah, it’s too bad we didn’t listen to Postman.
Bob:
I have to confront you on your poor documentation. My brother, it is not merely a little bit, but rather it is a spoonful of sugar. How dare we honestly accept your position if we cannot trust your resourceful documentation. If we look at the theological ramifications of the difference between a little bit and a spoonful, I dare say we have begun to compromise. What will we say next, a spot of sugar, a grain of sugar? Where does it end?
Love as always,
Dave
He got you there Bob!,
At least he’s ending his post these days with “Love as always.” This is a good sign! Just take that agape as a spoon full of sugar! :)
Straight Ahead!
jt
Posted by: Joel Tetreau at December 9, 2007 05:18 PMHe got you there Bob!,
At least he’s ending his post these days with “Love as always.” This is a good sign! Just take that agape as a spoon full of sugar! :)
Straight Ahead!
jt
Posted by: Joel Tetreau at December 9, 2007 05:19 PMTrue enough, Dave, but at least it’s obvious that I don’t know as much about movies as you do!
Posted by: bob at December 10, 2007 08:06 AMOhhhhh…..Dave!
He got you there….by the way he loves you too! He’s just not as quick to say it as you and I are!
We’re working on Bob here to become more soft and tender (again like you and me!) :)
Straight Ahead!
Joel
Posted by: Joel Tetreau at December 10, 2007 08:59 AMDear Brother:
Wonderful post! I LOVE the sarcasm. I started blogging with similar feelings about DaVince Code.
I think we have to be careful what our children watch. By that I mean not necessarily that they don’t watch things like TGC or Harry Potter but that we discuss what we are seeing and hearing. My kids (12,9) are quickly able to discern the divergence of stories from the doctrine they have been taught.
On another plane, I find that I can get a lot out of something like TCON or the Passion. I even see spiritual truth in LOTR! But a christian’s perception of general grace does not mean that the unregenerate are going to discern the things of God in such a movie any more than they perceive their need for a savior by observing the creation.
Thanks for the great post. I have not laughed so hard since I saw “Bullwhip Man” last week!
I haven’t read Mohler’s review. And I still haven’t read the review that the local Catholic parish put in my paper, either.
I’m not being purposfully sarcastic when I say this, but do you think Hollywood accountants love Christians? How can they not? I would never have heard of this movie, much less actually known anything about it, had it not been for the protests by Christians. I understand and agree that in America we have free speech and are free to protest something which we disagree with. But sometimes I wonder if all the protests only help spread the word of the movie and save Hollywood millions of dollars with all the free advertising.
Posted by: jjones at December 10, 2007 10:02 AMWell, if we are confronting each other in love, well at least Joel and I are, I need to mention Bob that my wife caught it. So you were slammed by a woman!!!!!
I will let Joel add the “love as always” bit here, because it is obvious things are too cold in Rockford to make you feel the love. I am in Rome or I would say it. Tomorrow I will be in Paris and will be more inclined to spread the love!!!
Dave
Posted by: Dave at December 10, 2007 12:48 PMAs they say, “When in Paris, do as the Parisians do.”
Posted by: jjones at December 10, 2007 02:01 PMGood rant, Bob. In addition to a worthy inditement of many Christians’ silly infatuation with Hollywood as a possible source of revival, you make me wonder if men like Spurgeon and Tozer weren’t right in their condemnation of the theatre all along. Certainly Tozer (“The Menace of the Religious Movie”) and you and several others of us are a minority in questioning the conventional wisdom on this, but surely there are yet 7,000 who have not bowed the knee to Ba’al… I just wonder if they’re in America. I suspect that the persecuted church would see right through this tomfoolery.
Posted by: Doug Smith at December 11, 2007 08:19 AM
