Lookie, new movie to slam!!!

My favorite opening line from any novel is from Voyage of the Dawn Treader, that says something like this:

"There once was a boy named Eustace Clarence Scrubb, and he almost deserved it."

It will be interesting to see if they can maintain the innocent perspective and charm of Lewis' style of writing to children. I had read at one point, they considered updating the Pevensie kids to live in modern-day California rather than WWII era England. Fortunately, that seems to have been nixed.

 

Here's the problem. The average reasonably discerning Christian will be able to say "I didn't like 'The Passion' because I felt that...", or "I choose to use only the King James version because I think...", or "I don't like the Chronicles of Narnia/Harry Potter/Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys/Goosebumps/Scooby Doo/Bruce Almighty because I feel..."

Unfortunately, what's happenning is that there exists an air of Christian fundamentalist extremism that tells the rest of us "The Passion is bad..." "All modern versions are evil..." "Chronicles of Narnia/Harry Potter/Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys/Goosebumps/Scooby Doo/Bruce Almighty are satanic..." and so on and so on. They have chosen to make all the spiritually discerning decisions for us, and called us evil when we usurp their attempt to rob us of the same. Differentiating opinions and debating about topics amongst the brethren in a positive and healthy manner is indeed fruitful and productive. But when a core ilk of militant, though well meaning, Christians tries to hijack Christianity from us as though they were staging a coup d'état, it is necessary and proper for us to take a stand and say "I will not put up with that kind of unchristian and intolerable behavior".

What you're seeing as venom is really antivenom against this poison called hyperextremism that is invading our pews like a virus without a cure.

 

Well, I've said it before, a FEW of them are saved!
Ducking...
Gina </font>[/QUOTE]I agree with you God knows them that are his.

I read a biography of Lewis online and it still didn't identify his beliefs.

Bro. Dallas

 

Dear Brother JohnV,
I have seen or read books in series of all you mention except 'Bruce Almighty'; Narnia, Goosebumps.

I am hardly the extremist you claim, nor do I believe are any of the others who are opposing the Passion.

Scooby Doo, the Hardy Boys, Even Harry Potter never claimed nor blinded others to claim the power and authority to save souls although presenting such a mixture of scripture and superstition.

If you will read my post The reason I oppose the Passion you will see the basic reason I oppose it.

There is an observation to be made I think is valid, that anyone with any appearance of conservatism is automatically labelled a militant.

I have seen and own a copy of 'The Greatest Story Ever Told' and although I do think there are errors in that production as well, I never remember hearing the evangelical world proclaim this movie to have the power to save the lost.

Bro. Dallas

 

You have the right to oppose the film FOR YOURSELF. You do not have the right to oppose the film FOR OTHERS. Let each person be convinced in his own mind.

I've heard pastors say that movies like GTET, and, mostly, Jesus of Nazareth, are effective tools for evangelism, are true to the Gospels, and peopel can be led to the Lord because of them. I don't disagree with any of those statements, and don't think that intended dramatic license detracts from that. BTW, I know of at least one person who came to the Lord after watching "Bruce Almighty". I know several who came to the Lord after watching "Oh God".

As for as "anyone with any appearance of conservatism", I don't base views on whether their in line with conservatism or liberalism. I base them on whether I think they're in line with the overall[i/] scriptural message. If such a conclusion looks liberal, fine. If it looks conservative, fine. I don't think you and I would be in disagreement about that .

[ March 11, 2004, 05:53 PM: Message edited by: Johnv ]

 

Well Said Johnv!

I didn't go see Bruce Almighty because the mere thought insulted me. I haven't seen Oh God. I won't go see the Narnia things because I have concerns about C.S. Lewis BUT my husband likes his books and just might take Nick. That's HIS decision. He's the spiritual head of our home.

Again, we get to personal conviction. I am NOT the Holy Spirit in YOUR life! It is not MY place to force MY convictions on any of you and I'd thank you very much if you didn't try to be the Holy Spirit in MY life!

Diane

 

So, let us close our churches and end all preaching and just let hollywood continue the commission.

Now we see the end of it all.

BTW, how can you say the Passion is in overall basic agreement with scripture? Gibson admitted himself he got ideas for the movie from Emmerich's writing he never would have gotten otherwise. The intro. to that diary states this and other such visions fill in blanks left by scripture.

I am not trying to be the HOLY SPIRIT in anyone's life, but I am interested in knowing in order to understand why someone with more liberal views who approves of this film, say Pat Robertson or whoever, is permitted to make these kinds of decisions on behalf of Christianity and the word of God. I think it is a very powerful assumption to place this work in the place of the preaching of the word of God.

Also, if you don't want my honest belief, then don't ask questions like this. I am certainly not going to lie in order to please anyone on this board or in this nation.

Bro. Dallas

 

Bro. Dallas, I keep stressing... THIS IS A MOVIE! Not a Biblical account. I see this as nothing more than a great movie that I can use to witness to others. That's just my honest opinion, unpopular as it might be.

Jesus used parables and allegories. We use tracts and bracelets of different color. FOR ME, this is an opening to talk about Jesus. If it's not for you, that's fine with me! We each are obligated to respond to the leading of the Holy Spirit in our own lives. That's my point. I have to answer to God for me!

My pastors are taking our youth and their parents tonight to see The Passion of the Christ. Afterwards they're going back to the church for a question and answer time, sharing time, etc.

Diane

 

Well Gina, I can't answer for those folk but I stick with my answer about my own leading on this!

I wonder if different areas of the country feel differently about this. I saw that Atlanta and Dallas had high movie attendance for The Passion of the Christ but that Boston, which is a strong Catholic area and Salt Lake City are having very low attendance.

Diane

 

I didn't go see Bruce Almighty because the mere thought insulted me.

Dear Sister Diane,
I agree with the above statement, and I understand your points in the post just prior to this page. Why is the above movie so insulting? It nor its producers make any claim other than it is a movie, mere artistic license.

I have not seen Bruce Almighty either because of the same reason, The Passion of the Christ is in the same category, imho. It is no more wrong to disagree and speak against this movie than it is to agree and speak in favor of this movie.

You are correct, Jesus did use parables etc. But you are speaking of Jesus.

Jesus nor the NT scriptures ever give an implication that a movie such as this should be received as a great evangelical tool.

I just simply don't understand why we have had the Bible as Christians for nearly 2000 years and it has never been so defended as much as this movie.

I don't believe God is in need of anything with so much worldliness involved in it for the gospel to be distributed and the lost to be saved.

If I offend folks because of my untactful method of speech, I apologize for that, but I cannot apologize because of my conviction and I cannot simply remain silent over the issue.

Bro. Dallas

 

The Catholics probably figure they already know the lies, or perhaps more probable they are also opposed to the traditional stand of Gibson that may be seen by themselves, thereby denying in their minds the truth of the church. AS for the Mormons, they are probably mobilizing a movie on the visitation of Christ to Joseph Smith. Talked to two of them once 'elders' though not much older than my fourteen year old and much younger than myself, they were visiting my mother's neighborhood. They often shopped in the same store I worked in the meat dept. in and I so wanted to speak to them each time I saw them, but I was always busy and couldnt'. One day being off work and having an appointment with the eye doctor Kelly and I stopped at mom's afterward. These two young men knocked on the door.

They left two and 1/2 hours later. I told them what I am and we began to search the scriptures to compare them to the 'flash-cards' they carried to assist in their witnessing.

They finally left, it was pouring and they were on bicycles, I offered them a ride but they refused and told me I was the most gracious baptist they had ever met, none other in Glasgow during their witnessing had ever invited them into the home after their introductions.

They left me a 'bible' and promised to return a week later to collect it and hear my reveiw. This time they came to my home. They left with their bible, but it wasn't the same two young men who came. During our discussion one of them became so disturbed he couldn't speak, not even from his prepared card. I inquired during our second meeting of this young man and was told he was back in Utah for training.

I hope and trust the Lord made an impression upon that young man and that now he is serving the Lord in a true gospel church where his spirit can be fed by the gospel. I do not know that, but my faith is toward that thought regarding him.

What good would I have done this young man if I had approached him some day while at my job? I would have offended him and the other young man with him (who by the way is well grounded in mormonism) and they would have refused to talk to me when seeing me at mom's home.

This is not about me. But my point is that I did not use anything to meet their mixture of Bible passages and the book of mormon to try and convince me of their heresies except the Word of God. For every arguement they gave me, the Lord provided an answer and we searced the scriptures to see whether these were so or not.

The second visit they argued I could not have written a similar book as Smith's. I took them to my study and showed them my notebooks and binders of notes which make up two shelves of a case about 2 1/2 foot long. None of which is inspired writings. They left.

I have no confidence in this movie, nor their tracts, nor their colored bracelets, the Bible says that by the preaching of the cross he is pleased to save them that believe. Not by the images of the suffering, nor of the cross, thrown in with the visual representation of Mary completing the first pilgrimage along the 14 stations of the cross, on occassion stopping and kissing the ground where her only begotten son had fallen.

Dear Sister, I sincerely do not wish to be offensive to you nor anyone else, but please do not ask me to keep quiet over this and I promise I will not ask you nor any other to keep quiet.

 

I was insulted by 'God', in Bruce Almighty, making his wife's breast larger, making women's dresses fly up, etc. I saw only the ads on t.v. and thought it would not be something I'd want to see. I've only seen one 'grown person movie' in 10 years other than on t.v. before The Passion of the Christ.

Would you believe, Signs is the only Mel Gibson movie I think I've ever seen?

Bro. Dallas said: It is no more wrong to disagree and speak against this movie than it is to agree and speak in favor of this movie.

Diane agrees. It's up to each of us to decide for ourselves.

Diane

 

I AGREE Give me more of that

 

I agree. And priesthood of the believer and soul competency are major Baptist emphases. However, there is a fine line here. You and I are old enough and SBC long enough to hear the traditional meaning when we say God leads each of us.
According to Barma, the pollster, as I recall, younger evangelical Christians do struggle more with the concept of absolute truth. What they can hear you saying in your above quote is that truth is relative. Ie. God leads you to your "truth", and He leads me to my "truth". When actually truth is absolute and we each have the responsibility to find it and live it.

Karen