06.29.07

“Christian” Hollywood Movies?

Posted in Biblical Reflections, Theology, Controversy, In The News... at 5:06 pm by Pastor Bill

I read an excellent article about Hollywood’s complaining that Christians aren’t coming out to support their ‘Christian’ family oriented movies, like the recent “Evan Almighty”. You can view the article here. The author gave many of his ideas on why these movies aren’t supported by Christians. I would like to add a few of my own observations and ideas on this topic.

Although each movie must be based on its own merits or ‘de-merits’, it is clear that Hollywood doesn’t really understand Christians, nor do they respect us. They only see us as a means to increase their profit margin. That is the wrong basis on which to produce ‘Christian’ movies. A reason why I had no interest in seeing ‘Evan Almighty’, is because it is associated with their earlier movie, ‘Bruce Almighty’, which was full of incredibly blasphemous statements and actions which were antithetical to Biblical Christianity. Even the titles of these 2 ‘almighty’ productions smacks of blasphemy…there is none who is almighty except God himself. Even if the intent of the film was to show that Bruce and Evan aren’t almighty, the title implies otherwise and that is an affront to all honest believers.

Did I go to watch ‘Evan Almighty’? No, because what I saw on the commercial for the movie was enough to convince me that it would be a total waste of time, and would be disrespectful to God. I know I sound like a ’stick-in-the-mud’ prudish fundamentalist here, but there is a shocking and shameful loss of respect in our ‘Christian’ community today for God himself, and it has a deadening effect on God’s spiritual work among us. We have lost the proper sense of awe and fear of God. In the comercial for the movie, I saw the main actor who represents Moses, walk out of his house naked. Great Christian values there!

Other clues that Hollywood, in not understanding the Christian faith, produces ‘Christian’-themed movies that actually misrepresent Christianity and the Biblical message? 1) portraying conservative politicians as fighting against the will of God, by trying to destroy the environment. I obviously don’t vouch for all conservative politicians, but many of them are Christian and serve God in their positions. 2) The inane statements that ‘God is in everything’ is contrary to Scripture, but is the belief of non-Christian pagan pantheists, and is their grounds for the importance of ’saving the environment’, on which they place a higher value than human souls and life. Hollywood constantly portrays ‘Christians’ as being pantheists, and as being more absorbed with all the new-age spiritualism instead of the clear Biblical message that salvation comes through Jesus Christ alone, through faith and by God’s grace. I don’t want to see “christian’-movies which misrepresent the beliefs of Christians! 3) The major theme of this movie is that ‘God is not primarily concerned with sin, salvation and redemption, but with encouraging us to perform random acts of kindness’. Come on! This is a total distortion of God himself and His interests. Yes God does want humans to be kind to each other (and to animals) but His primary major ‘concern’ is with the salvation of sinners (all of humanity). The death of Christ on the cross and His resurrection is not an act of random kindness, but is the determined plan of God to rescue us from sin and death. When they totally misrepresent the Christian message, why are they surprised when Christians won’t run to support their misguided and misleading productions?

Sorry Hollywood, true Christians will never support your flimsy excuses for Christian entertainment. You don’t know our message. You don’t respect our Savior. You blaspheme our God. You continually bash us in all of your other movies.

Please, start the show without us.

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