 Posted Wednesday, January 18, 2006 8:28 PM
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In this thread, I hope members can discuss how we, as Christians, can practice discernment and keep our Christian priorities straight. God calls us to live in the world, yet not be of it--an increasingly precarious act in a world where mass media--the entertainment industry, especially--is powerful and pervasive.
What prompted me to start this thread is what I have recently learned about the film, "End of the Spear," which purports to tell the story of John Elliot and his fellowed martyred missionaries, felled by the Waodoni tribesmen in Juanuary, 1956. What we have here is a secular production company which has--to say the least--watered down Christian content to make the film more palatable to a secular audience.
Apparently, Jesus Christ and a salvation message are not mentioned; the five men who died are presented more as altruists, and not missionaries with a burden for the lost. The thematic aperture is wide enough for just about any religionist to feel comfortable.
Yet at the same time, it is being marketed aggressively to Christian audiences as an evangelistic vehicle!
And if this is not enough, they recruited a gay actor, Chad Allen, to play one of the fallen Christian men, Nathan Saint. This man is highly active in promoting the homosexual cause in the entertainment world, and has stated that he sees his use of this role as a means to make homosexuality more acceptable to Christians.
Those interested in pursuing the film's treatment further can read a rather lengthy posting on the blog, Sharper Iron. A long, more orthodox history of Jim Elliot and his band can be found at Plymouth Brethren.org
My purpose here is not to drag out--here--the issue of whether homosexuality can be reconciled with Christian discipleship. It can't, but for those who want to, there are dedicated threads in this category. The point here is,
To what extent to we keep secular trends--such as acceptance of homosexuality--from corrupting our discipleship in Christ? And, how do we use our faith in influencing the secular marketplace?
I, for one, will not be patronizing the film. I want a product that is more faithful to the Gospel, and to history; nor do I want to validate an actor who will use this to promote a trendy, but tragic, moral ill.
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Posted Wednesday, January 18, 2006 8:59 PM
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| "Trendy"? Surely you jest.
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Posted Thursday, January 19, 2006 2:06 AM
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Okay, you've got me. Gay cowboy movies win awards, and when I checked my employer's list of available charities to donate to through a payroll deduction, Planned Parenthood and the ACLU are in there, but the Boy Scouts are not!
What will it take to shock us in another ten years?
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Posted Friday, February 03, 2006 4:05 PM
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<< the film, "End of the Spear,"
Apparently, Jesus Christ and a salvation message are not mentioned; the five men who died are presented more as altruists, and not missionaries with a burden for the lost. The thematic aperture is wide enough for just about any religionist to feel comfortable. >>
The salvation message is conveyed (maybe not in complete terms, but nothing is presented that is incorrect in that regard). Nate Saint is portrayed as one who definately has a "burden for" these people who aren't "ready" to die (as he conveys in a conversation with his boy, Steve... during which I think Jesus may've been mentioned by name, I'm not complete sure). Jesus is specifically referred to in terms one of the tribesmen could understand during a specific gospel presentation that leads to one of the first conversions.
<< And if this is not enough, they recruited a gay actor, Chad Allen, to play one of the fallen Christian men, Nathan Saint. This man is highly active in promoting the homosexual cause in the entertainment world, and has stated that he sees his use of this role as a means to make homosexuality more acceptable to Christians. >>
I've seen quite a bit about this. the most interesting link to me is something I just found out about this morning. Christian Studio Explains Hiring of Gay Actor Btw, he doesn't just play Nate, but also Nate's son Steve as an adult.
<< I, for one, will not be patronizing the film.. >>
Sorry to hear that. You're missing a great film
edited to add that Chad does an excellent job with both parts
edited once again to add a quote by Steve Saint himself (which I found btw, from those links provided by Following Him):
<< On Jan. 20, 2006, the 50th anniversary of the martyrdom of the five missionaries in Ecuador; this same story, will be released as a major motion picture, End of The Spear. For the first time in decades, modern followers of God and his son the Christ will be portrayed in a positive light to a broad audience in movie theaters.
It is incredible to me that God would again take what man meant for evil and use it for good with a new generation audience. And perhaps the most exciting prospect is that if audiences fill theatres for End of the Spear like we did for The Passion of the Christ, especially on Jan. 20 – opening weekend – it is likely that we will begin to see a steadily growing string of other major motion pictures that will crack open this long closed medium to people of faith and the Gospel message. >>
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Posted Friday, February 03, 2006 5:53 PM
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<< how do we use our faith in influencing the secular marketplace? >>
I believe EOTS is an excellent example of just such an influence
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Posted Sunday, February 19, 2006 11:17 AM
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<<
<< how do we use our faith in influencing the secular marketplace? >>
I believe EOTS is an excellent example of just such an influence >>
While it seems obvious we won't see eye to eye on everything that could come up in this discussion, it does indeed seem worthwhile to explore how we, as Christians, can practice discernment and keep our Christian priorities straight, etc.
re using our faith in influencing the secular marketplace (in particular relating to EOTS, but having broader application), I'd ask does influencing neccessitate calling all the shots?
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Posted Wednesday, March 15, 2006 3:16 PM
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 oooh oooh oooh ... word I hear is that End of the Spear will be out on DVD soon.
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Posted Friday, May 19, 2006 10:22 AM
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<< oooh oooh oooh ... word I hear is that End of the Spear will be out on DVD soon. >>
 Not exactly where Following_Him was looking for this thread to go, but no one else is taking the lead so thought I'd share this email I received earlier this week. I'll say it again, EOTS is a great movie!!
Every Tribe Entertainment’s
Powerful Film Debuts On DVD June 13
Worlds collide and tragedy strikes as a missionary group journeys to the heart of the Amazon jungle in search of the Waodani, a tribe of fierce warriors on the brink of extinction due to revenge killings. When five of the missionary men are speared to death by tribesmen, their families are left husbandless and fatherless. Undeterred by their tremendous loss and spurred on by hope, the families decide to remain in Ecuador, and risk living among the Waodani. But the effects of that first encounter have yet to subside: A young boy, struggling to unlock the secret of his father’s death, must learn to accept a tragedy he cannot change in this powerful true story of sacrifice, courage, and reconciliation.
Debuting on DVD June 13 from Fox Home Entertainment, End Of The Spear takes viewers deep into the heart of darkness to discover that faith and forgiveness can transcend the senseless acts of violence that stand in the way of cultural understanding.
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Posted Tuesday, June 13, 2006 5:43 AM
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<< Every Tribe Entertainment’s
Powerful Film Debuts On DVD June 13 >>
Hey!! That's today!!!
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Posted Tuesday, June 13, 2006 11:39 AM
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And, how do we use our faith in influencing the secular marketplace?
Following Him: It seems that you have totally missed this opportunity to do just that. EOTS is a great vehicle for missionary work in the world. What a great film! How can you criticize a movie without even seeing it?
You have to look at the bigger picture. It seems that you would "cut off your nose to spite your face". How can you connect to the secular world if you can't even deal with them? If you cannot evangelize with the secular world, you will be just "preaching to the choir". I would advise seeing the movie as we have before critiquing it further.
Missionary for Christ
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