Posted on 01/21/2006 9:18:48 AM PST by bulldozer
It’s been a bad fortnight for biblical Christianity in the world of popular entertainment.
To begin with, NBC has launched The Book of Daniel, a situation comedy about a pill-popping Episcopalian priest. Troubles surround him: one son is homosexual and another is sleeping with the bishop’s daughter. His daughter gets arrested for dealing drugs. A sister-in-law has become a lesbian.
Through all difficulties, Daniel (the priest) is sustained by conversation with a smarmy character who is supposed to be Jesus. This “Jesus” gushes inclusivism and spouts wisecracks (“you can quote me”). He is a paragon of liberal (or postliberal) nonjudgmentalism.
One description of comedy is that its purpose is “castigat ridendo mores,” to “correct morals with laughter.” The expression is used for the tactic of dismissing an idea by ridiculing it. Such dismissiveness allows the comedian to avoid any responsibility for understanding and interacting with the idea.
That description neatly fits The Book of Daniel. It begins with a debased version of Christianity (liberal Episcopalianism). It then reduces even that version to an object of ridicule, not in order to restore a pure and strong version of the Christian faith, but rather to dismiss all Christianity as merely goofy. Christians have become accustomed to milder versions of this treatment: network television rarely uses Christianity for anything except comic relief of the depiction of bigotry.
The Book of Daniel, however, is more than an attack upon the faith. It offers a trivialized and comic depiction of the Lord Jesus Himself. This program directly attacks the person and character of the Lord Jesus Christ. I cannot think of a time when the networks have done anything more offensive.
By way of comparison, consider what would happen if NBC subjected a Muslim Imam to the same sort of treatment, perhaps showing him in conversation with an unctuous Mohammed. Muslims around the world would respond with more than protests and boycotts. Network executives would be tripping over themselves to issue apologies.
I’ve never been one for promoting boycotts and writing letters of protest. But I do know this: On my local NBC affiliate, The Book of Daniel has been sponsored by (among others) Burlington Coat Factory, Dairy Queen, and the Chattem brand Icy Hot. It will be a long time before I can bring myself to give money to these businesses.
As if The Book of Daniel weren’t bad enough, Brokeback Mountain is in the news again. The movie won, what—four?—Golden Globe awards, including best drama. According to the pundits, this puts the film on the fast track for the Oscars.
Brokeback Mountain is a dramatic “love story” about two cowboys (married men, both of them) who are also engaged in a homosexual liaison with one another. Its depiction of this homosexual relationship is dominated by the theme that “love is a force of nature.” In other words, love is love, whatever the object.
What Brokeback Mountain is trying to do (to all appearances, quite successfully) is to generate sympathy for the terrible difficulties of men who are swept away by desire for other men, but who are hindered in the indulgence of that desire by social conventions. It smuggles in the assumption that homosexual desire and heterosexual love are similar in quality, differing only in the objects to which they are directed. It also reinforces the contemporary prejudice that love trumps justice, so that the terrible fracture of a man’s sworn fidelity to his wife can understandably and naturally be absolved by his yearning for relations with another man. Rather than showing homosexual activity as the shameful and degrading thing that it is (as reflected in the proper term sodomy), the film presents homosexuality as an appealing manifestation of human intimacy and caring.
Nowhere is it more important for Christians to remind themselves of the distinction between sins and sinner than when dealing with homosexuality. All humans must be treated with dignity and respect simply because we recognize in them the value that derives from being made in God’s image. This applies even to sinful humans (all of us), including homosexuals. We must never allow the demonstration of human respect, however, to imply that we approve or condone sin. This is particularly true in the case of homosexuality. We must not forget that Scripture classifies homosexuality as “vile affections” and condemns it not only as wrong, but “against nature.”
We ought to have compassion upon homosexuals just as we ought to have compassion upon all sinners. WhatBrokeback Mountain is pleading for, however, is not compassion on those who have gone astray. This movie depicts homosexuality in such a way that it can no longer be rejected as an unnatural, vile affection. Rather, it informs us that “love is a force of nature.” The message is that sodomy is not shameful and degrading, but a loving way for one man to treat another. With this production, Hollywood has reached a new moral nadir. Even those who refuse to watch the movie will be affected by the cultural backlash.
It is disappointing enough when unsaved, worldly culture-mongers cannot see clearly on basic moral issues. It is even more distressing when professing Christians betray complete moral confusion. That is the case with the new movie from Every Tribe Entertainment, End of the Spear.
ETE is supposed to be a Christian maker of Christian films. End of the Spear is supposed to be the film biography of Nate Saint, the missionary pilot and martyr who gave his life to get the message of the gospel to the Auca Indians of Ecuador.
The problem (well, one of the problems) is that director Jim Hanon handed the role of Nate Saint to a man whom he knew to be a homosexual activist. Chad Allen has been a very public advocate of so-called gay marriage and gay rights, including the putative right of homosexuals to adopt children.
Why would a homosexual activist want to portray a Christian martyr? Here is a recent bit of Chad Allen’s personal testimony, extracted from a recent interview on Larry King Live:
(I)f they’re going to speak about absolute transcendent truth, I need to tell you, I know absolute transcendent truth. I have a deep relationship with God and my understanding. It’s very powerful, and it’s taken its own shape and form. And I am very much at peace in the knowledge that in my heart God created this beautiful [homosexual] expression of my love…. These days I judge all of my actions by my relationship with God of my understanding. It is a deep-founded, faith-based belief in God based upon the work that I’ve done growing up as a Catholic boy and then reaching out to Buddhism philosophy, to Hindu philosophy, to Native American beliefs and finally as I got through my course with addiction and alcoholism and finding a higher power that worked for me.
Allen goes on to discuss his willingness to play the role of Nate Saint:
You know, I made this movie with a group of conservative Christians who do not agree with my expression of sexuality. But we said to each other, I will walk with you accepting your differences and we can create together. I will give you your space to respect you fully. They don’t need to take away from my freedom, I don’t need to take away from theirs. And I am so proud to have done that. That’s the kind of bridge-building I think we can get to…. You know, I had to sit down with that same God today and say, “Do you want me to go on this show? Do you want me to speak the things that are in my heart? And if not, I’m happy not to go. Do you want me to make this movie?” It’s the same God that I go to for every decision.
For Chad Allen, End of the Spear is an opportunity to advance his agenda of homosexual advocacy by “bridge-building” to a community that disagrees with him. It is an opportunity to “speak the things that are in [his] heart.” It is an opportunity to present the syncretistic, relativistic message of a New Age gospel.
People who have seen the film have said that it contains little or no presentation of the Christian gospel. In other words, there is little in the film that would contradict Allen’s position. People who already know the story of Nate Saint will probably read their pre-understanding into it, but non-Christians and naïve viewers are simply going to see Chad Allen. What Every Tribes Entertainment and Jim Hanon have done is to provide Allen with a platform from which to launch an attack upon the faith that is taught in the Bible.
Thanks for nothing.
Once again, I have to say that I am not in the habit of calling for boycotts. I cannot imagine, however, why any reflective Christian would want to pay money to view this debacle. If Every Tribes Entertainment hopes to garner a profit, let them get it from Queer Nation and NAMBLA.
Yes, it’s been a bad two weeks for biblical Christianity in the world of popular entertainment.
This is incredible. For the last month, we have been saying to everyone to go see this movie in droves because it is a Christian film. Now with everyone ready to go, it is anti-Christian. Why are we finding this out now when it may be too late. This could end up being a tragic situation if everyone does not get to read this post before flocking to the movie in droves.
As long as the left endorses the gay agenda and is anti-religion, they will remain the minority.
Obviously I am talking ONLY about End of the Spear. Their have been many posts about this movie being so Christian.
So, does Allen play a homosexual in the film? I don't think so. He's an actor. He acts the role he is given in the film.
The film stands for itself. What Allen says outside of the film is irrelevant. It is the character he plays in the film that is relevant.
Gay actors play straight roles. Straight actors play gay roles. That's their job.
We should ignore this entirely, and let the film speak for itself. From all accounts, it's a good depiction of what actually happened.
You might also want to look into your spelling on the link at the end of the post. I don't think there's anything like the "babtist" church or any "babtist" seminary.
Sorry about the typo in misspelling Baptist.
You can hardly blame the producer for what happens on a show like Larry King. If anything, blame his marketing people, who should have known better than to use their star on the publicity circuit if he is an activist. I agree with the poster who pointed out that this is simply a gay actor talking about his own thing, putting his own spin on the film, which may not be present in the producer's or writer's intent, and the film should stand on its own. Just bad publicist judgment. Sort of like Tom Cruise's sister, only in that case, her product was also wacky, whereas this film may be the real deal.
"Unfortunately, the self professed Christian producer of this film used poor discernment in giving a platform to a homsexual activist."
It doesn't matter. The film is not about homosexuality. It is about missionaries trying to reach primitive tribes. It's a great story.
Calls to boycott this film are just plain stupid. There are few enough films that Christians can lay claim to as representative of the work they do. This one may actually be pretty good.
What Allen does or says outside the film is completely irrelevant. He is an actor. He played a role. I'm sure he played it well.
If calls for boycotts cripple yet another movie that depicts Christianity in a positive way, it only means that Christians will have fewer movies like that in the future. It's already difficult enough for Christian-themed movies to get made, distributed, and shown. Why make things worse.
Most people will never hear Allen say anything at all. He's promoting himself and his homosexuality. Lots of people will see his portrayal of a dedicated Christian missionary.
As for protesting Chad Allen, this author better be consistent. He must never, ever see a Christian film that features actors who drink too much, have premarital or extramarital sex, lie, steal, or cheat on their taxes. In other words, he must never, ever see another "Christian film" again.
You are missing the point. If an actor is activily using his role in a movie as a platform to normalize drinking, premarital sex, lying, cheating on taxes within the Christian church then this would be cause for concern. Plus we are talking about an actor in a Christian movie.
Chad Allen is the poster boy of the gay activist movement to normalize homosexuality in our society.
Thank you so much for shedding light on this. Nate Saint & Jim Elliot went to the same college as me. I even heard Elizabeth Elliot speak in chapel when I was a student. How sad that something I have been looking forward to doesn't even contain the gospel these men went to share in Ecuador.
Wonder what story was more important to tell? Guess I'll never find out.
"I never suggested a boycott, but this goes beyond bad publicity. If the producer had better discernment, this homosexual would not be out there spreading a false gospel on the producer's own platform.
He used bad judgment. How can you not agree with that?"
Who used bad judgment? Allen? Sure he did. The producer in hiring Allen for the part? I don't know. I haven't seen the film yet. Maybe Allen was the perfect person to play the role.
My point is that most people did not hear Allen on this television program. Most will hear nothing at all about this. The movie will stand on its own. I hope it's a good one.
"I have never cried more during a movie in my life. It took me about an hour to recover. You are going to see authentic Christianity in action. It is very important that you see End of the Spear - Ted Haggard, Senior Pastor of New Life Church, Author
"A wonderful movie about love and forgiveness...a story that will challenge your faith...Go see it and tell everybody you know." Dr. Joyce Meyer, Author and Speaker
End of the Spearis one of the most entertaining and inspiring stories that I have ever seen. I recommend it to everyone." Joel Osteen, Senior Pastor, Lakewood Church
End of the Spear isn't just a good movie, but an EXCELLENT one! It's my hope that tens of millions of young people around the world will see this riveting movie and that it will be used by God to launch a million missionaries who will perform even greater exploits for Jesus Christ. Take your children and a couple of their friends and experience this compelling story." - Dr. Dennis Rainey, President, Family Life
"Unconditional love and forgiveness have never been more vividly portrayed than in "End of the Spear." - Dick Rolfe, President, Dove Foundation
(Steve) Saint, who has befriended Allen, hopes that the film will help people see “that all of us have tragic, shattered relationships in our lives and that God is the one who can put them back together in incredible ways.”
“If Mincaye and I can be very close friends, be family, love each other, and my kids and my grandchildren can love Mincaye and his family -– if that can happen out of the tragic relationship that we started with –- then maybe it’ll give people hope that their strained relationships can also be reconciled and that, better yet, God can be part of the answer,” Saint said in an interview with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association’s Decision magazine.STEVE SAINT, son of Nate Saint
Decision Magazine (Billy Graham)
If you need more confirmation, Click here then hit "enter" and "endorsements.
I disagree. I think you are missing the point entirely.
So the lead actor is gay, whoop dee-doo-doo. So was Auden.
ping to Post #16.
Sadly, this is not true. We don't live in a vaccuum. If our kids want to see this film, and then learn more about the actors, where do we stop them? Where does the information flow end? If they believe the story on the screen, they will likely believe the story being told on any screen, TV, etc.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.