The Perfect Weapon (Part Three)

Given the power of film, what role does the Christian community play in the industry? Perhaps more importantly, what role should it play?

Well, I hate to say it, but we as Christians have a tendency to do more harm than good.

Christian reactions to Hollywood’s leftist propaganda typically a combination of one or more of the following:

1. “What harm can it do? It’s just entertainment!”—they keep watching, subsidizing the enemy, and allowing their own beliefs to be adversely affected.

2. “Oh, we don’t watch the ‘dirty’ ones!”—they completely ignore (or are blissfully ignorant of) the perverted worldview, as long as there isn’t too much in the way of explicit sex, drug use, and harsh profanity. Not that it’s possible to find that many films coming out of Hollywood nowadays that don’t ooze filth from every filmstrip perforation. Again, they allow their worldview and that of their children to be strongly influenced by the enemy and subsidize his advance.

3. “Movies are evil!”—they shun movies, and often any other kind of entertainment or fun that can be found, including good novels. Far from being Biblical, this reaction usually involves more egotistical striving to feel like they’re better than everyone else—or, as they often put it, “holier”. Do not confuse this with the next one!

4. “There are so few truly good ones out there that we almost don’t bother anymore!”—this tends to be the more practical Christian who isn’t necessarily against movies (or TV for that matter) but is fed up with trying to find the “good ones”. This is practicality as opposed to the egotism of the previous category.

Obviously, I don’t think much of any of these reactions! The last one is probably the “lesser of four evils” here. Given that Christians are supposed to be the salt of the earth, it doesn’t do much good on its own. It’s all right as a starting point, but nothing more.

So how should we respond?

Glad you asked!

Christians are known as great complainers. Sure, it’s important that we call evil on the mat, but we’re the ones responsible for bringing light into the world. In other words, if evil prevails, it’s our fault. We should be competing for dominance by raising the standard of Almighty God over every stronghold of power in existence.

In some cases, such as government controlled indoctrination centers, (a.k.a. “schools”) we do that by eliminating them. They’re not legitimate weapons in their present form.

Film, however, is a different matter. It’s a perfectly legitimate art form, (and cultural weapon) and Christians need to stand up set the standards of excellence.

We need to understand what we’re doing as well. One primary mistake that “Christian” filmmakers often make is to assume that if it mentions Jesus, it’s a good movie or, conversely, if it doesn’t explicitly lay out the Gospel, it’s not a “Christian” film. Both of these statements are patently false.

In reality, most “Christian” films out there are no good whatsoever. The technical quality is more likely an embarrassment to the Almighty Creator than a tribute. The plots are flat and unbelievable, the characters might as well be made out of cardboard, and to top it all off, they usually resort to some “feel-good” pseudo-Gospel instead of using the real one, and the underlying worldview is quite often defined by Hollywood myths rather than the truth of God.

Another mistake Christians often make is that they assume that they have to go to Hollywood to make a difference. Now, don’t get me wrong, it is possible that God could use Christians within the Hollywood structure to “reform” it for His glory.

Trouble is, that’s kind of like electing a leftist president and asking God to change his heart so that he becomes a true conservative—in other words, foolish and presumptive.

Christians in Hollywood are forced to compromise in ways that render them completely useless. Even proponents of Christians in Hollywood can’t put their finger on any greater achievement than having a Christian writer cut a few raunchy jokes out of The Simpsons or “Christian” involvement in writing Buffy the Vampire Slayer and That 70’s Show. (I’m not kidding!) As Doug Phillips of the Vision Forum once asked, “is that victory?”

The answer, of course, is no. Thus, the road that we as Christians must pursue is the independent route. A harder road in many ways, but far more feasible than it used to be for many reasons, not the least of which is technology.

What about Christians who aren’t called to be active filmmakers?

You watch movies don’t you? How about evaluating worldviews instead of simply counting swear words? How about not settling for Hollywood’s pathetic recent attempts to pander to the Christian market without actually adopting a Christian worldview?

Why not express the same outrage over Andrew Adamson’s perversion of Aslan in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe into a wimpy, incapable subject of the “Deep Magic”, (a la George Lucas’ “Force”) as Lord of the Rings fans would have expressed if Peter Jackson had made Sam and Frodo out to be homosexuals?

(I’ve probably opened a can of worms or two there that I’ll need to address in a later article!)

Possibly the most important thing that we as Christians can do is to recognize the growing independent Christian film industry (now in its infancy) and do what we can to support it. If you want something to look at now, go to www.IndependentChristianFilms.com and sign up to attend the third annual San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival. You’ll be amazed at what God is doing! (Not to mention the fact that you’ll find opportunities to get involved in more ways than you can possibly imagine!)

Another thing to consider; I’ve mentioned worldview throughout this article. How well do you understand your own? If you’re like 99% of American Christians, you have no idea. That’s something that only you can change. You must start questioning every facet of your belief system, making sure that it’s fully consistent with itself and, most importantly, God’s Word. Like I said before, whatever portion of your worldview is based on the truth can handle some severe scrutiny. It’s the portions based on lies and myths that will tend to crumble.

By the way, I can help with that. Check out my articles and blog posts from time to time. Whenever I say something that completely blows you away, hit stop and start thinking it over. (I may have said some things in this very article that have you wondering what planet I’m from!)

“Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out and to be trodden under the foot of men.” ~ Jesus Christ, Son of Man, Creator of the universe. (Matthew 5:13)

Remember, salt in a wound stings, and light can be painfully bright to those who are used to the darkness.