He writes:
There is a lot of excitement on church web sites about the Disney release of the Chronicles of Narnia movie. Like with the Mel Gibson Passion movie, a lot of churches are buying blocks of seats and saying it is one of the greatest evangelistic opportunities we have. I am seeing all types of Christian evangelism paraphernalia and evangelistic flyers, doorknob hanger invites etc. being produced for the Narnia movie. However, after the Passion movie, I wonder why we didn't learn our lesson. George Barna ended up discovering that virtually nothing changed after the movie hype was over and the "greatest evangelistic opportunity we have had in 2,000 years" (as one company was advertising the Passion movie to be), really didn't happen the way we had hoped. I am sure some came to faith in Jesus as a result, and for that I am joyful ( I haven't heard of any personally, even knowing a church that made a huge effort in trying to use the film that way)....
Seeing all the growing hype, I also just wonder why the church gets so excited about movies to do the job of evangelism, especially in a film that will be a stretch for someone to directly associate it with the resurrection of Jesus. My bigger hope from the Narnia movie itself in terms of evangelism, would be that people get interested in other writings of C.S. Lewis and the read the book Mere Christianity . That to me, would have more direct impact than the actual movie.
Then he says this. Underline this. Make it bold.
I sort of find it kind of sad that the church has to get so excited about films to do evangelism, rather than being excited about the ongoing relationships we have with those outside the faith for evangelism. It feels weird that I would invite someone to a movie to explain what I believe in rather than letting my life and what I can be talking them about personally would be.
Read the rest of the article for why he thinks that the Da Vinci Code might actually spark more discussion.
A couple of observations:
As followers of Christ we often want "someone else" to tell the story of what God is doing in us - we live out live vicariously through others - maybe - because we are not letting God live in us!
I get a little tired of the church jumping on the band wagon everytime something or someone semi-Christian happens in pop-culture. Some people that aren't churchy might get the deeper meanings of Narnia and ponder them... but I imagine this will become fodder for Ned Flanders and the SNL Church Lady [I'm dating myself there]. It's a film, a movie, it's entertainment - enjoy it. If there are opportunities for discussion / dialogue - listen & speak up.
6 comments:
Does it get boring or lonely re:'dating myself' I wonder?!?
I think the Red Hot Chili Peppers sum up some truth in their song 'Calfifornication'...the line goes something like...'space frontier is made in a California basement'. The jist is...movies are sometimes dreamt, or lived out unlikely sources....a basement or simply a deprived mind...the big stuff seen on the big screen is just another's fantasy.
I get tired of the lemming mentality christians have...with stuff...like a good witch hunt in salem i guess. Yet another to-do FOR Jesus even though He may never have asked them to do it in the first place.....If only salavtion could be done by our perormance...what a lark concept.
so..here are the right words..."Space may be the final frontier But it’s made in a Hollywood basement"
Rest of the lyrics from....
Californication
Psychic spies from China
Try to steal your mind’s elation
Little girls from Sweden
Dream of silver screen quotations
And if you want these kind of dreams
It’s Californication
It’s the edge of the world
And all of western civilization
The sun may rise in the East
At least it settles in the final location
It’s understood that Hollywood
sells Californication
Pay your surgeon very well
To break the spell of aging
Celebrity skin is this your chin
Or is that war your waging
Chorus:
First born unicorn
Hard core soft porn
Dream of Californication
Dream of Californication
Marry me girl be my fairy to the world
Be my very own constellation
A teenage bride with a baby inside
Getting high on information
And buy me a star on the boulevard
It’s Californication
Space may be the final frontier
But it’s made in a Hollywood basement
Cobain can you hear the spheres
Singing songs off station to station
And Alderon’s not far away
It’s Californication
Born and raised by those who praise
Control of population everybody’s been there
and
I don’t mean on vacation
Chorus
Destruction leads to a very rough road
But it also breeds creation
And earthquakes are to a girl’s guitar
They’re just another good vibration
And tidal waves couldn’t save the world
From Californication
Pay your surgeon very well
To break the spell of aging
Sicker than the rest
There is no test
But this is what you’re craving
WtF?
Quoting Anthony Kedis on a pastor's christian blog?
That must be some type of sin.
Oh wait, did I just cuss through euphemism?
Another song comes to mind when I contemplate this topic:
Frosty The Snowman
Was a jolly happy soul
With a corncob pipe and a button nose
And...wait for it...
Two eyes made out of coal.
I'm with Mr. Lewis on this one.
By the way, I don't know if you should even recommend Mere Christianity to people. According to Steve Camp, Clive is only a couple rungs lower on the evil scale than Anton LaVey.
Another witch hunt...*shakes head*
Thanks for the reminder...i forgot that pastors aren't real people and their websites are the 'Holies of Holies.' There are days, I really believe that Disney Land and the church have too much in common! Drop some acid and get it over with. Off to turn up some Velvet Revolver....then maybe some Project 86. signed, in the world but not of the world.
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