It is great to see all this interest in Bible themed
movies. In 2004, Mel Gibson directed and
released the highest grossing Bible theme movie of all time by raking in just
over 370 million at the box office. #2-4
of course were the CS Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia. My favorite of all time came in at #6 which
of course is Courageous. This was also
the highest “non Hollywood” movie among Bible theme or Christian based. There are good intent Christians on both
sides of the issues when it comes to both the Son of God (which is based from
the Bible mini-series from Mark Burnett and his wife Roma Downey) and
Noah. I do not know enough about either
of these movies to stand before you and to write a critique about these movies
but there are two questions that I had to ask myself and answer before deciding
that I will not go to see either of these two movies.
1)
Is
the messenger important? Should we be concerned about where the money goes
when we pay to see the movie? What do you know about Roma Downey and Mark
Burnett? Would it surprise you that they
are not Christians, but new agers? They
are many well documented sites that shows the ties of Roma Downey to New Age
beliefs and also to Psychic John Edwards.
Remember the show where she talked to her deceased mother by the help of
Edwards? Lost amid all the confusion and
debates is a key guideline in ensuring proper living and obedience to God,
Biblical principles. Biblical principles
is not in fact a manmade idea. Jesus in
The Sermon on the Mount preached Biblical principles. For example:
"You have heard that it was
said, 'YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY'; but I say to you that everyone who looks
at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his
heart”. (Matthew 5:27-28)
Biblical principle is more than just taking the commandments
at face value. It is taking the
commandments and applying it to other areas of your life. For example, the two greatest commandments is
to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and to love your neighbor as
yourself, but Jesus brings out the far reaching principle of that commandment:
"But I say to you who hear,
love your enemies, do good to those who hate you” (Luke 6:27)
With the idea of Biblical principles in mind, we must now
ask ourselves, is the messenger important?
The money we spend to watch a movie such as this is supporting the
messenger, their habits, and their beliefs, and their lifestyles. Have you done your research on Russell
Crowe? Downey? Burnett?
I have and I cannot allow my money to support them. The money is not just supporting the message,
it is supporting the messenger. It use to be that we held the messenger to a higher standard. Messengers are not just preachers mind you, messengers is any believer of Christ. Christians should and must be held to a higher standard. That is Biblical. One thing God has always required and continues to require is that we be ambassadors for Christ (II Corinthians 5:20).
2)
Is it
okay to take absolute truth and take an artistic and creative license with it?
In effect, saying that the Bible is not good enough and you can make it better
to appeal to the audience of today. We
have a problem with people taking liberties with God’s Word, but now we suggest
that it is okay for Hollywood? What
about omission? For instance, in the miniseries
by Burnett and Downey, when Jesus was baptized, we never hear God say “This is
my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased.” You would think that was an all important
information needed to be in there. In
the movie Jesus says “I am the way and the truth” but yet the all-important
second part was omitted “no one goes to the Father but by me”.
I know there are many well intending Christians who will or
already have seen the movie. That is
something between them and God. The
Bible is the absolute truth. There is no need to change it or get creative with
it. To do so is to say, the Bible is not good enough. There will be those who
will hide behind the “Don’t judge” criteria but I submit to you in Matthew 7:
"Beware of the false
prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous
wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn
bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? (Matthew 7:15-16).
Have you researched the fruits of those involved? Can one in good conscience support financially
the Bible based theme movie and by their financial support show support to the
lifestyles, belief, and practices of those involved. Because of these two questions, I cannot
honestly in good conscience watch those movies, support it, or recommend it. Whatever you decide to do, prayerfully ask God to guide.
