In recent years, we have seen an
upswing in the number of Christian movies that are being made. I am beyond thrilled by this because it is a
wonderful way to teach others about the love of Christ or for the Lord to open
a door to conversation about Him. Films
like “Fireproof”, “God’s Not Dead”, “The Grace Card” and “Courageous” are all
powerful films you could bring anyone to and they would hear about God’s
love. However, not all movies that claim to be
Christian or are touted by others as such are very Christ Like. And this
bothers me and has bothered me for some time. Let me explain.
Years ago, there was a movie out
called “The Cross and the Switchblade.”
It was a wonderful film (though cheesy and dated by today’s standards)
that portrayed the true story of a preacher who reached out to gangs in New
York. The fact that it was about real
people and showed real situations made it powerful. Though it was showing gang life (a tame
version I’m sure, but still eye-opening), it did this by not only showing the
vicious fighting that occurred, but also by making you use your imagination
some. And while I’m sure the gangs in
question did not speak like choir boys, there were only a very few swear words
in the film. And the movie showed the
power of God’s love to change you for the better and how He doesn’t give up on
anyone. No matter your background and no matter what you've done, God still loves us and wants us in His family. I
still find the film powerful, though it is more than 30 years old.
In contrast, I went to see a more current movie with my brother awhile back. (I’m not going to use the
movie name here, but if you ask me I’ll tell you what it was.) And while I was not a really a fan of the person the
film was about to begin with, I had heard the name and good things about their
talent plus I enjoy biographical films. But mostly, I just wanted to hang out with my brother. It was a treat for me since I rare have that opportunity.
I left the movie having no desire to ever hear anything about or by the
person the movie revolved around. My
opinion of the person, from that film (and only from that film as I had
nothing else to base it on), was that the person was paranoid that people would leave or not like the person, was one of the most joyless people I had ever seen portrayed and was quite selfish. Not selfish where money or time is concerned, but more in the fact that everything had to revolve around him. His needs, his issues, his feelings. If it didn't revolve around him, then it didn't matter. Even the charity work him did seemed to be more to make the person feel better about himself. Now the actual person was perhaps not this way, but that was what was portrayed in the film.
I understand that not everyone is happy
all the time and I know that being a Christian does not mean that everything
goes well in our lives all the time. But
if they were wanting to make a movie about how God’s love can change you, how
God’s love is amazing, or how God’s love is powerful, they missed the mark. I’m not saying the person didn’t have a walk
with the Lord…please don’t take that from my words. Just that, the movie portrayed this person in
a way that made me…well, pity him.
I saw someone online recently
talking about what a wonderful Christian movie a certain film was. (Again, I am not posting the movie name, but if you ask, I will tell you.) I had not heard about the film so I looked it
up. When I saw that it was rated R and
had around 30 F words (according to a secular website) as well as a bunch of
other stuff that I wouldn't want to see/hear. I questioned the person about it.
They responded in part, that it was a powerful Christian film and that the main character in the film is constantly shown as a light against the darkness around
them and was able to speak to them because of that.
That may well be, (I have not seen the film and do not plan to) but here is the bottom
line as I see it. When I go to a
Christian film I was to learn about Christ.
I want to see the difference He makes in people’s lives. And though I know we need to see the
difference between those who walk in the darkness and those who walk in the
light, I don’t want to be accosted by a barrage of swear words, smut, or
innuendo in order for them to do that. And if the screenwriter is any good at all, I
don’t need to be.
Many years ago, Dick Van Dyke, was
asked by a magazine why his show (at the time he was on “Diagnosis Murder”)
didn’t have more sex and violence in it. The magazine felt he wasn’t showing life as it
is. His response was, “What’s wrong with telling
like it ought to be?” I love that. If he, as a secular artist, felt that way
shouldn’t we, as Christians be even more vigilant about that?
We see the bad. It’s
all around us. We don’t need Hollywood
to inform us that the world is a dark place. We are called to be the light in that
darkness. God gives us creativity. He gives talent. I am not a screenwriter by any means, but I
know that God has given some people an incredible talent for that. We serve an amazing God. He has overcome the world and we have been
called to bring the world to Him. Tell
me, how making someone who is already dealing with the darkness around them, trudge through even more of it is a good way to reach them for Christ?
I have often heard people talk about movies being good
because they are “real”. Well, “real” is overrated. We all know real. And for some, the reality of life is more
overwhelming than for others. We are here to show them the life God has for them. I’m with
Dick Van Dyke on this one. “What’s
wrong with telling it like it ought to be?”
