Pop quiz. What is one of the biggest, one of the most universal forms of entertainment (dare I say, artform? Yes, sometimes) in our culture today? Television? Music? Film? I suppose you could make an argument for all three. And that’s really the point. There are so many ways to introduce a discussion on faith through today’s popular forms of culture. It’s a safe bet to say everyone is familiar to some degree with television, music, and film and that everyone has some favorites in each area. But what about other forms of culture like art? Paintings, drawings, photography, and computer graphics. And what about writing? Fiction, drama, poetry, screenplays, journalism. And what about...well, you get the picture.
So what do YOU like? Are you a movie nut like me? Does music speak to your soul? How about television, everyone’s guilty habit? Come on, admit it, you have a few shows you like to watch every week. And yes, there is a lot of great television out there beside public access. So take your pick. While you’re deciding, let’s take some time to explore some of the seed planters out there already and see how they are planting the message of Christ in their chosen medium.
Movie Messages
You knew I’d start with movies, didn’t you? Hey, it is my blog after all. I’m sure if I asked you to come up with five favorite movies – ones you don’t mind watching again and again – you could easily do it. Probably ten movies or more even, huh? Movies you’ve seen so many times you can recite the dialogue in your sleep, yeah? But could you take those films and use them as a diving board to jump into a conversation about your faith? Probably.
Christianity Today Movies
The magazine, “Christian Today,” has been around for awhile but their official “movie” section started in February of 2004. While they may have come a little late to the game in developing an online forum for discussing faith in film, they’ve certainly made up for it in content, which is why I’m beginning with them as my first example.
Run the Race – Don’t Quit
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish. Hebrews 12:1-2b
Not only do they review every movie that comes out – and archive them for future reference – but they provide a few “discussion point” questions to help start a conversation. So if you don’t know how to get started in tying a film to your faith, start with these questions. It’s a great way to begin. The site includes reviews from other Christian reviewers, downloadable Bible studies for about five bucks on lots of films, interviews, articles and commentaries about faith and film, and even a parental barometer for deciding whether your kids should see a certain film or not.
“Christianity Today” has done a really wonderful job with this website. If I had to recommend one source for you to go to for information on film and faith, this could very well be the one. You’ll see throughout this book several references to source material from “Christianity Today,” so you know I’m a big fan.
Check it out for yourself: http://www.christianitytoday.com/movies/
Christian Movie Review Websites
There are many websites out there in cyberland to provide you a wealth of Christian movie review material. Remember I asked you to pick out five of your favorite movies? Take those five movies and explore the reviews of them on these websites (including “Christianity Today”) to help you in formulating your message. Film is a very powerful medium for expressing a theme, a message, a mood, or idea. It’s a good idea to research what others have already said about a film you’re interested in discussing, not only to confirm what you want to say but also to provide additional ideas as well as possible critiques on your message – and how to respond.
The Film Forum – now called, The Joy of Movies
This was one of the first Christian movie review sites I came across when I first started looking into using film as a tool to share my witness, and it remains a favorite of mine. Editor Steve Lansingh has a wonderful way with words and is able to find a spiritual message that really hits home in every review he gives. On his website, part of his bio reads, “Steve is a spiritual sojourner whose encounters with God are usually found in everyday, ‘mundane’ moments like watching movies, preparing food, holding hands, waiting in line, and laughter. He believes that since life was created as a gift, and human beings were created in love, then the purpose of Christianity is not to withdraw from our surroundings but to know God more fully through experiencing this world.”
Sounds like a seed planter to me, doesn’t he?
I read an article of his called, “Ten Films of 1999,” which included a discussion on a few challenging films from a Christian standpoint such as “Fight Club” and “American Beauty.” At first glance you might not think there was any kind of message a Christian could use from these films to give context to their faith, but read what Mr. Lansingh had to say in one of his columns:
“There’s a scene in ‘Fight Club’ in which Tyler Durden forces a store clerk at gunpoint to follow his dream of becoming a veterinarian. I identified with this clerk; sometimes I need the gun to the head to make the bold choice rather than drift along with the rest of society. To me, this scene make the movie’s point: Choose this day whom you will serve. It also got me thinking: If I was forced to name what I wanted to do with my life, could I identify one particular thing I hope to accomplish, without which the trigger might as well have been pulled? So I decided to write, in essence, a mission statement. My mission is ‘to look for God’s hand in the everyday and help others see it.’ The question ‘Fight Club’ asks me, and that I will probably constantly struggle with, is why I’m afraid to leave behind what makes me unhappy in order to pursue that goal wholeheartedly.” (Source: Ten Films that Made my Year, by Steve Lansingh, “The Crossing.”)
After I read that, I was hooked. What a powerful statement. And what a powerful tool films are to share your faith. And not just “spiritual” films either. Challenge yourself to find a message in the films that the people you plan to witness to like the most. Don’t gravitate only to the obvious Christian message films like “The Passion of the Christ” or “The Ten Commandments.” Odds are you’ll have much better success in your witness by coming at Christ through films seemingly devoid of any Christian context.
Films, good films, deal with the total human experience and that experience includes a relationship of some kind with the spiritual side of humanity. It’s your job as a Christian to tap into the broad subject of spirituality which we can find in almost any film and focus it in tightly on the message of salvation in Christ. Take some time to see how Mr. Lansingh and the staff of “The Joy of Movies” do it and learn from them.
Then go do it yourself.
Check it out for yourself: http://www.joyofmovies.com/
Like “Joy of Movies,” there are a ton of website resources for you to explore if movies are what you like and you feel comfortable discussing them with your friends and acquaintances in relation to your faith. The few I’ll mention here are just the tip of the iceberg, but worth exploring as resources as you develop your own way and style of “movie witnessing.” (Note: websites come and go. Hopefully the ones listed here are alive and kicking as you read this, but if not, put those fingers to work on a Google search for “Christian movie reviews,” or “Christian movie critics,” or “film, faith, witnessing,” or other phrasing that you come up with. And then you’ll “come up with” a lot, trust me). Some sites are better than others and some focus on the message of Jesus Christ in their reviews more than others. But all of them have something to say. Take a look and see for yourself and decide what works best for you as a resource.
In no particular order:
http://www.hollywoodjesus.com/ – Pop culture from a spiritual point of view. Lots of great resources on this site.
http://www.christiancritic.com/ - Reviews and spiritual commentary of film critic Michael Elliott.
http://www.lookingcloser.org/ - Looking for truth, beauty, and meaning in the arts (includes music reviews, too). Read Jeffrey Overstreet’s “Purpose of Looking Closer” statement. Here’s a bit from it: “To glorify God in the discipline of art, one must pursue beauty, truth, and excellence. All beauty belongs to God. All truth. All excellence. Movies, like any art form, can reveal for us pieces of the truth, no matter who directed the film, who starred in it, or what it is about.” Pretty good stuff, don’t you think?
http://www.pluggedinonline.com/ – Based on the publication of the same name from Focus on the Family. Also includes reviews and commentary on music and television.
promontoryartists.org - Encouraging Christians in the arts and impacting culture through the arts.
Like I said, there are a ton out there, but these will get you started.
Movies to Ponder
The following list is by no means a definitive list of movies to use as your entrée to sharing the message of Christ. No doubt, some of them will not be to your liking for a variety of reasons. All I ask is that you do not dismiss them outright. If you haven’t seen them, take a peek. If you have and wonder what the heck I could be talking about in terms of using a film like say, “American Beauty,” as a witnessing tool. Be open, pray about it, then go with something you like. That’s the real key – being passionate. In the first place, what we are really doing is being passionate about Christ. Then we tie that passion into a movie that really touched us in some way. In some way the movie was exciting, moving, thrilling, thought provoking, etc. to us. Put it all together and take your passion and excitement to your friends so that they pick up on it and catch fire, too. That’s what it’s all about, right?
So take a look, see what you think, then maybe explore some of the reviews of these films on the Christian movie review sites above, and see where God takes you the next time you’re standing around the water cooler with your friends and co-workers. Strike up a conversation: “Hey Bob, did you ever see the movie, American Beauty? That scene where the kids video-taped that plastic bag floating in the air was really interesting. It reminded me of...” And you’re off!
In no particular order:
American Beauty – perhaps a challenging movie for some Christians, but at the heart it speaks to finding God’s beauty in the everyday and to a hope for a happier life by just being who you really are because life is worth living even though humanity has its flaws. How might we as Christians speak about hope and offer that message to those trying desperately to hold up appearances while feeling completely lost inside?
The Stand – One of my favorite Stephen King books and a pretty good mini-series. Like many stories in the horror (and sci-fi) genre, this one speaks to the ultimate struggle between good and evil. Here, King gets pretty direct in defining that good and evil as God vs. Devil. I love the horror genre (and sci-fi) for exactly that reason – at the core of almost every horror movie is the good vs. evil theme. Who will win? “Aliens,” “Dracula,” “The Wolfman,” “Independence Day,” “The Exorcist,” “Star Wars,” – just a few examples where you could take the idea of good versus evil and get into a conversation about the ultimate good, that is God, and the ultimate evil, that is, the devil.
An article on ChristianityToday.com has this to say about horror movies and the Christians response:
“...in the hands of a sanctified imagination, the horror form...can become a vehicle for redemption. . . True horror treats good as good and evil as evil. . . True horror reminds us how profoundly moral our universe is. It reminds us, refreshingly, of simple things like good and evil, justice and mercy, courage and cowardice. . .True horror, finally, makes possible an experience of grace. It suggests that we too are misshapen, we too are duped by evil. There is in us all a Mr. Hyde. . .The horror story, in the end, is a reminder that our present reality is disturbed and distorted. In the hands of the Christian, that reminder can become an invitation to redemption. . . The horror story is not an escape from life, in all its wildness and terrible beauty; it is rather a way of walking through it, and as such a reminder that there is meaning, thanks be to God, in the middle of all the horror.” (Source: “The Horrors!” by W. David O. Taylor; ChristianityToday.com, posted 4/05/2005)
Amen.
The Matrix – Okay, a ton of stuff has been written about this film and the series. I even mentioned it earlier in this book. But it’s worth talking about again. Themes of Christianity and Buddhism abound in the film but one of the most obvious and simplest-to-grasp character types in this film is Neo as the Christ figure. This is a common character type in many films but is so very clearly presented in Neo as the “one” who will save humanity from the machines and free them all to live freely in Zion. To do this, he has to sacrifice himself so that the other humans can live. Neo’s character, that is, his purpose, reminds us that a fallen world of people is still worth saving. Both in the first film and most definitely in the last film we see these themes played out (sorry if I’m spoiling the end for some of you but if you haven’t seen “The Matrix” by now – what planet are you from. Just kidding. Relax, have some fun). This series can create many long conversations and debates for you as you witness, and you can have fun along the way because aside from the message, it’s a very entertaining film, too.
Fight Club – I resisted this movie for a long time because I thought it was a film about gratuitous violence. How wrong I was. Yes, like “American Beauty” it is a challenging film. There is violence in it but this film is a dark comedy. Did I say comedy? Yes, one that bites. But as you read in the quote from Steve Lansingh, there’s a lot to unpack in this film—it’s about not sitting by and wasting your life. Finding purpose, being yourself, not letting the world and its drive to acquire material possessions define who you are. (There’s a great sequence where the main character sees his apartment through the eyes of an IKEA catalog and wonders what kind of dining set defines himself as a person). What a great opening to talk to others about where to find your real purpose for living – in Christ. Give the movie a try. See if it fits.
The Truman Show and Bruce Almighty – interestingly, both starring Jim Carrey, but both films speak, in different ways, to the consequences of when humans try to play God and runs things on their own. Not good. But how many people do you know who try to live life on their own terms, who don’t need God, and like the family in “American Beauty” are living a miserable life on the inside while pretending all is well on the outside?
Ben Hur – we could put many of the openly religious movies in this category, like “The Ten Commandments,” “The Passion of the Christ,” and even the excellent (though slightly more veiled) mythological take on the Gospel through the movie version of “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe,” as wonderful and very direct tools for witnessing, but I want to focus on just one scene in “Ben Hur.”
Ben Hur is in chains as a slave and is being whipped and harshly moved along by the Roman soldiers. They stop for a moment and, as Ben Hur is collapsed on his knees, a figure bends down to give him some water, which he readily drinks down in gratitude. The soldier tells this “person” to stop but he doesn’t. Finally, the soldier comes forward to whip the tar out of this guy who won’t listen to him and the “person” stands up. We only see him from the back but it’s clear that this person is Jesus. Jesus stands there calmly, not moving as the guard looks upon his face (again, we only see the soldiers reaction, Jesus’ back is to us the whole time). The soldier is about to strike and pauses, looking into Jesus’ face. His anger becomes confusion, then perhaps embarrassment or shame and guilt, and he quickly looks away and walks off.
What a very simple scene but what a powerful one to show the love, compassion, sympathy, strength, and power in our savior. I cry every time I watch that scene which becomes even more powerful later on as the roles are reversed and Ben Hur tries to give Christ water as he carries his cross to Golgatha.
Sometimes it’s the simplest of scenes that we can draw on to share our message and not necessarily the whole film. Look for the scenes that speak to you. They may not even have much to do with the movie’s main story line, but you can use them in your witness.
Leap of Faith – A film that didn’t get its due in the theaters because of mis-marketing. It stars Steve Martin and Debra Winger and the story is about a slick talking preacher who goes around scamming people out of their money with flashy talk and fake miracles. But he arrives in one small town and is confronted with an honest-to-God miracle on his very own stage and is forced to deal with what he really believes. This is a great little film about redemption and the power of faith.
Shawshank Redemption – A wonderful movie based on a Stephen King novella (not a horror story, either) with its core message of holding on to hope even in the most terrible, bleak, and unjust situations. A powerful tool to witness for speaking to our hope and trust in Christ even in the most dire situations we find ourselves in – and to not giving up.
Lord of the Rings – Like “The Matrix,” a lot has been written about Christian symbolism in this trilogy. You’ll find many resources on the Internet and in various books, but here are some themes to think about in terms of your witness – a journey to save the world from destruction (we’re all on a journey, aren’t we? Every day, fulfilling our purpose to help Christ “save the world”), about not giving up (that theme of hope again), sacrifice, and faith, are but a few of those big, universal themes we find in epic stories like the Ring series – and don’t they all tie into the biggest story of them all? The story of salvation in Christ in the Bible. And unlike the Ring series, this “story” is true. What a powerful message.
The Apostle – Christians aren’t perfect. We sin like everyone else. The difference is that we recognize that we sin and seek Christ’s forgiveness daily and strive to live the best we can in a sinful world. In “The Apostle,” Sonny is a Southern preacher who loves the Lord and is filled with the spirit. But in a moment of rage, he gives into the darker side of sin and commits murder. Hiding out from the law, the film is about Sonny finding the road to redemption and walking it. This is a powerful film showing the dual nature of man – fighting against his sinful nature and continually seeking Christ’s righteousness, and the struggle of it all. To those you witness to who take the stance that all Christians think they are better then everyone else (you’ve heard that one before, right?), this might be a good film to lead into a discussion on the frailty of man (all humanity) and the need for having Christ in our life.
Okay, we’ll stop there – in just these few films I’ve mentioned, think about how many different directions a discussion on your faith could go. Explore for yourself. You may have no interest in the films I’ve just mentioned, but I hope I have whet your appetite to see how films can be a powerful tool to lead into a discussion of sharing the Gospel message of salvation in Christ – which is our ultimate goal. There are many ways to get started, and films are just one way.
But a fun way, I think. See you at the movies.
Moving Music
What kind of music do you like to listen to? Rock, heavy metal, country, punk, rap/hip-hop, acoustic? Christian music covers all styles of music. At one time Christian music was solely identified with the gospel-quartet-flowery-worship-type of music that it, well, kinda was in the beginning. Not that there’s anything wrong with it. It’s just that musical tastes are so varied and Christian music has expanded beyond what it was to reach those other tastes by artists who have a passion to share their witness through a certain style of music.
There are many Christian concert festivals today that share a diverse range of music styles but one of the first ones that I heard of was the “Cornerstone Festival.” As I dug into what Cornerstone was all about, I hit the motherload. They also have sister sites (http://www.burningbrush.net/ and http://www.flickerings.com/) that showcase art and film in a Christian context at the festival. I encourage you to explore their websites and magazine and if sharing your faith through music is your thing, start saving your dollars for a road trip to their next annual festival.
Here’s a little bit of what you’ll read on their website for what Cornerstone is all about:
“This event called Cornerstone Festival is far more than a massive musical experience. It is more than a collection of hundreds of solo artists and bands representing every style and sub-genre on the current musical landscape. It is more than a gathering of expert thinkers and speakers offering over twenty separate seminar tracks on an amazingly diverse range of subjects. It is more than the sum of its parts, as is the body of Christ.
“Cornerstone Festival is the annual gathering of a community of believers that is spread out all over the world. From young children to senior citizens, Christians of all ethnicities and backgrounds migrate to a patch of 500 acres in central Illinois for four days of fellowship, entertainment, education and edification. One way of looking at Cornerstone is to see it as a continuation of a Jesus movement that began in the first century and remains a beacon of joy and spirit as we move into the next millennium.”
Rock and roll – Jesus style.
Check it out: http://www.cornerstonefestival.com/
Christian vs. Non-Christian
Just like films, you don’t have to stick to only “Christian” music in order to share your faith. Music speaks to us on a universal level through themes of love, hope, faith, anger, fear, that we as Christians can speak to. Of course, groups like Jars of Clay, DC Talk, Jennifer Knapp, Lost & Found, and other Christian groups not only have great music but a great message to share. But if those you are trying to witness to are immediately turned-off or suspicious when you bring them up, find out what type of music they like and see if you can’t find some themes in that music to tie your faith into.
Look at some of the mainstream rock groups out there that also have spiritual themes in their music like U2 and Creed. Let’s not stop at rock music, though. What style of music do your friends like?
Country? I love two songs by Garth Brooks, “The River,” and “Unanswered Prayers,” that speak, on some level, about finding your faith and trusting in God. Country music is full of themes concerning loss, grief, love, hope, and redemption.
Like Jazz? Music that speaks to your soul, not in words, but in your heart. One of my favorites is John Coltrane. Ever listen to his piece called, “A Love Supreme?” If you haven’t you should. Coltrane saw this work as his gift to God, his thanks to God for giving him the gift of music, something he wanted to share with the world. This is probably his most known piece of work, and arguably his most influential as a jazz artist. But what about as a seed planter? I think it’s a safe bet to know that many a person who has searched his or her soul in search of God was helped along the road through Coltrane’s “A Love Supreme.”
Here’s a little bit of what Mr. Coltrane himself had to say about his masterpiece:
“During the year of 1957, I experienced, by the grace of God, a spiritual awakening which was to lead me to a richer, fuller, more productive life. At that time, in gratitude, I humbly asked to be given the means and privilege to make others happy through music. I feel this has been granted through His Grace. ALL PRAISE TO GOD. . . He is gracious and merciful. His way is in love, through which we all are. It is truly – A Love Supreme.
“This album is a humble offering to Him. An attempt to say ‘THANK YOU GOD’ through our work, even as we do in our hearts and with our tongues. May He help and strengthen all men in every good endeavor.”
Wow. What a witness. Could you use this jazz masterpiece as part of your witness to carry forward the message God gave through John Coltrane?
Oh, yeah.
Classical music? Another form of music that speaks to and touches the soul. Much of Johann Sebastian Bach was played in the churches of his day. One of the most prolific composers of his day and whom many would consider The Greatest of Them All. A skilled organist, he was the ultimate church organist. As cantor at the church of St. Thomas in Germany, he wrote at least 215 cantatas (choral pieces) for his church. Just a couple of his many works that reflect his faith include “Magnificat,” and “Passion According to St. Matthew.” Worth checking out.
What about George Frideric Handle? Everyone has at least heard the Hallelujah chorus from his most famous work, “Messiah,” right? Known to be a bit of a hot head himself, but his music spoke for itself. In “Messiah,” we have a musical story in three parts depicting Christ's birth, death, and resurrection with each part breaking down into a series of arias and choruses, using a Biblical passage as their basis. When Handel was writing “The Messiah,” it is said that he saw visions of God and Heaven and, while composing the Hallelujah chorus, “saw heaven opened and the host of it worshipping the Glory of God.” What a great way to talk about Christ for classical music lovers, or any lover of music. What can one say to that except, “Hallelujah!”
Just as King David used music to express his praise and love of God, so too, you can do the same by sharing your passion and joy of Christ through the music you love with others.
Writing Your Witness
Do you like to write? I do. As a seed planter myself, writing is a gift that God has given me to share my witness. I published a novel called, “Struck by Lightning.” It’s an interesting tale in the horror and supernatural genre that is a story of good vs. evil (God vs. Devil). The basic premise is, what if the demon Legion, which Christ himself exorcised and sent into the herd of pigs and over the cliff to their death, what if Legion had managed to scratch and claw its way back to earth in our time, and now was looking for a little revenge? My goal was simple: write an entertaining story while also planting a few seeds that God could water. After reading my book, perhaps a person might ask, “What do I really believe will happen to me after I die?” “Am I really willing to take the chance that all this Jesus-stuff is not true? What if it is true and there really is a hell?” And by asking those questions, then start to explore what they really believe in hopes that their journey leads them toward finding the answer in Christ. (Shameless plug: “Struck by Lightning” is available on http://www.amazon.com/ and http://www.bn.com/ ). To date, it certainly hasn’t been a blockbuster, but people have bought it. And if only one person is directed to Christ through reading my book, then I say along with Handle, “Hallelujah!”
One of the things that’s so exciting about writing is the many forms it takes. There’s a group of entertainment professionals out in California (though they’ve since spread across the country) who got an idea back in 1999 and created a training program to train people of faith for careers as TV and film writers. Called, “Act One, Inc.,” they’ve since grown their program to now include an Executive Program for aspiring entertainment executives. What a great idea. When you get a chance, read their mission-vision statement on their website, http://www.actoneprogram.com/, which reads in part:
“Act One, Inc. exists to create a community of Christian professionals for the entertainment industry who are committed to excellence, artistry, and personal holiness, so that through their lives and work they may be witnesses of Christ and the Truth to their fellow artists and to the global culture.
“Stressing artistry, excellence, professionalism, and spirituality, Act One prepares students to be salt and light in writers rooms, on sets, and in studio and network offices. Our goal is not to produce explicitly religious entertainment, but movies and TV programs of unusual quality and depth.”
Think of some TV shows from the past that can be used today in your Christian witness: “Touched by an Angel,” “Highway to Heaven,” “Joan of Arcadia,” “7th Heaven,” to name a few.
Stepping aside from the world of fiction writing, what about the other “writers” out there? What are they doing with their talents to plant seeds for Christ?
Photojournalists write with their pictures. They see the world, that is, they pause and take notice of it. And then they record it for others to see. Here’s another great website to check out: http://www.christiansinphotojournalism.org/. Christians in Photojournalism started out as a support group, and their basic belief is that all Christians should develop a keen sense of visual literacy. See the world around you and be prepared to talk about it, and to witness both to it and through it. In a “Christianity Today” article (October 2004, Vol. 48, No. 10), Denise McGill interviews five top Christian photographers about their work. Here are a couple of quotes from those interviews:
“[Joanna] Pinneo says photojournalists are privileged to be allowed into people’s lives. ‘God has chosen us to be communicators,’ she says. ‘If we see people, or even touch them, it’s kind of like touching the hem of Jesus’ robe.’”
“He [Greg Schneider] makes no apologies for bringing his strong viewpoint to work behind the lens each day. ‘I’m truly trying to make the kind of picture that will move people to invest in God’s kingdom in different ways.’”
Isn’t it amazing how God uses so many different people with so many different talents to share his message of love and salvation? Are you starting to see it yet? You know your purpose, yes, but are you starting to put together all those talents and interests you have stirring inside yourself to see how they can be directed, or channeled, I should say, toward fulfilling that purpose?
Oh yeah, I knew you could.
Even if you are not a writer (or a photographer), certainly you could use the works of other writers – of novels, plays, poems, and so on, as a tool for witnessing just like we’ve discussed in film and music. And of course, what book is your best tool for witnessing? The Bible! Duh. I know, you knew that one.
But what else is out there and what are some examples of other writers using their gift to witness for Christ?
Some of the obvious ones you may remember are, “The Prayer of Jabez,” “Purpose Driven Life,” and how about the “Left Behind” series? Maybe a little heavy-handed in its approach to a tale of the end times as recorded in the book of Revelations, but still a great discussion topic. Ever read any books by Frank Peretti? One of his most famous is “This Present Darkness.” He’s a Christian fiction writer for the most part, sharing his faith in tales of the supernatural that he weaves. You may know about C.S. Lewis and his Christian novel series, “The Chronicles of Narnia.” (And the film version of the first book in the series, “The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe,” is another great witnessing tool). But C.S. Lewis is known primarily as one of the great Christian thinkers, who, along with G.K. Chesterton, and a host of other Christian thinkers and theologians, provide a wealth of information for you to build upon your skills to witness or even engage in a healthy apologetics debate.
Start off small, of course, get your feet wet as you witness more and more with the tools you find most comfortable and accessible but be open to growing in your knowledge and your witness. As you grow in confidence, knowledge, and ability, be open to expanding your level of witnessing.
How about the classics? Certainly John Milton’s “Paradise Lost” and his description of Hell, Eden, and Heaven or even Dante Alighieri's three part epic, “The Divine Comedy” with his description of Hell could offer some stimulating conversation. Don’t want to go that deep? Then how about Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” that toe-tapping musical depicting the life of Joseph in the Old Testament?
The beauty of writing is in the varied forms it offers to readers – from prose to poetry, plays to screenplays, journalism to all the many non-fiction books we have in the world to enjoy. So much of it can be used by you in your seed planting efforts whether as a writer yourself, or in using the works of other writers to open that conversation up.
And remember, too, like we talked about with film, the writing you use may be Christian in nature, may be “spiritual” in nature, or may just be plain ol’ secular entertainment. It’s how you use and apply it that matters. For example, one of my favorite writers happens to be Stephen King. Is he a Christian? I don’t know. Personally, I see in his work a man searching for answers about what is out there and what he believes. In an afterword in his book, “The Colorado Kid,” he asks the questions of where do we come from and where are we going. He doesn’t know and possibly has a “sneaking suspicion all that might be a con-job laid down to fill the collections plates.” But I know where we are going and you do, too. That’s the message we need to tell, to share (and I’d be happy to share it with Mr. King if he would like J). But whether or not Mr. King is a Christian, could I use his work as a launching pad to start a conversation with a non-Christian friend about Jesus? You betcha. As I said before, one of my favorite King books is, “The Stand,” which boils down to your basic good vs. evil story (like we discussed earlier concerning the TV mini-series version). King even goes so far as to use the character of God (which he has in other works, too) as the “good” in the book. So, my friends, it’s all fair game. Don’t be afraid of the so-called secular material out there. Whether or not the original author/creator intended a different message than the love of salvation in Christ, you can use it in your witness. Remember what our lad who once owned a technicolor dreamcoat said to his brothers who almost killed him then sold him into slavery, “As far as I’m concerned, God turned into good what you meant for evil.” (Genesis 50:20a). Now, I’m not saying anything that doesn’t have a Christian stamp on it is evil. By no means! All I’m saying is – it’s all out there. The good, the bad, and the ugly. God uses all things towards His will. Whatever you use, use it to God’s glory.
Can I get an “Amen?”
That’s right!
Checklist & Summary
1. Use the world around you, everything, that is – EVERYTHING – if it can help you in the goal of fulfilling your purpose to tell the world that Jesus loves them and died for their sins so that by simply believing in Him and living the best life we can in that faith, that one day we’ll be with Christ in paradise and oh what a par-ty it will be!
2. The arts of the world are a good place to start. Everyone has a favorite movie, song, play, novel, work of art, etc. and odds are you can find a way to bring up a conversation about your faith through your mutual love of those arts.
3. You may have the skills of an artist (writer, painter, musician, photographer, etc.) and can use that talent to witness for Christ.
4. Or, you may not have those skills but you have the love for an art form. So get out there and talk it up.
5. See item #1. It doesn’t have to be a “Christian” item in order for you to use it as part of your witness. Just know what you want to say and how you want to use it in your example as you share your message.
6. Have fun! This is not a chore, not something to be afraid of (yes, I know there is fear involved but once you start doing it, you won’t be able to shut up. Just get started. Go slow, go steady, but go!), not something to be “checked off” as in, “There, I did it, now I’m done.” No, this is your life! This is your purpose. This is number one on the list. It’s what you live for and can’t wait to start doing. Right? Right. So have fun. That’s why God invented smiles, belly laughs, and people who snort when they hear something funny. Life is meant to be fun. To be enjoyed. We become completely fulfilled and know who we are when we have Christ first in our life and foremost in our minds and hearts to share with others.
