Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Closing Thoughts (Planting Seeds - 19)

Well, my friends, it has certainly been fun sharing these thoughts with you. I hope I’ve at least stimulated you with this small manual to go out there and seek more information. I hope you can see how the gifts God gave, the interests you have, the culture you engage in, and the time and treasures God has blessed you with can all be used in service toward our loving Father, for whom we owe everything. It’s a joy to be able to do His will. It’s an honor that God will use us to tell His message of love and salvation to others who have yet to believe.

Remember to have fun, too. God wants good things for our life. God wants everyone to come to know and believe in Him and share in His warm and loving embrace. It’s just this darn sin that gets in the way in the form of selfishness, stubborn pride, greed, laziness, and the list goes on. While you will have some challenges, no doubt, some trials and setbacks perhaps, you will also experience love, joy, and peace that passes all understanding in knowing, really knowing, you are fulfilling your purpose in this world. Big or small, it all counts in God’s book.

Go at your pace, too. If you are excited and all revved up to go and share your witness – great! Be purpose driven. Just don’t let your drive burn out your purpose. All that means is simply share your witness as you feel called. Don’t think you have to witness to X number of people per day and that if you don’t you are some how failing God. Get started, yes, but don’t torment yourself by setting some unrealistic goal. There are no set numbers of people you need to witness to. Sure, everyone you meet is a potential person to share with but at the same time don’t beat yourself up and become discouraged if you don’t witness to every person you meet. I want to encourage, yes. I want to get you started, yes. But I don’t want to burn you out either. Again, simply go at your own pace.

So go and serve the Lord in joy and gladness, my friends. And I’ll see you at the movies (or a concert, or an art gallery, or a...you get the picture) with Bible in hand and a prayer in my heart.

We started with the Great Commission. That’s where it is for all of us. Our purpose. Our life. Don’t forget. Let’s repeat it again, shall we?

Jesus says to us: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this—I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Amen.

Your Utility Belt (Planting Seeds - 18)

Like Batman, you’ll have many pop culture tools in your utility belt to witness to the world. But what are the core, solid, and basic tools you’ll need to “go the distance?” And when you’ve opened the door with a person through engaging them in a current film or piece of music, what are you going to say from there? As I said earlier in this book, I’m not here to give you the words. The Holy Spirit can do that just fine, thank you very much. But I am going to give you a few reminders (and you know I like reminders) of stuff you already know (“Duh,” again) – but lets face it, we all need reminders. The world pulls at us in so many different directions, and you know the Devil is on the prowl to pull us away, distract us, and confound us any time he can, (“Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8) that we need to be reminded and refreshed about how to maintain, keep focused, and...“go the distance.”

So here is your own utility belt of items to keep, practices to do daily, habits to get into. You know these things but ask yourself if you really KNOW them and practice them. Know and practice them so well that they become part of your identity, part of who you are so that you cannot function properly without them.

They are that important.

1) Read the Bible daily
The key word here folks is DAILY. You say, “I know, I know.” You may even have good intentions. My friends, intentions are bunk. Remember our pal Yoda who said, “There is no try. There is only do.” Remember our Nike slogan. “Just do it.” I’m pounding these things over and over because we don’t do it. And we have to. The Bible is a living, breathing, powerful tool. It is God’s word. And that word is alive. It is inerrant. It is God-breathed. It’s not a bunch of feel-good stories or nice words of wisdom to put on a mantel above your fireplace (though it’s okay if you do). Jesus is not just a teacher or prophet or composite of good attributes, or a caricature or a metaphor. The Bible is power. The Bible is truth (not subjective but objective) – the ultimate and only truth because the Bible is God. Words are powerful in and of themselves, yes. But the Word of God is the King Kong of powerful words.

Hear His Word now:

“In the beginning the Word already existed. He was with God, and he was God. He was in the beginning with God. He created everything there is. Nothing exists that he didn’t make. Life itself was in him, and this life gives light to everyone. The light shines through the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.” John 1:1-5

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV)

“For the word of God is full of living power. It is sharper than the sharpest knife, cutting deep into our innermost thoughts and desires. It exposes us for what we really are.” Hebrews 4:12

As Christians, we need to be constantly growing, reinforcing, remembering, and applying God’s Word in our life and in our witness. It’s so very, very easy to get distracted. I try to set aside time in the evening to read four chapters – one from the Old Testament, one Psalm, one Gospel, and one New Testament. Do I do it all the time, every day? No. But for the most part I do and I continually work toward and pray for the strength to read the Bible daily. Without it, folks, we just drain away, we atrophy, and we forget. We do. But we cannot. Make it a point to work on reading God’s Word daily no matter where you are, no matter what time of day. One chapter or ten, even one verse (but come on, at least set a minimum of one chapter, it’s shorter than your average magazine article) whatever, but do it. And don’t just read it. Study it, absorb it. And, memorize it...

2) Memorize the Bible
That is, memorize verses. You’ve seen throughout this little book all the wonderful verses of encouragement, direction, and strength that I hope you take time to memorize. Spending time not just reading but memorizing will help you in your witness. When you are nervous or seeking just the right thing to say to someone, yes, the Holy Spirit will guide you, but the Word of God will be more effective in your witness when you already know it. The words just flow off your tongue as the Holy Spirit pulls them from the memory cells in your brain and plants them on your tongue. So make sure as you are reading the Bible, you are spending separate time to memorize God’s Words and make them your words.

3) Go to church
I often read about people saying they have God in their life or in their heart but they don’t need church or “organized religion.” Religion has taken on a bad connotation it seems as well as has church and that’s a shame.

The bottom line is you need church. You need fellowship. Church may be a hospital sometimes, but really it’s a gym. You need to power up and refill your battery cells after being in the world for the last week. God dwells in your heart yes, but He really dwells in His church. (“For where two or three gather together because they are mine, I am there among them.” Matthew 18:20).

Christ instituted the church on earth when He sent the Holy Spirit to the apostles. Who wouldn’t want the chance to praise, pray, sing, learn, partake in Holy Communion, and dwell with God among your fellow believers? I don’t understand people who say they believe in God but do not “Honor the Sabbath day to keep it holy,” as God commands. Look at how believers acted amongst each other at the church’s formation: “And all the believers met together constantly and shared everything they had. They sold their possessions and shared the proceeds with those in need. They worshipped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity – all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their group those who were being saved.” Acts 2:44-47.

That’s church, baby!

Unity in Christ – Working Together With One Heart & Purpose
Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and sympathetic? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one heart and purpose. Philippians 2:1-2

And don’t be a church hopper. Yes, churches are run by humans and as humans, we sin, we bicker, we sometimes don’t get along. But that doesn’t mean you run away to a new church at the first sign of a struggle or difficulty. Stick with it. You don’t ditch your family for a new one when the going gets tough, do you? (Well, I suppose some do but is that what God calls us to do?) Why would you abandon your church then? Build something at your church – your relationship with your pastor, your fellow church members, your community. Stay with it and attend regularly and God will only continue to grow in your heart as you go out and face the world each day. I think people should be running to their church every Sunday. It’s a welcome reprieve from the day-to-day dealings of the world. And we carry the church with us. That is, we carry what God has implanted with us. We live our life for Christ daily. Remember the mindset – having a total worldview of God first in our life in all things. Church is simply the cherry on top of the sundae. And who doesn’t like Sundays (pun intended)?

So if you don’t have a current church home, find one already! Jesus is our example and He attended church regularly: “When he came to the village of Nazareth, his boyhood home, he went as usual to the synagogue on the Sabbath and stood up to read the scriptures.” (Luke 4:16) What makes you any different then? Remember the cowboy church. Find one that fits for you. You like rock and roll Christian music or traditional hymns? Find one that fits for you. Just don’t get too caught up in the style of your church over the substance of what is preached. Sure, you want to be comfortable, but instead of asking whether the church uses electric guitars in their service, first and foremost you should ask, “Is this church talking to me about the Gospel and the saving message of Jesus Christ?” Because, just like reading the Bible daily, you need to hear that message each and every week. Don’t tell me you know the Christmas story, you know the Lent story, you’ve heard the “Good Samaritan” or the “Prodigal Son” story a billion times. Maybe you’ve heard but have you HEARD it? Do you live it? Is it part of your being or DNA even? Make it so. We are creatures of forgetfulness and distraction and self interest. We need to hear the Gospel message as often as we can, especially if we want to be a witness of it to the world.

If all you are hearing at church are ways for life to be better for YOU, then you are in the wrong church. As Rick Warren said in “Purpose Driven Life,” It’s not about you. If the sermons you hear are all about ways to increase your financial wealth through Christian living or ways to be happier in your life – if all you hear is stuff about you, you, you – get over yourself! That’s not your purpose. Your purpose is, say it with me, serving God through sharing the Good News of salvation in Christ. And lo and behold, when you do that, you find your life is the best it can be – even if by the world’s standards it isn’t. We are not of the world as the saying goes. We are in it. And while we are in it, we need to act in it. We need to act on behalf of our loving Savior, follow His example, who served mankind His whole ministry. That’s our ministry, too. Be we can’t do it without a support group. You’ll find that support in your church.

4) Be prepared for attacks
Let’s face it, as soon as you start putting it out there and start living your purpose by witnessing about Christ, the Devil is going to jump all over you like white on rice. The Devil would rather you stay silent, go to church like a good little Christian, but keep your faith personal – that is, keep it silent, internal, and don’t share it with anyone. Sure, the Devil says, go do your church thing for an hour on Sunday, but then forget about it and get back to your real life. And keep that Jesus stuff to yourself. You have no right to force people to believe what you think. Everyone has the right to believe what they want so keep it to yourself.

Trouble from All Sides
We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed and broken. We are perplexed, but we don’t give up and quit. 2 Corinthians 4:8

Is that your life right now? It is for so many Christians. And it makes the Devil happy. But now it’s time to shake yourself out of this soul-deadening way of life, take up your armor, and kick some Holy-butt! You know the Devil is prowling around like a lion. You know you’ll have people look at you funny or even with disdain when you start sharing the Good News (that’s one of the reasons why you’re going to be clever about doing it through culture, but NEVER diluting the message either. Never sugar-coating or watering down the message of Christ. All roads do not lead to heaven though many want to believe that. But what some people want and what is real are two different things. Christ loves everyone and makes it so easy to love Him back. He did the hard work and His loving Grace saves us – why people push that message away and treat it as narrow-minded is a mystery to me but never mind. The purpose is still the same. We need to go the distance even when it gets hard), so just expect it and then leave it behind. Christ is there to strengthen and be with you so really what do you have to fear? I know, I know, you still have to actually “talk” to people, and put yourself out there. But it’s okay, really. You are going to do fine. And believe me, once you get going, you’ll dig it and wonder why the heck you haven’t been doing it before.

Remember, the Bible is your ally: “A final word: Be strong in the Lord’s mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the Devil.” (Ephesians 6:10-11)

When You Suffer For Doing What Is Right
Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t be afraid and don’t worry. Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if you are asked about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. But you must do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak evil against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ. Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong! 1 Peter 3:13-17

Yes, there will be some tough times perhaps. Look at what happened to Jesus’ apostles. Even John, who wasn’t killed, was banished to the island of Patmos, yet God still had work for him when He gave John the visions to write the book of Revelation. Christ himself said, “Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because of your allegiance to me.” (Matthew 24:9) We read in Romans 8:17, “And since we are his children, we will share his treasures—for everything God gives to his Son, Christ, is ours, too. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.”

And Paul also says in 1 Corinthians 1:18 & 21 & 25, “I know very well how foolish the message of the cross sounds to those who are on the road to destruction. But we who are being saved recognize this message as the very power of God...Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never find him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save all who believe...This foolish plan of God is far wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is far stronger than the greatest of human strength.”

So you may get labeled as “narrow-minded,” “naïve,” “simple,” “intolerant,” or “foolish,” as Paul says. Not to sound glib but again, so what? “O God, I praise your word. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me?” (Psalm 56:4)

But on the other hand, what will happen to your neighbor if you never say anything? What if God had you in mind to talk to your co-worker and you never did for fear of being labeled “the religion guy?” What will you tell God when He asks what you did with the talents He gave you? Did you bury them or did you put them to work? So don’t worry so much about yourself but instead be concerned with the things of God. Be concerned with sharing His Good News so that ALL might be saved.

By the way, this is another reason to get your butt into church and build a family of fellowship there in one place. The world will get colder and colder as you put on your armor daily to battle the Devil to save souls. You need the love, kindness, and support of a church family to back you up, power you up, and keep you up.

5) Keep Learning
As you start your witness, we’ve talked about keeping it simple. Share the Gospel. John 3:16. And that’s good. Practice your witness, your personal story, in the mirror or with another Christian friend. Write it down. You’re not trying to create a canned-speech here, but in the beginning, it’s good to get your foundation down. You prepare for job interviews. You have cue-cards when giving a presentation at work. Prepare what you want to say and as time goes on, you’ll add to your witness and be speaking off the top of your head with the Holy Spirit there priming the pump all of the time.

As you read the Bible, read other books on faith, the history of Christianity, witnessing, and of course all those great books on finding God with pop culture that I mentioned in the last chapter. The point is to keep growing in wisdom and knowledge. I think everyone should have a basic course in apologetics (that is, the ability to make an intelligent argument for the truth of Christianity and Jesus Christ as our savior). This ties in with having a “worldview” of your beliefs which permeates everything you do and not simply keeping your faith in a box on Sunday that you keep separate from the rest of your life. People like to complicate things and as we just read in 1 Corinthians, they look at Christianity as simple-minded and foolish, an out-dated belief system that worked in days of superstition but doesn’t work in today’s enlightened, science-driven, post-modern society. The message of the church and the invitation to Christ’s grace will always be easy and open to those who believe it. As Christians, God calls us to keep growing in our knowledge of Him, as He speaks to us in Hebrews 5:12 – 6:3:

“You have been Christians a long time now, and you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things a beginner must learn about the Scriptures. You are like babies who drink only milk and cannot eat solid food. And a person who is living on milk isn’t very far along in the Christian life and doesn’t know much about doing what is right. Solid food is for those who are mature, who have trained themselves to recognize the difference between right and wrong and then do what is right. So let us stop going over the basics of Christianity again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely, we don’t need to start all over again with the importance of turning away from evil deeds and placing our faith in God. You don’t need further instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And so, God willing, we will move forward to further understanding.”

Amen. And don’t call me, Shirley. :-)

6) And last but not least: Prayer
In the movies you often hear the over-used line during some moment of crisis: “All we can do now is pray.” I saved prayer for the last in this list not because it’s the last thing you should do – no, it’s the first thing. I saved it till now because it’s the most important thing you can do. Again I hear you saying, “I know, I know.” But, like reading the Bible daily, I have to ask, “Do you?”

Prayer is the best maintenance tool you have on your utility belt to call on God for strength, wisdom, endurance, joy, you name it. As you live your life, as you give your witness, pray unceasingly. I mean it. Get a little chant going in your head throughout the day. You know the Jesus Prayer? It goes like this: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” It’s a tradition for the Greek Orthodox church and what a great tradition. Start saying this little prayer throughout the day and soon it will be running through your head on auto-play.

Jesus Prays for Us
I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. They are not part of this world any more than I am. Make them pure and holy by teaching them your words of truth. As you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. John 17:15-18

The point is to call upon God, always. He is our strength, our wisdom, our source for everything, especially for being an effective witness. Here’s some good advice from God as He spoke through the apostle Paul: “Always be joyful. Keep on praying. No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. And Jesus said, “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” Matthew 21:22. How powerful is that, huh? And, this: “Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.” (Colossians 4:2).

Just go back to step one – Read the Bible, and combined with prayer, you have a powerful combination. Top it off with the strength and support of fellowship through your family church and your continued drive to learn more – God will certainly bless your efforts.

Go the Distance (Planting Seeds - 17)

Maintenance Mode
In the movie, “Field of Dreams,” Kevin Costner keeps hearing a voice in his cornfield. And though he doesn’t really understand it, something in him trusts that voice and he ends up plowing most of his cornfield under to build a baseball diamond, at the risk of losing his home and alienating himself and his family from the neighborhood. Partway through the film, after having listened to the voice though it’s been hard, he hears the voice now say, “Go the distance.”

Ripe for the Pickin’
These were his [Jesus’] instructions to them: “The harvest is so great, but the workers are so few. Pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest, and ask him to send out more workers for his fields. Luke 10:2

That is just what you need to do. You might be excited to try and engage the world with your witness using the tools of the pop culture that surround us and that’s all good. You’ll probably hits some snags, maybe get discouraged, maybe embarrassed or frustrated. On the other end, you’ll experience the power of Christ working through you and see how coming at your witness from the side instead of directly head-on actually works, and makes the person you’re talking to comfortable and at ease enough to open up with you over time. You may plant seeds and never see them flower, but flower they do through the power of the Holy Spirit. The point is, no matter what happens, don’t give up, don’t get lazy, don’t get distracted, don’t stop.


Go the distance.

Don’t Get Discouraged
So don’t get tired of doing what is good. Don’t get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time. Galatians 6:9

Disclaimer
If you stayed with me so far (thank you, first of all) I want to make sure we are crystal clear about something. Obviously, I have a love of film, music, art, literature and other aspects of the culture we live in today. Like most people, I have an appreciation for beauty, for fun, for entertainment and enjoyment. But make no mistake. The goal of planting seeds is NOT to create a justification for spending all your time engaging in a life of leisure and entertainment. There is a time and a place for everything. God expects us to have time to rest, to take enjoyment from the things mankind creates, and to bask in the beauty of the world He created. (“And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God.” Then follows the next verse. “And I know that whatever God does is final. Nothing can be added to it or taken from it. God’s purpose in this is that people should fear [respect, stand in awe of] him.” Ecclesiastes 3:13-14) But our purpose, our calling, the first thing we should always be doing is looking for ways to serve our generous and loving Lord by sharing the Good News. Because that is, after all, where we find our true joy.

This is not a blog about putting movies and books and arts and music above God. These are merely tools God has given us to use in our utility belt to witness to the world. We take those metaphors, myths, and messages found in the culture of film, music, art, etc. and direct them towards a new life in Christ from the existing life in the world. I know you get that but sometimes it’s good to put things plainly, in black and white, ink on the page (or bytes on web), you know, so that we’re all on the same page.

Go ahead, you can tell me, “Duh, dude,” if you want.

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Yet a Few More Seed Planting Examples (16)

Digging Up the Past and Finding Jesus

You’ve probably at least heard some news every now and then about an artifact being found that supports a section of the Bible. The Shroud of Turin; the ossuary of James, the brother of Jesus, and the inscription on the side, which reads “James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus;” Noah’s Ark; the real Mt. Sinai – all of this and more has been discovered and discussed for their authenticity, plus a whole lot more. Biblical archeology is a field for many, experts and novices, which allows for some great conversations and debates as faith and science again mix together. The Biblical Archaeology Society publishes several magazines, including “Biblical Archaeology Review,” (
http://www.bib-arch.org) for those who are fascinated with finding God through the past.

Some lighter reading on Biblical archaeology can be found in the books of Bruce Feiler, such as, “Walking the Bible: A Journey by Land Through the Five Books of Moses,” and “Where God Was Born : A Journey by Land to the Roots of Religion.”

I dig this stuff.

Thoughts to Inspire and Ponder

“Serve God in the Miraculous and the Mundane.”

“We are called to fulfill the Great Commission and the Cultural Commission. If Christians don’t act to engage in culture soon there will be no culture left worth engaging.”

“If you can’t take people to God, take God to the people.”

“Worrying is simply praying to yourself.”

“Few things are as encouraging as the realization that things can be different and that we have a role in making them so.”

Educating Christians (and Non-Christians)

The “Bible Literary Project” (BLP) is an interesting idea. The Bible Literacy Project, Inc. is a non-partisan, non-profit endeavor to encourage and facilitate the academic study of the Bible in public schools. The basic idea is to offer a textbook in schools so that children can study the Bible as literature. Because the Bible is quoted or referenced in so much of the literature that children study in school such as “Hamlet,” “Great Expectations,” “The Grapes of Wrath,” the scholars behind this textbook feel that children should have a better understanding of the Bible – the characters, stories, historical information, style of writing, etc. They’ve created a textbook called, “The Bible and Its Influence,” and are working hard to put the book into high school literature and English classes. Their intention is not to present the book as a hidden form of witnessing, but simply to make kids aware of what is inside probably the most known book ever written.

I think it’s a great idea – making teenagers aware of the great literature captured within the Bible. And who knows where the Holy Spirit can take it from there? Read more about this project on:
http://www.bibleliteracy.org.

Bibles, Bibles, and More Bibles

If you haven’t taken a look lately, there are all kinds of really great versions of the Bible that focus on different types of people, lifestyles, and study patterns. For example, there’s a “Policeman’s Bible,” an “Adventure Bible,” a “Super Heroes Bible,” and a “Chicken Soup for the Soul Bible.”

But wait, there’s more! Life Application Bibles, Read-the-Bible-in-a-year Bibles, children’s Bibles, Teen Bibles, you get the picture. Maybe there’s one for the person you are trying to witness to – make a nice Christmas gift, huh?

Gaming for Christians

I’ve seen some of the Christian video games out on the market and most wouldn’t hold the attention of a kid used to the Kabooey-POW-Kablam factor found on most of the popular X-Box and PlayStation games. But there’s at least one company out there (and I know there are more) called Crave Entertainment that has a few games worthy of holding the interest of the fast-food generation, and maybe planting a few seeds along the way.

Crave’s “The Bible Game” is an interactive adventure that combines action and quiz challenges for “players of all ages” though it really targets a bit more toward the younger ages. It has some good music by contemporary Christian artists and is a nice way to introduce kids to the Bible. Check it out on “thebible-game.com.”


Checklist & Summary

What you’ve just read is only a small sample, the tip of the iceberg as the saying goes, of seed planters out there using their talents and interests to reach people with the Gospel message. I hope this little sample has given you some ideas and inspiration. Now it’s your turn. The first thing to do is simply, do something first.

1) Keep it simple. Ask questions. Be available. Be aware of opportunities.

2) Put God first in your life, that is, in fulfilling your purpose in life. And what is it? (pop quiz again) – Tell others about the Good News of salvation in Christ.

3) Keep learning and growing as a seed planter. Read books. Talk to others. Go outside your comfort zone and see where God takes you. It’s bound to be exciting.

4) Be open to inspiration as you see how others are being seed planters.

5) Start today!

More Examples on Planting Seeds (15)

Unleash the Inner Prayer Warrior and Christian Barbarian

We spoke in chapter one a little bit on the fear you might have in attempting to witness for Christ, whether to strangers or even people you know. Here are a few books to help empower you on your way to becoming the Über-Witness that you really are inside.

“Waking the Dead,” by John Eldredge.

“Total Truth: Liberating Christianity from Its Cultural Captivity,” by Nancy Pearcey.

“The Barbarian Way: Unleash the Untamed Faith Within,” by Erwin Raphael McManus.

“The Holy Wild: Trusting in the Character of God,” by Mark Buchanan

“The Importance of Being Foolish: How to Think like Jesus,” by Brennan Manning.


It’s All on the Web

“CultureWatch” - Another interesting website that brings culture and faith together is DickStaub.com which is about “Equipping the Culturally Savvy Christian through insight, quotes, and articles from the intersection of faith and culture.” The site provides commentary on faith and culture covering movies, music, books, and contemporary issues.

A great website, basically a blog, is
www.culture-makers.com which contains the collected writing of Andy Crouch who explores the ways that culture shapes faith, and the ways followers of Christ respond to culture. Worth a visit or two...or three...

Mars Hill Media is a non-profit media ministry whose goal is to “stir up cities with the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ through thought provoking, impactful media messages.” They are tuned in to using today’s culture and media sources to get their message out. And they offer some free resources, including an online version of their pamphlet, “Good News for the Religiously Tired,” (you can also purchase a hard copy). Go to:
www.marshillmedia.com

Blogs
The last I checked, there were over a thousand Christian weblogs (source: blogs4god.com) and that number will undoubtedly be bigger when you check. Remember we talked about those who like to share their faith through writing? Well here’s a way get going immediately (if not sooner!). You can create you own blog for free and there are templates to chose from so you don’t need any design skills to create and format your blog. Just the will to do it and tenacity to keep it up. Go to it, writers for God!

Nothing but the News
For those news junkies out there who like to talk about current events, you might want to check out the “Religious News Service,” which bills itself as “the only secular news and photo service devoted to unbiased coverage of religion and ethics – exclusively.” Find them at
www.religionnews.com.

Top Film Lists
Artsandfaith.com publishes a list of “Top 100 Spiritually Significant Films.” You’ll find many films listed there to stimulate your faith and get you thinking.

Writing Out Your Faith
“I was a Christian before I started writing,” said Bret Lott, author of many novels, including “Jewel.” So he’s a writer who is a Christian, not a Christian writer. His goal in writing is to teach and evangelize through fiction but his work in not preachy. (Source: “A Jewel of a Writer,” by Lauren F. Winner, published in “Christianity Today,” June, 2005)

Christian film critic, Matthew Kinne, loves movies so much that he wrote a devotional book, “Reflections for Movie Lovers,” which includes 365 musings on the power of cinema from a spiritual perspective.

Though we’ve already mentioned Stephen King, there are a few other works of his that bear mentioning. King has said, “While I believe in God, I have no use for organized religion.” Be that as it may (who knows how God may be working through people – Christian or non-Christian? He does, though. We know that from the Bible.) Stephen King has certainly featured God directly or indirectly in much of his work, offering you a wealth of material to draw from in those discussions with the fans of scary novels/movies (or not-so-scary, as it turns out, too). Here are a few to explore if you haven’t read/seen them already:


“The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon” (book)

“The Green Mile” (serial book and movie)

“Dreamcatcher” (book only, forget the movie)

“Desperation” (book)

Christian Fiction (Yes, It’s out there and doin’ fine, thanks)
“Struck by Lightning,” by ME. Yep, Mike Curley. Okay, another shameless plug, but it’s a pretty decent little Christian supernatural-horror type book so if that’s your thing, give it a spin and let me know what you think. Be kind, though.

Like a good mystery? Ted Dekker has written several suspense novels with Christian themes woven throughout his stories. “Red, Black, White,” and “When Heaven Weeps” are just two you might want to check out.

“Shadowmancer,” by G.P. Taylor. More darkness and evil stuff in this fantasy novel. Also, “Wormwood.”

“This Present Darkness,” a classic by Frank E. Peretti. Check out his other novels, too, like “The Visitation.”

“Girl Meets God,” by Lauren F. Winner – a year in the life of a young Christian woman’s life whose father is Jewish and whose mother is a lapsed Baptist. See, I’m not all about the evil, spooky stuff.

“Dinner with a Perfect Stranger,” by David Gregory, about a guy who gets an invitation to dinner with Jesus and gets to ask all the questions one might want to ask our Lord and Savior.

“Comes a Horseman,” by Robert Liparulo. “Christianity Today” sums up this spiritual thriller with: “Take ‘The DaVinci Code,’ throw in a dash of ‘Left Behind,’ pair it with the intrigue of a Tom Clancy thriller, and you’ve got this chilling debut novel.”

"Christ the Lord," and "Road to Cana," by Anne Rice. Yes, Anne Rice, the writer of all those vampire novels, has written a compelling fiction of Christ’s life as a young boy. The story of Ms. Rice is also compelling – her journey to re-discover and re-confirm her faith is worth reading about and is certainly a great example to share in your witnessing for someone who is struggling in their own journey. Think of the many fans of her vampire tales who don’t have Christ in their life. What a wonderful chance to share the Gospel through this novel.

Again, there’s more Christian fiction out there than you can shake a stick at (but why would you anyway and why do you have a stick?) so give these a taste for that whetted appetite then go for seconds, and thirds, and...

John Eldredge – The Message in the Movie (14)

If you ever get a chance to attend one of John Eldredge’s seminars or workshops, I highly recommend it. He’s written several books you might want to explore, some of them listed elsewhere in this book. Probably a good place to start is his website: www.ransomedheart.com.

The reason I like this guy so much is that he’s very down-to-earth and easy going. He’s a blue jeans kind of dude that just loves Jesus and wants to share, to heal, to help. And he was one of the first people I saw who integrated a lot of popular culture to help illustrate a spiritual point – both in his books and seminars. He’s big on the idea that we are all in an epic adventure in life, so movies like “Braveheart” (what a great Christ figure character), “Lord of the Rings,” “Last of the Mohicans,” are movies he often pulls from. I could go into each of his books and tell you what I liked or responded to but instead I’ll just say, check his stuff out. I’m sure there’s something you’ll respond to there, but he is well worth the journey of exploration. Here’s just a taste of what he’s about from his book, “Epic.”

“Christianity, in its true form, tells us that there is an Author and that he is good, the essence of all that is good and beautiful and true, for he is the source of all those things. It tells us that he has set our hearts’ longings within us, for he has made us to live in an Epic. It warns that the truth is always in danger of being twisted and corrupted and stolen from us because there is a villain in the story who hates our hearts and wants to destroy us. It calls us up into a Story that is truer and deeper than any other, and assures us that there we will find the meaning of our lives.”

You’ve got your own part of the “Story” to tell, too. Whether a page, or a chapter, or your own volume – Part One, and it’s all important in God’s eyes.

Play your part.

Monday, May 05, 2008

Inspiration, Resources, Examples, and Ideas (13) - Making Music, Career Paths, & More

Making Music
Bono - Evangelist
Bono, the lead singer for U2, has much to say about his faith that’s worth reading if you’re looking for examples of popular musicians who aren’t afraid to share their belief. In the book, “Bono: In Conversation with Michka Assayas,” by Michka Assayas, Bono has this to say about Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross for the forgiveness of sins: “I love the idea that God says: Look, you cretins, there are certain results to the way we are, to selfishness, and there’s a mortality as part of your very sinful nature, and let’s face it, you’re not living a very good life, are you? The point of the death of Christ is that Christ took on the sins of the world, so that what we put out did not come back to us, and that our sinful nature does not reap the obvious death. That’s the point. It should keep us humbled... It’s not our own good works that get us through the gates of heaven.”


If music is your passion, and your friends as well, it couldn’t hurt to start a conversation about your faith using one of the biggest bands in rock n’ roll history as an example. Wouldn’t hurt at all.

Rock Opera!
You may have heard of (or seen) the musical “Godspell” and for sure have at least heard of “Jesus Christ: Superstar,” but there’s another rock musical that tells the Gospel story with a mix of hard rock, hip-hop, pop, along with a full-on multi-media blast called, “!Hero.” I haven’t seen it but I like the idea of it to reach the MTV generations out there. I’ve read some good reviews, mixed reviews, and there’s a double-CD of the musical you might want to check out as part of your musical witness. The rock opera was written by Christian music veterans Eddie DeGarmo and Bob Farrell. Their idea was to be seed planters by witnessing to the youth raised on music videos, computer games, and changing musical styles through a musical presentation of Jesus in a modern-day New York City where Christianity never existed and by playing out a Gospel message.

I say, rock on!

Your Career Path
Struggling with what career direction you should take? Try a Jesus Job. Looking at the life of Jesus, what types of jobs do you think He’d be suited to in our day? How about:
· Teacher
· Preacher
· Healer (Doctor)
· Professional speaker
· Public relations
· Sales person

I always thought Jesus would be the best sales person ever because He is honest, compelling, loves talking, sharing, and helping other people, is outgoing and personable, highly motivated, and truly believes what He is saying. I bring this up to you if you are the kind of person who is shy and uncertain, or even intimidated about how to share your faith – which is what this whole book is about. Try a career direction that challenges you, perhaps even frightens you, but you feel compelled to do (just as you do in wanting to share your faith). As they say, practice makes perfect and the more you get out there in front of people – in front of strangers – the more comfortable you’ll be, which in turn, will make you more effective and self-assured in sharing your faith.

That, and the commissions aren’t bad, either.

Combining Interests, Passions, and Faith

Motorcycling for Jesus!
Ever see groups of motorcyclists go by on the freeway? I read about this one group of Christian motorcyclists who have their group motto boldly displayed on the back of their jackets, “Born to Die.”

Christians in leather jackets – kinda cool.

Skateboading for Jesus!
Luis Palau is known for putting on these massive festivals that include cool Christian bands, skateboarders, and BMX bike riders – all in the name of spreading the Gospel to the younger generation. Sounds pretty cool.

Go to his website:
www.palau.org for more information.

One of the dudes I read about that performs at these festivals is a guy by the name of Paul Anderson, who runs the Skate Church in Portland, Oregon. He is a neo-preacher with a groovy haircut who shreds on his skateboard and then tells the crowd of youngsters in attendance: "The Bible says that if you sin, you will die."

Whoa. Preach it, brother!

Boating for Jesus!
Another article I read spoke of a pastor who noticed more and more of his congregation taking Sunday off to go out on the local lake for some boating. So instead of being frustrated or upset about it, he decided to take Jesus to them out on the lake. Now he goes out on his own boat Sunday mornings and the congregation anchors themselves out on the lake in front of the pastor as he gives his sermon. If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. The Word shall be heard!

Cowboys for Jesus
Ever hear of a Cowboy Church? There are a bunch out there, from Nashville to Texas and many other states, plus Mexico and Canada. The basic idea is to create a relaxed, western culture style church where the folks can wear coveralls and muddy boots if they want, and enjoy country and gospel music instead of hymns – creating a place to hear the Word of God but in an atmosphere for those not comfortable with the style of a traditional church. Instead of a pew, you might sit on a bale of hay. You’ll also see church services at rodeos, horse shows, and other western events through traveling rodeo ministries.

Bringing the saving message of Christ is the goal – whether sitting in a pew or sitting on a wool blanket covering the dirt floor of a barn, they are planting seeds – country style. Yee-haw!

The “Word” In Art
From Michelangelo to icons to animated films like “The Prince of Egypt,” art can express our faith in one image as opposed to a thousand words, just as a picture is worth a thousand words, as the saying goes. Going to a museum full of religious art from the medieval times might be a great way to explore faith with a fellow art lover.

For those with the artistic talent, here are just a couple of examples, past and present, of people using their skills to share their faith:

Drawing for Jesus!
Pixar artist Matthew Luhn has helped create many of Hollywood’s big-ticket animated flicks (such as “Finding Nemo,” “Toy Story 1 & 2”, and “Monsters, Inc.”), but he’s also interested in creating Christ-centered messages through his work. When he is on a project, Luhn tries to help craft good, entertaining stories that are consistent in theme to his Christian faith. (Source: “Drawing the Big Picture” by Frederica Mathewes-Green in “Christian Reader,” July/August 2003, Vol. 41, No. 4).

Lucas Cranach, 1472-1553
Lucas Cranach was one of the most important artists of his day as well as being a good friend of Martin Luther, even painting several portraits of the man. While his art was not exclusively religious, he represents a great example of a man who applied his faith within his career, impacting the culture with his Christian worldview captured on canvas. A fine example of Cranachs art is his “Rest on the Flight into Egypt” (housed at the Staatliche Museum in Berlin), which shows the Holy Family resting in the glade of a German pine forest.

Some Books You Might Want to Check Out

Revisiting Harry Potter
A lot has been written concerning the Harry Potter series about magic and occult, etc., etc., yada, yada. Fact is, the Harry Potter series can be used as an excellent source to bring in a conversation about your faith.

In an excellent article on “Christianity Today’s” website, the subject is brought up and opened up:

On magic, the article says, “In explaining his beloved “Chronicles of Narnia,” and in reference to Merlin in his sci-fi novel, “That Hideous Strength,” C. S. Lewis differentiates between two kinds of magic. Invocational magic is the dangerous kind that's warned about in the Bible, calling upon dark forces and ancient spirits to serve our selfish desires. Incantational magic, by contrast, is about harmonizing with the will of our creator—and that's the sort of spells we find in the works of Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkein, two of Rowling's favorite authors.”

On good and evil (one on my favorite subjects in the horror genre as you know), the article says, “One of the greatest strengths of the Potter series is its treatment of right and wrong. Rowling loves playing with duality in the characters, showing that we're all capable of good or evil, yet always clearly distinguishing the two. Things aren't always as they seem in Harry Potter, but we're always clear on right and wrong... Throughout the series, Rowling uses her heroes to champion the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. And conversely, evil is characterized by common sins like pride, wrath, and selfishness—all things that Harry faces and learns to overcome.”

(Source: “Redeeming Harry Potter” by Russ Breimeier posted on
www.christianitytoday.com on 11/15/05).

And of course, there is much in the Potter series concerning the idea of sacrificial love—the quality that Christ exemplifies perfectly. So take another look at the Potter series. Don’t let the story context of witches and wizards keep you from a hugely popular book series that both children and adults love to talk about. Just remember to talk about it in terms of your Christian faith. Read the rest of the Potter article by searching on “Christianity Today” using the story headline.

(Another resource to explore on this subject is the book, “Looking for God in Harry Potter,” by John Granger).

Magazine Subscriptions
Okay, so this isn’t a book but it’s a magazine about books – and culture. Check out “Books & Culture: A Christian Review.” You can get a free issue to try it out so what are you waiting for? And don’t forget to renew your subscription to the excellent magazine, “Christianity Today.”

Heavier Reading
For those who really want to dig into the meat and potatoes of how Christianity and culture can both clash and complement, here is a list of books (some are textbooks but there are no tests or finals at the end so don’t be afraid to check them out) to explore:

“Selling God: American Religion in the Marketplace of Culture,” by R. Laurence Moore.

“Material Christianity : Religion and Popular Culture in America,” by Colleen McDannell.

“Christ & Culture,” by H. Richard Niebuhr.

“The Christian in Today’s Culture,” by Charles Colson and Nancy Pearcey.

“The Transformation of American Religion: How We Actually Live Our Faith,” by Alan Wolfe. While we want to use and tap into the popular culture that surrounds us in an effort to reach out to people with our faith, we need to be careful to not let that same culture transform our faith. In this book, Wolfe makes an argument that in the United States, “culture has transformed Christ, as well as all other religions found within these shores. In every aspect of the religious life, American faith has met American culture—and the American culture has triumphed.” Another observation of Wolfe is that Americans tend to withdraw from bearing witness to their faith if doing so might “make them seem unfriendly or invasive.” It’s an interesting and eye-opening read whether you agree with his analysis or not.

“Pop Culture Wars: Religion & the Role of Entertainment in American Life,” by William D. Romanowski.

Of course there are a lot more out there, but this will get you started on your way to expanding your brain cells. It’s good exercise. Take two chapters a day and call me in the morning.

Lighter Reading
Okay, you’ve done the textbook and heavy theory reading. Or not. Here are a few lighter titles that also dig into chunks of pop culture and turn it over for your inspection. Check ‘em out, yo.

“Taking the Red Pill: Science, Philosophy and Religion in The Matrix,” by Glenn Yeffeth (Editor), David Gerrold (Introduction). There are a bunch of books out on “The Matrix” and faith. Check ‘em all out if you’re a Matrix nut but this one is good if you just want one.

“Everyday Apocalypse: The Sacred Revealed in RadioHead, The Simpsons, and Other Pop Culture Icons,” by David Dark.

“The Gospel According to The Simpsons,” by Mark I. Pinsky. There are many “The Gospel According to...” books out there if you want to check them out, but I was always partial to Bart and Homer. Doh!

“Behind the Screen,” edited by Spencer Lewerenz and Barbara Nicolosi presents a look at the film and television industry through the eyes of Christian writers, producers, and executives.

“Eyes Wide Open: Looking for God in Popular Culture,” by William D. Romanowski. You can also download a wonderful study guide for free on the publisher’s website that goes through discussion points on each chapter of the book. Did I mention it is free? This is a great book for those who really want to get into the use of film in their witness. From the study guide: “Eyes Wide Open is a call for Christians to become more involved in God's good but fallen world as Christians, seeing with the eyes of your heart (Eph. 1:18), that is, from the perspective of faith.” (page 2)

In an interview by “Christianity Today,” Romanowski comments on four central features of the Christian cultural landscape in his book: “One, God is at work in the world; an invisible realm exists. Two, believing people inhabit this landscape, and faith is integral to all of life. Three, human sin is real, and evil exists. Four, God offers forgiveness and the possibility of redemption. These are the basic ways Christians look at the world, and any in film in which they are embodied, I’d say, is undergirded by a basic Christian worldview.” (Source: “The World Behind the Movie,” “Christianity Today,” February 5, 2001)

Inspiration, Resources, Examples, and Ideas (12) - Getting Down to Business

Business Idea: Create a T-Shirt company
I always thought putting messages on T-shirts would be a great way to get people to come up to you rather than you going up to them. Once they read some crazy saying on your T-shirt and ask you, “What the heck does that mean?”, then there’s your open door. I’m too busy writing to start my own T-shirt company so feel free to use any of the following sayings to make your own shirts:
· Saint & Sinner
· Want to Join the Acts 1:8 Club?
· Truth + Love = Jesus
· Epaphroditus In Training (See Philippians 2)
· God is Not a Salad Bar (my favorite)
· Spirituality without God = Self Indulgence
· Don’t Be a Sardis (See Revelation 3)
· Look Straight Ahead (See Proverbs 4:23-27 on guarding your heart and concentrating on desires that keep us on the right path)
· Jesus Wept
· #1 Sinner -or- Chief of Sinners
· Jesus was Homeless
· Nothing New Under the Sun (See Ecclesiastes)
· Hope Now...Heaven Later
· Letting My Light Shine (bright yellow shirt)
· A Time for Everything (See Ecclesiastes)
· If you wait for perfect conditions, you’ll never get anything done. Eccl. 11:4
· Ask not how Jesus can serve you. Ask how you can serve Jesus.
· We may throw the dice, but the Lord determines how they fallProv. 16:33
· We All Believe In Something
· Be the one! Luke 17:11-19 (This is in reference to the ten lepers whom Jesus healed but only one came back to thank Jesus. Be thankful!)
· Not in Charge

Okay, so if you’re going to do something like this, be bold. Pick bright, vibrant colors for your shirts like canary yellow and lime green and use solid, block letters in bright colors too. Just make sure your eyes don’t hurt when you look at the shirt. And if you are not sure what those slogans above really mean and want an explanation for any of them, good! The idea is to get people talking and we might as well start with you. Think about them, though, and make your explanation your own.

A Merger Between Business and Faith – Books to Explore
“Jesus, CEO,” by Laurie Beth Jones and others in her series talk about applying the teachings of Christ in your work (and in your life).

“God at Work: Your Christian Vocation in All of Life,” by Gene Edward Veith, Jr., goes beyond just work and addresses the Christian’s total calling: in family life, church, citizenship, and vocation.

“Great Commission Companies: The Emerging Role of Business in Missions,” by Steve L. Rundle and Tom A. Steffon.

The Facts on Witnessing at Work
Can Christians get busted for witnessing at work? There are certain guidelines for you seed planters out there gearing up to share your faith with your co-workers. Go for it, but take a look at this article by David C. Gibbs, Jr., President of The Christian Law Association, for some tips on what to be aware of concerning, “The Legal Implications of Witnessing at Work,” (Source – “Christianity Today,” October 29, 2004).


Go to “Christianity Today’s” website (or FaithInTheWorkplace.com and do a search for that title to find the article or try the following URL:
http://www.christianitytoday.com/workplace/articles/legalimplications.html

Combining Your Business with God’s Business
Do you own your own business? What might be some ways to integrate your faith and let your light shine while serving both the business needs and spiritual needs of your customers? Many businesses proudly display the “fish” symbol for Christ in their signage, business cards, and other forms of identity.


In one business, the owner takes their outreach a step further and offers prayer along with a cup of coffee. The “Chit-n-Chat Coffee House” in Waukee, Iowa often receives prayer requests from their customers as they place a coffee order. Kate Boettcher looks at her coffee house as “a way to bring Christ to our customers without being preachy.” She has a Bible verse-of-the-day on the chalkboard for people to ask questions about, and, through word-of-mouth only, has become a place known for good coffee, friendly people, and an offer of prayer for those who want it.

Turns out, many people do.

(Source: “Would You Like Prayer with that Latte?” in “Today’s Christian Woman,” March/April 2004, Vol. 26, No. 2, by Jared VanHorn.) Read the full article at:
www.christianitytoday.com/tcw/2004/002/16.58.html

Changing the World, One Cup at a Time
Here’s a great idea – create a business whose purpose is not to make money for itself, but whose sole purpose is to use its profits to fund charitable projects.


That’s just what founders John Sage and Chris Dearnley did. As it says on their website: “Believing that the principles of capitalism could be applied to the non-profit sector, they developed Pura Vida Coffee as a "funding engine" to support the charitable programs of Pura Vida Partners, a non-profit organization. Pura Vida Coffee sells Fair Trade, organic coffee throughout the United States and uses all of its resources for charitable purposes. Through this model, our co-founders sought to bring hope to at-risk children in Costa Rica – where Pura Vida’s charitable activity began – and to inspire a new generation of consumers and business leaders who believe that capitalism can be used as an engine for social good.”

If only more businesses operated on that principle. If you like coffee, and I know a lot of you Starbucks junkies out there do – check out the Pura Vida website and even buy a few bags of coffee. They support “fair trade” coffee so that you know the coffee growers are getting a fair price for their coffee beans and you’ll also be supporting the Pura Vida efforts to help the children of Costa Rica while enjoying some darn good coffee. Read the rest of the mission and goals at:
www.puravidacoffee.com

Inspiration, Resources, Examples, and Ideas (11) - What's on TV?

A Charlie Brown Christmas
Probably one of the best seed planting TV specials ever is one I’m sure you’ve seen many times, and have shown to your children many times. Remember when Charlie Brown asks if there was anyone out there who could tell him the true meaning of Christmas? And then Linus walks up casually and says, “Sure,” and proceeds to quote from the Gospel of Luke the entire birth of Christ. And then they end with singing “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing.” Wow. What a message. And at such a good time in your life to hear it – as a child. This is a message many hear at a young age and remember all their life. Charles M. Shultz was a Christian and often you’ll see references to Bible verses in the Peanuts® columns he wrote.


What a tremendous seed planter.

Televised Missionaries
Combining “reality” television with a drive (literally) to do missionary work, two young Christians, Tim Scott and Will Decker, came up with an idea to record their adventures in missionary work as they traveled through the continents and countries of the world, and then present them back to the world in the form a reality TV/documentary style show.

Showing on Trinity Broadcasting Network and available on DVD, “Travel the Road” is an ongoing series of 30-minute episodes. Their purpose? To provide a “unique look into the world of frontline mission work” – sharing the gospel with the world – “from the deserts of Ethiopia to the island villages of Papua New Guinea they travel from country to country with one backpack, a change of clothes, and a message of hope that pushes them deeper into the unknown.”

What a great idea. There are many opportunities to go on short-term mission trips for a week or two. Even in such a short period of time God can use you in many wonderful ways to bring the Gospel to others – and it always ends up that you’ll probably get more out of the experience as a blessing than you give. These two missionary adventurers have taken the idea of mission and really ran with it – why not you, too?

Or at least bring some friends over tonight to watch a few episodes on DVD and talk about it afterward. For more information, visit their website at
www.traveltheroad.com.

Inspiration, Resources, Examples, and Ideas (10) - More Movie Messages

Movie: Constantine
Okay, I know there’s a lot wrong with the movie from a Christian standpoint. I mean, who calls the chapters of the Bible acts? But there’s a lot there to unravel, and it’s a great film to start a conversation about what God is really like. Check out the angel Gabriel’s speech to Constantine where he/she talks about having faith. Not a bad opener to use when talking about this film in terms of your witness. Redemption is a big theme in this movie.

(Side note: In the world of TV, the series “Angel” (spin-off of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”) about a vampire whose soul has been returned to him and now his life is one focused on seeking redemption for his past vampiric-sins, is a worthy show to pursue concerning this topic, too. All five seasons are available on DVD.)

The Power of Film
Still not sure whether film can be a powerful tool as a witness? In India, several Christian organizations have shown the movies “Dayasagar (Ocean of Mercy),” an Indian-produced film about Jesus, and the “Jesus” film. According to one of the organizations, Dayspring, 19 million Indians have seen “Dayasagar” since 1979 and 7 million have made public Christian commitments. This fact was recorded in 2003 so just think how many more might have been led to Christ since then. Yes, film is a powerful tool for witnessing. (Source: “Christianity Today,” December 2003).

Movie: The Exorcism of Emily Rose
This film presents two sides of a court case over the death of a young woman, Emily Rose, during the course of an exorcism. One side gives all the medical and psychological facts as to the behavior of the girl, all logically laid out, in an attempt to make the priest involved with the exorcism guilty of directly contributing to her death. The defense points to the spiritual side in what is shown as a true demonic possession and the attempts of the priest to exorcise her.

This film did pretty well at the box office and presents an interesting format for a discussion on faith vs. science in a courtroom setting. The attempt of the director, Scott Derrickson, was to get people thinking about God, to consider that a spiritual realm does exist, and use the horror genre to connect Christianity with mainstream culture. (Source: “Devil in the Details,” “Christianity Today,” November 2005)

The Passion of The Passion
Much has been written about Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of The Christ,” so I’m not going to say much, except that it is an excellent film and truly shows us Christ’s humanity like no other film. But how successful was it as an evangelist tool? How passionate were people to get the Word out? If you go back and read the reports, some churches talk about several conversions while others say maybe a few. And that’s fine, right? It’s not a numbers game. The film provides a foot in the door for an open discussion about Jesus Christ – who He is and what He stands for – and will always remain a great outreach tool as well as a resource for Christians to reaffirm and deepen their faith by experiencing Christ’s sacrifice on the cross in a real and visceral way.

Maybe it’s time for you to revisit this film again – for yourself and for others.

If you’re really interested in using this film as an outreach tool, many resources exist online. Here are a few:
www.thepassionoutreach.com
www.willowcreek.com/passion
www.thepassiontoolbox.com
www.youthspecialties.com/thepassion
And, of course, “Christianity Today” offers many resources at:
www.christianitytoday.com/movies/special/passionofthechrist.html

Movie Articles That Are Moving
I know, I talk so much about how I like “Christianity Today” that you might think I have stock in the company. Of course, it would have to be a public company for me to have stock, but that’s beside the point. The point is, there’s a ton of good information on their website. Like W. David O. Taylor’s four-part series on “What Is a Good Christian Movie, Anyway?” Check it out at:
www.christianitytoday.com/movies/commentaries/goodchristianmovie.html

Another great series provides a commentary discussing the question of how explicit, in themes related to faith, should a Christian film be? Subtle or hit-you-over-the head? The first of a four-part series can be found at:
www.christianitytoday.com/movies/commentaries/filmsfaithexplicit1.html
The other three parts can be found once you go to the website link.

I’ve referenced this article earlier but it bears mentioning again in case you missed it. Can horror movies and Christians co-exist together? Sure they can. At the core of every horror film (pretty much every one, that is) is the theme of good vs. evil. Take that theme and run with it in many directions in your Christian discussions involving film and faith. For a more in-depth discussion, check out “The Horrors!” by W. David O. Taylor at:
www.christianitytoday.com/movies/commentaries/horrors.html. Also read the interview with the director of “The Exorcism of Emily Rose,” Scott Derrickson, who believes that horror movies are a great way to address issues of faith. Check it out at: www.christianitytoday.com/movies/interviews/scottderrickson.html

Myth, Faith, and Spirituality in the “Star Wars” Saga
Like “The Matrix,” much has been written on the spirituality of “Star Wars.” The themes of good vs. evil with good triumphing as well as redemption are at the heart of these films but there’s a lot more to unpack, too (including nods towards Hinduism in the films). If you’re a “Star Wars” junkie, you’ll find much on the web, but here are a couple of book resources to get you started:


“Christian Wisdom of the Jedi Masters,” by Dick Staub

“Catching Light: Looking for God in the Movies,” by Roy M. Anker, which includes analysis of many other films, too. (You can also find an adapted series of the “Star Wars” chapter from Anker’s book on “Christianity Today’s” website at:
www.christianitytoday.com/movies/commentaries/starwarspart1.html

Movie: Kingdom of Heaven
Here is an interesting film by Ridley Scott that takes place between the time of the Crusades, culminating in a battle between Christian and Muslim sides. The film presents some interesting discussion points – the differences and relationship between God’s will and humanity by using the idea of “God’s will” for humanity’s own purposes – how do we know which is which? Have you ever had a crisis of faith, doubted God’s existence, or wondered if you are really doing God’s will? Probably most of us have. This is a film you can use to start a discussion on a topic that every person who struggles with what they believe has had at some point: doubt. And where do you go from there?


That’s where you come in with the message of Christ’s love and assurance. We don’t have to always have all the answers. Just the one that counts the most.

Which one is that, you ask? Read John 3:16 again.