Monday, May 05, 2008

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.

No comments: