Christians in the Ghetto
Hollywood Connect is a ministry of Christians working in Hollywood that offers seminars, panel discussions, and one-on-one mentoring for Christians coming to work in Hollywood. They believe in “raising the bar for industry Christians to compete heavily in the secular Hollywood market and to influence our culture.” I had the privilege of speaking with Nancy Stafford (The Wager), a member of Hollywood Connect. Nancy is passionate about encouraging Christians to be part of the entertainment industry and work within Hollywood.
On the other hand, there are those passionate about wanting to wipe Hollywood’s influence off the globe. In a recent article for Crosswalk.com, Doug Phillips, founder of the San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival, stated that his “…vision over the long haul is to build a replacement industry…” [for Hollywood]. He points to promotion of a Biblical worldview and selecting Godly actors for key roles as critical components to films accepted for the film festival. He anticipates interest in “truly authentic Christian worldview moviemaking to increase in the next decade,” and he also foresees filmmakers rising out of the homeschool movement. (Though maybe not from California, since legislators are trying to force homeschoolers back into the public classrooms)
In his book “Roaring Lambs,” Bob Briner describes this subculture as the “Christian Ghetto.” He challenges people to tear down the walls around their ghetto so they can see the world and the world can see them.
Where are you? In or out? Maybe you’ve been both in the ghetto and outside the ghetto - what do you think?
Be careful to be in the world and not of it…I’m not sure what Briner is refering too, but if he’s referring to guys like Doug Philips as “ghetto” I disagree. If there was a ghetto it would include this website, bookstores, and emergent authors such as Warren, Bell, Hybel’s, Osteen, McLaren, and Bob Briner himself and others…
If you apply Philippians 4:8 to everything you do, you realize that you have to comprimise Biblical standards often times to work in Hollywood. You have to comprimise to watch almost any TV or movie as few if any meet Biblical standards and glorify sin, sexual immorality, foul language, ect. The Bible doesn’t say comprimise? Do we comprimise truth to be more relevant or in touch with culture? No, we confront culture with never changing Biblical truths.
In an effort to change culture or be relevant we have Christians that are worldly, churches that are worldly, sadly Christians have the same viewing habits as non Christians. If you adhere to God’s standard, you will realize this is not the way it should be. (Ephesians 5:3-7)We are called to purity…
If Christians want to get out of the ghetto realize that 155,000 people die each day and apply the Bibles teaching of 2: Cor 6:2 “..behold, today is the day of salvation”..we should be urgently trying to reach the lost. Share the good news CLEARLY and don’t downplay sin, hell, and repentance as most do today!
If you were walking towards a cliff of certain death, and you didn’t see it coming would you want someone to warn you? Or would you want them to wait twenty years to do so-in the meantime risk you perishing in an accident? Of course, we’d want to be told the truth and soon, before we die! Because a lie or nothing at all hurts worse!
However “ghetto” filmmakers and authors like Rob Bell and Rick Hybel’s say we should not dare witness unless the exact perfect moment arrives-typically many years down the road and advocate not focusing on repentance, sin, or hell-I think we have a problem..we aren’t promised another breathe or heartbeat.
Instead what we have is “ghetto” Christianity that coddles other faiths and holds hands with other religions as we walk them to the cliff all the while assuring them they are okay…never preaching the gospel for fear of offense, rejection, ect…
Tell someone in love the good news-that’s not a crime or some horrible thing as todays popular Christian authors would have you believe.
I’ll leave you with some Rob Bell (Nooma) qoutes from his book..are we simply sacrificing truth in efforts to be relevant and in efforts to be accepted by the world? I think so…
Bell Qoutes (recently article on
“…This is part of the problem with continually insisting that one of the absolutes of the Christian faith must be a belief that “Scripture alone” is our guide. It sounds nice, but it is not true. . - p. 68
“What’s disturbing is when people talk more about hell after this life than they do about Hell here and now. As a Christian, I want to do what I can to resist hell coming to earth.” - p. 148
*I take exception to that statement-eternity is vitally important and so is where you spend it!
“I can’t find one place in the teachings of Jesus, or the Bible for that matter, where we are to identify ourselves first and foremost as sinners. - p. 139
This weeks article in Christianity today on Bell
http://www.christianpost.com/article/20080417/31980_Emergent_Church_Leaders%27_InterSpirituality_Talks_Raise_Flags.htm
April 18th, 2008 at 10:02 am
I have been in both camps (Christian only & win the world by being relevant and this is in regards to media mostly)and actually you learn from both sides but ultimately you get to a place where you just follow Jesus by His Holy Spirit and that is actually the place of true servant-leadership. You get to the place where you surrender yourself because you recognise that only Jesus is the way (and I am addressing believers here)that only He knows the best way to reach people and only He can bring the all the skills and qualities (good, bad, ugly, fears, strengths, weaknesses etc.) and use it for His glory. I think really the believer who wants to truly be in the world and not of the world must truly submit his/her will to the Lord and just follow Him daily see how the struggles of will/earthly sinful nature out up a fight with doing His will. Come to mind and if we are honest about it - it can be pretty dark and difficult much more than we are willing to admit. I have to come to understand that God can use anybody to get His work done but He labours with His children to fulfil His will to spend eternity with Him. And some labour will involve getting pretty dirty hands sometimes. When we are walking with Jesus daily we will as a matter of love union with Him get involved with people who are not believers and get into their world without needing to be contaminated by it or by compromising one’s standard to do so whether you are relevant or not.
April 21st, 2008 at 3:54 am
I read about what Doug Phillips was saying about wanting to replace Hollywood. I think Hollywood is breaking down with the advent of the Internet and cheaper technology and Youtube. They are in the same shape as the network news organizations. Competition is fearce with bloggers and cable news and people going elsewhere (thankfully) to get their news.
I recently saw this blog (which is rather dated -so some of you may have seen this) by Barbara Nicolosi — who heads up Act One where she was very upset with Facing the Giants. I didn’t think she was being fair about the film. But her concern was over films being made by independent Christian filmmakers like Facing the Giants were lowering the bar of excellence that professional Christians working in Hollywood were trying to raise the bar.
Here’s the link:
http://churchofthemasses.blogspot.com/2006/10/facing-facing-giants.html
The thing is that nobody complained when Robert Rodriguez made El Miriachi for 7 thousand bucks or these guys made Blair Witch Project with a video camera or anything. But because they were Christians somehow it lowered the bar. I think Facing the Giants raised the bar for Christian filmmaking.
My feeling on this is that Christians in the industry probably have the same concerns that non Christians in the industry toward indpendent filmmakers in general. Imagine somebody who has worked hard all these years to move up the ladder in the industry and then some kid with a 5 thousand dollar camera comes and makes a movie that gets seen by millions. So I empathize with all their hard work… but it’s not going to get any easier.
However I believe we can accomplish much for God’s kingdom from within the industry (like Daniel did in Babylon) and from without (like Joshua did with Jericho) and we should support each other in that.
April 21st, 2008 at 9:42 am
I agree with Tom that indie filmmaking can often elevate Hollywood filmmaking by breaking it out of the box that it finds itself in. It is important to remember that Hollywood is in the movie “business,” not the movie “art.” There is a reason they call it the “industry.” Hollywood won’t spend a dime on something unless they think they can make back a dollar. That’s why every-time a movie like “The Passion” or “Facing the Giants” comes out and makes lots of money, Hollywood tries to jump on board with a similar film. These are great examples of how Hollywood was taken by surprise with the success of these films. If it weren’t for independent Christian filmmakers(be they Mel Gibson or Alex Kendrick), the Christian market wouldn’t even be on Hollywood’s radar.
However, just look at the garbage that Hollywood put out to try and capitalize on that market. “The Nativity Story?”
There are problems on both sides. Christians want their voices heard, but independent films are by their nature small budget and small distribution. Hollywood films get the publicity, but they are interested only in making money. Therein lies the conflict.
Personally, I don’t think that innovation ever comes out of Hollywood, at least not in the past 40 years. Look at the great film revolutions of the 60s, 70s and 90s. In the 1960s, European films with their non-Hollywood asthetic took the country by storm, and lead to a slew of Hollywood imitators, some of which were very good. This lead straight into the American film renaissance of the 1970s, allowing young filmmakers like Lucas, Spielberg and Coppolla break free of the studio system and have more control over the films as artists. Then in the 1990s independent films coming out of festivals like Sundance became hugely popular and again, Hollywood followed the trend.
Hollywood is great at making films that follow trends. It isn’t so good at setting trends. If Christian films want to become the trend, they need breakout hits, like “Facing the Giants,” to come out of the independent christian film community. Hollywood only responds when there is the smell of money in the water.
No one is going to argue that Christians in Hollywood aren’t highly profiecent in the craft of filmmaking. I’m sure there are first rate Christian writers, producers, directors, cinematographers, actors, editors, visual effects artists, etc. I’m sure there are even Christian studio executives. But unless Christian movies make good business sense, they aren’t going to be able to make them.
Even so, based on the Hollywood produced so-called “Christian” movies I’ve seen, I’m not sure that system could even make a good Christian movie these days.
April 21st, 2008 at 12:29 pm
Jonnyflash got it right on all cylinders and I have learnt a very important fact from Jonnyflash today that Hollywood does not sets the trends (or are not good at setting trends) they just follow it and capitalise on it. That is its Achilles heel [weak spot] and the oportunity factor for the independent film-makers hope of making it in the film business if they want to make a living from it. Well put jonnyflash!
April 22nd, 2008 at 1:11 am
O.K., for the most part, Hollywood films are more eyecatching and more wow inspiring with their bigger budgets, better special effects,a nd better acting etc. But sitting in churches across this nation right now is undiscovered talent. People who can film, edit, direct, act, make costumes, do lighting grip keys, be best boys, what have you. And the Chrisitian Church has money too.., we could spend it on making better and brighter movies that depict Chrisitans for who they really are.., people, imperfect, real, human people who are living under grace, and hope-fully extending that Grace towards others as well. Would our money be better spent on more direct ministry? Would pursuing fame and fortune through film best meet the needs of let’s say the hmeless, thjose with no health insurance etc? I know many unemployed people who still find nine bucks somehow to go to the movies to escape reality for a few hours. I am one of them. We must ask ourselves.., has seeing a movie ever really changed our lives.., ever really motivated us out of true doldrums, ever really lifted us up to be more, to do more.., if it has.., then we are obligated to make movies that do the same for others.., if not, then let’s put our time, energyand money into a more useful venture.
May 4th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
As P.O.D. sings, “…and the world is a ghetto.”
May 28th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
The world is a sad, cruel, sick and dying place indeed.., we are called to “not be of this world, but set apart”.., I for one know that I am hoping my life and actions will speak louder than any bumper sticker or t-shirt I could plaster on my car or body. I struggle with living period.., in the world or out of it. Living is hard. Imagine how it must be for those who don’t know the grace of God. And yet, how many people do I boldy, without shame or apology, do I share the gospel with? I am always too crippled by fear that I might not be living up to what I profess.., even when I know I am for the most part, and even when I know grace covers me and all of us, for the rest of it.., still, I know the judgement of the world…, too bad I am more concerned with that than the judgment of God. I worte a book about a stuffed frog whose name is David Sebastian…, a phtotographic novel, ans self-published, so far I know I can only read it to kids at churches, I am sure it’s mention of God and Christianity would have it banned from public schools.., now if I had published a set ofnovels teaching sorcery to kids, I would be asked in to do noon time nap story-time to kindergarteners through High School seniors.., I know that I won’t ever be “embraced” byt he “world”.., but ai also know that when people are sick, and withering away in their infirmament.., oftehnt hey don’t have the strength to reach out for the embrace of anyone.., even the arms of a helpful paramenic or nurse. So, do I just leave them there to wither .., no, I go in, get them out.., and feed them some nutrition. I educate them on propper sanitation and immunization, or even tell them about a life ssaving operation that they have the opportunity to partake in for free. Then I step back and wait to see what they will do.., I don’t lay down in the sick bed beside them.., but I may stand by ready. My Ghetto is a pretty clean place.., and all are welcome there. But they have to take a few health precautions.., duh.
May 30th, 2008 at 12:15 pm