Christians in Cinema

I read a fascinating article by Anthony Sacramone on the First Things site. Called A Christian at the Movies, it’s a look at the ratings applied to films by critics.

He focuses primarily on Dr. Ted Baehr of MovieGuide®,  a prominent film critic and reviewer. His argument with Dr. Baehr is that while he awards a film high points for production, he might also award the same film low points for its quality of worldview, creating a confusing system of ratings.

However, he brings up a point that applies to many film critics today.

I know the tendency among some Christian film critics to find the wheat, no matter how negligible, in any mountain of chaff can be taken to an extreme. They are members of what I call the “School of the Teachable Moment.” Graduates of the school are convinced that virtually any film, no matter how egregious, can be redeemed if only we will take the time to look for hints of spirituality—even when there are none.

An argument could be made that any expression of creativity has at its roots a spark of the divine. Where did creativity come from if not from God Himself, the Ultimate Creator? If that is true, then might there be some hints of spirituality in every creative outlet?

Could it be true that even a film (or song, or painting, etc.) created by the most pagan person on earth, could have a tiny touch of the spiritual in it?

When Paul addressed the people of Athens in Acts 17, he acknowledged that their idol to “an unknown god” was a sign that they were very religious. From there, he was able to draw parallels to man’s inevitable search for God.

What do you think?