Theology from the Theaters
How much do movies, books, music and other media shape our thinking? How much do they shape our theology? Tim at Leading Smart has a post about where our world goes to explore faith and other big questions of life.
One quote from George Barna and Mark Hatch in “Boiling Point” makes a strong statement about pop culture and theology.
“The world of entertainment and mass communications–through television, radio, contemporary music, movies, magazines, art, video games and pop literature — is indisputably the most extensive and influential theological training system in the world.”
David at Think Smart asks “Are our traditional methods of reaching the world outdated? Should our outreach efforts focus more on these vehicles?”
Christian radio is great, but is it a case of taking water to the ocean, preaching to the choir, and feeding the full-bellied?
In our office today we had a conversation about making films that reach the general population without calling it a “Christian film.” We’ve discovered that is more likely to send viewers away and cut out those we want to reach. How do we reach the world without turning them off by the labels we wear?
What do you think?
I think we have to start making films that are worth watching, and admitting that we shouldn’t do it unless we can do it well. The Passion of the Christ and Luther attracted great audiences - because they were great films. There is nothing wrong with them being explicitly Christian, the issue is when we take a crappy presentation of the most marvelous news (the gospel) and expect people to like it.
October 23rd, 2007 at 4:03 pm
I think that it’s very important to be open about a Christian film being Christian themed. The question is HOW is that brought? I think being subtle with our label is key. There is a fine line between ‘clarity of the Christian message’ and ‘pushing a religion’. If we are secretive, then it seems like a ‘bait and switch’ tactic, which is obviously is a hindrance to the message.
People are very open to new ideas, but those ideas have to be proposed, not told. For example, often times a message in a question is more powerful than one in an answer. For example, “Jesus is the answer for the world today”, is not as effective as “Can Jesus change my life too?”
We reach the world through stories. Jesus used stories, and parables to tell a message that the listeners would otherwise be adverse to if simply told directly. Often times, they didn’t even understand the meaning until later on. The same principle applies to the message today. Parables should have deeper underlying truths pertaining to our existence. Some get it, some don’t. If they don’t right away, that’s okay, it’s all about timing. The movie “Most” is a good example of this. The only indication of its Christian origins is a scripture on the front cover. “Buy one DVD, get one free” to give to friends is a great way to get the message out there, and demonstrates the intentions of the film.
If the ‘Christian label’ is not present, you run the risk of people never getting the deeper meaning. Certain Christian themes can come across in any film, but is our motive to change our culture to a bunch of “Christian themed” people trying to do good things? Or are we pointing them to the One who has the power to truly save and transform? Certainly thoughts to ponder.
Trevor Crowe
October 30th, 2007 at 10:51 am
Wisdom is the principal thing, therefore get wisdom and with all thy getting get understanding. Movies should be made with a cause in mind carried on the vehicle of a good story in whatever genre the film-maker believes his/her audience would best receive it. I compare filmmaking with cooking a good meal. You make a great meal and what does it do - it makes people to open up and talk – they engage. The meal was designed for the people to enjoy it, but the chef/cook/host knew in mind that it would enable people to sit down and really talk about a lot of things. The films are designed to make people think about things differently and engage in conversations they would not have discussed about; but it has to be a good movie to inspire that. Infact I would go as far as saying that the spirit behind the movie is greater than the subject matter. So if a movie is made with the intent that it will make people think about eternity without mentioning anything to it or even referencing it directly, it will achieve it far better because the root (roots are not seen) concept is implied but shows in the leaves and the fruit.
November 1st, 2007 at 1:44 am
It’s like the Old Testament that is full of the grace of God and Jesus Christ but it is hidden unless it is unveiled by the Holy Spirit and yet His name, Jesus, is hardly ever mentioned until the New Testament! The bottom line is that we should never make the movies an end in itself but rather a step in the right direction or something that will lead a person to reconsider. We should try not to make their minds up for them and not even tell them where to go to get help but rather create the urge to look for it. Create the hunger for fulfillment, the thirst for something more than themselves. Put salt in water and what does it do? Put light in a messy room and it just exposes the mess but it doesn’t tell you to clean it up, that’s a decision for the person who owns the messy room to make - that’s the work of the conscience in a person – but at least they can see it.
November 1st, 2007 at 1:47 am
Two very wise things my parents did for me when I was child that delivered me from stupidity and greed (they did a lot more but these two come to mind very easily). When I was a child I loved meat and chicken so much that when my dad had dinner I would eat his meat and then eat my older brother’s as well. One day my mum made a meal for me (I think I was
and gave me a lot of chicken and meat with some duck in it. My brothers were upset but she told them to eat & not say anything. I ate all the meat and chicken with the duck in it. But this time she brought more. I thought it was something good that I had done so I thanked her for it. I ate that as well. Then she brought more and more and more until the whole table was full of duck, meat and chicken! I began to cry so much and begged her to please stop. I saw what she was doing for me and preventing me from becoming. Since that day I have never ever craved for meat and chicken or duck or any food. I learned to eat just enough. The second thing was I hated reading (this one had God’s direct hand in it) so my dad took me to Nigeria in Africa and placed me in boarding school. Then I became a believer in Christ. But I still hated reading. So for almost two years my father made sure that we would live in the village in the family house with no TV but a VCR and a vast library of books. The videos we watched till we got bored. Then electricity was cut from our village for a long time about 6 months, so we had to use lanterns to see and firewood for cooking. So we all read books. As I was a new Christian I read my bible and in this two year period I read it voraciously and from there I read almost every single book in the library my father left for us. Till today my passion for reading has not ceased which has lead to my passion for new discoveries regularly. I buy books and borrow books from libraries long after my graduation from university. My point is; in both examples, they did not make the choice for me they just presented me with opportunities to change and in one case showed what I could become if I did not curb my habit of loving food without my mum saying a word. In the other case it showed what I could become if cease from the distractions of life. My dad never forced me to read he just created the environment for it to happen and with the right conditions I read and became a much better person for it today.
November 1st, 2007 at 2:19 am
Wisdom is the principal thing, therefore get wisdom and with all thy getting get understanding.
November 1st, 2007 at 2:21 am
The smiley face is supposed to be the age 8. It is supposed to read ‘I think I was 8’. I have not placed any Scripture references to avoid assumption of the Scripture based on familiarity thereby losing the truth of it. But both experiences are discovered in the wilderness/desert and the catching of a great number of fish.The wisdom quote well…:-)
November 1st, 2007 at 3:06 am