Every so often a book or movie comes out that gets lots of Christians all hot under the collar. The last notable example was The DaVinci Code which caused quite a stir first as a “novel” and then as a blockbuster Hollywood movie. Well hold onto your hats because here we go again!
This “holiday season” the “must see” movie experience is a big-budget fantasy epic in the vein of The Lord of The Rings called The Golden Compass. The film is an adaptation of a book called The Northern Lights - the first in the His Dark Materials trilogy by Phillip Pullman. This is where it gets interesting. Pullman is an avowed atheist who has been quoted as saying “my books are about killing God”. And the plot thickens: he’s writing for a young audience - the main character in his books is a young teenager. There is no doubt that the books have an anti-God, anti-Christian and anti-Church agenda. All these “institutions” are painted as power-hungry baddies hell-bent on concealing the “truth”.
So how should Christians respond? The Vatican has called all Cathoilics to boycott the movie and a silmilar call has come from the leadership of many Christian denominations and organisations. Other Christians have taken the opposite approach, urging us to embrace the opportunity for the gospel by seeing the movie (and/or reading the books), critiquing it from our Christian worldview and getting involved in dialogue with our non-Christian friends about who God really is. What will you do?
For what it’s worth, I’d much prefer to see us taking the latter approach - that’s certainly my plan anyway. I have a few reasons for this, but I guess ultimately I take my cue from the apostle Paul who always examined the culture that he was seeking to subvert with the gospel in order to win some for Christ (check out Acts 17 for example).
If you’re a parent, then you’ve got another question to answer. What will you say to your kids when they want to go to see the movie with their friends? If you say no, what reason will you give? Have you built a firm gospel foundation for them - reading the Bible with them and leading them to know the truth? If so, then teach them that this firm foundation can stand up to any assault that the world can wage. Teach them by showing them how to critique the messages of the world that are embedded in every party of human culture and to stand up for what they believe.
Reacting to movies like The Golden Compass by boycotting and making a fuss about them will only add fuel to the fire, causing an even greater level of interest. Trusting in the greater power of the gospel and being intentional about making the most of the opportunities such movies represent is surely a better way to go.
What do you think? Post a comment!
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15 responses so far ↓
1 Dave McPherson
// Nov 21, 2007 at 6:30 pm
I totally agree with you Steve. I think it is much better to be informed - I hate it when people reject the Gospel without investigating it first by reading what the Bible actually says. It is good that we are informing each other about these things beczuse i think we should know and understand what the world is saying and be able to present a reason for the hope that we have in light of what the world is saying. We should arm our children with the same skills. This movie/book is nothing new - many God haters have come before it and many more will come until Jesus returns. Lets keep sharpening each other to be faithful witnesses no matter what Satan throws at us.
2 Admin 01 (Dave Gray)
// Nov 21, 2007 at 11:34 pm
Just to add a curve ball @Dave McPherson, I actually know an “atheist” - if such a person exists because I know that in his heart all men know that God exists… I digress; he would know the bible better than most Christians.
As far as the movie is concerned. I would agree with most of what you have said Pete. However, I do think that there are times when it is not appropriate for our children to watch something - just because their friends are. This probably is not one of those times. I have watched the trailer and on face value I know that when I was a kid that the inclusion of witches and the idea of wicker concepts would have excluded me.
But it could sure make an interesting way to start talking about these concepts with people that you might not otherwise be able to.
3 Peter Yock
// Nov 22, 2007 at 4:59 pm
I definitely agree with you Pete - boycotting the movie will only create more interest. I only have to think of the movies my parents told me I couldn’t watch as a child - as soon as I went to my friends house round the corner, we’d go get it out and watch it. Or being told I couldn’t watch Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - that just led to a lot of afternoons spent at the next door neighbours at 4pm on weekdays. Where the law increased, sin increased all the more…
I’m reminded of the fact that when God became a Man, He entered into culture. He was a Jewish Carpenter who did what Jews did, and was familiar with their lifestyle. He copped a lot of flack for hanging out with the ‘bad crowd’, but in reality was revealing God to those who needed Him most.
4 Dve McPherson
// Nov 23, 2007 at 8:22 pm
Sorry Pete, my comment above says Steve but it should say Pete!
5 Ryan
// Nov 26, 2007 at 9:53 am
I agree with y’all about the need to embrace the culture rather than boycott it, light shining in the darkness, rather than removing itself fron the darkness. Who do we think we are if we demand the right to speak our mind but boycott anyone who disagrees with us anyway?
But I’ve been wrestling with this idea in relation to the teaching we’ve heard on not filling our minds with stuff that isn’t good - everything on tv, at the movies, the news etc. How do the two ideas of embracing culture and filling our minds with what’s good fit together?
6 Klutzy
// Nov 26, 2007 at 10:37 am
I agree with Ryan. I read the comments yesterday and; have been quite troubled by them. Firstly it doesn’t sit well with me as far as what we are filling our minds with and what we have been taught on that recently. So to Pete how do you reconcile taking the time to watch this movie with your decision not to watch watch much of what is on TV? I could well justify my TV watching in the same manner by saying it gives me opportunity to make conversation with others.
My other problem with this approach is saying we should expose our children to it. Absolutely no way do I think that this is an good approach to parenting! I talk to my children about shows/movies and why I consider they should not be viewing them if they are inappropriate for them because of content be that anti-christian themes or violence/adult themes. I am trying to give my children a moral compass to guide them and not to fill their minds with the things they shouldn’t be dwelling on. As they grow older the range of shows/movies they are allowed to view is of course going to widen but hopefully if we have laid a good foundation they will make good choices in what they then choose. As for them going to friends houses I have had one of my children tell another parent they were not able to watch a particular movie because of its rating & I think that was a very rewarding thing for me to hear as I wasn’t there to stop them & would never have known but they knew & were courageous enough to stand & say so, thats what I want them to do be able to do, not just watch it because its popular & others do but to take it further & grow to be discerning. As the 78C group were encouraged to go see this movie & have had the opportunity to talk with my children about it also.
As for the Da Vinci code I went to that with a group of christians & I regret going. Why? Because it was more violent then movies I choose to go to and I can’t say I have had one meaningful conversation about it. So why give your $ to the movie companies, after all they are the only ones who will benefit from this.
7 Ryan
// Nov 26, 2007 at 5:13 pm
I should clarify that I wasn’t saying we shouldn’t watch the movie or read the books. I really believe that for Christians to be light in the world ( a dark world that needs the light of Christ) we really need to be serious about engaging with our culture, rather than removing ourselves from it for the sake of morality. We need to be in the world but not of the world. I was just wondering how we gel that with the need to keep our minds free of earthly junk.
Perhaps the difference is the mindset with which we watch/read… critiquing it rather than just turning our brains off and sucking in the world’s messages, which I know is so easy to do when watching and reading stuff. And there’s some tuff I know i won’t watch. Thoughts?
Klutzy…it’d be great to talk more with you about this, even in person, but can’t coz you haven’t let us know who you are.
8 Klutzy
// Nov 26, 2007 at 8:16 pm
Sorry Ryan just went into intenet mode with the nic, I’m not keen on posting too much personal info but I am Michelle. The comment that you posted that I was agreeing with was “But I’ve been wrestling with this idea in relation to the teaching we’ve heard on not filling our minds with stuff that isn’t good - everything on tv, at the movies, the news etc.” as it had been playing on my mind also. The thing is not all of us do engage our minds when we watch movies etc so I guess we do need to be alert.
As for the comment about morality I strongly believe we are to be maintaining our moralilty in the world this is not removing ourselves from the world but being that salt & light. There are many ways to engage with people that do not compromise our morality or beliefs or require us to expose ourselves to movies such as the one under discussion.
9 Dave Gray
// Nov 26, 2007 at 9:59 pm
I agree somewhat with Michelle. You don’t have to be a part of the world to be in it.
There are somethings that we really should not let our kids watch and we ourselves should give a miss. Perhaps the reasons why we do will give more opportunity for discussion.
One other thing is that people may feel more comfortable using their first name only and that is fine but we have to own our statements
Me I don’t have too many concerns about the internet and privacy. I am in the phone book and that has more personal info in it than you can find on the internet. But saying that I have been at this for quite a while and I am familiar with the medium and the current trends. But I use my second name, have photos of myself and my family online and I am contactable through various services like Skype and others. But you have to be comfortable with that.
We do ask though that people at least provide a first name and a valid email address (the address is not publicly available).
I did not think that this post would cause so much discussion.
10 Klutzy
// Nov 26, 2007 at 10:13 pm
Sorry I was not trying to dodge owning my comments :-), I never considered it a problem to use Klutzy. The email address I provided is valid so if you have any concerns about what I post email me.
11 Peter Yock
// Nov 27, 2007 at 7:34 am
“We need to be in the world but not of the world” - I reckon you’re right on the money there Ryan. Engaging with our culture with an active mind is an essential part of reaching out to those immersed in the culture.
There are a couple of things I’d add though:
First, that we know our limits. If we know that engaging with a certain aspect of our culture will only lead us (or others) to temptation and sin, then we’re just kidding ourselves by saying “I’m just doing it so I can reach out to the lost…”
Second, that our minds are renewed far, far, far MORE in the Word of God than in worldly things. Again, if we’re engaging with worldly culture - reading books, watching movies and tv shows, or whatever else - more than the Bible and Christian culture, then we’re kidding ourselves that it’ll be helpful.
12 Trev Voltz
// Nov 27, 2007 at 3:32 pm
The comments from everyone are interesting but we have to remember to fill our minds with what is pleasing to God that is spending time with him reading his word sharing with others the grace & mercy God has lavished on us .Sometimes we can spend to much time reading the the grafitti this world writes that we can loose sight of what we should be doing. See Golden Compass or not just remember that God speaks louder & clearer to people than any movie .
13 Admin 01 (Dave Gray)
// Nov 27, 2007 at 5:52 pm
@Michelle no problems with what you are saying, just a general reminder to everyone.
@Peter Yock: “We need to be in the world but not of the world” - I reckon you’re right on the money there Ryan.” –> that was me that said that not Ryan
14 Mark
// Dec 5, 2007 at 12:47 pm
Hi all,
Interesting comments about living in the world but not of the world. I think all have valid comments in regards to watching movies that might be anti-Christian. Dave Gray…i would agree in being careful about what we let our children watch as they will not have the maturity to understand any underlining messages that the movie may betray.
However it may be good for us older people to see what the world is saying through such things as movies and be ready to have a response when people talk about it. - may lead to good conversations and opportunities to share the gospel.
This leads me to my next point….
What do people think about Christians listening to non-Christian music? Is it OK for us to listen to such music and how can we be discerning about what music we listen.
Should we be listening to music that we are not prepared to listen to in public? i.e can we listen to n0n-Christian music at home, but not necessarily in public because of lyrical content?
Mark
15 Don D
// Dec 7, 2007 at 8:29 pm
Why not allow the scripture speak for itself.eg, Psalm 101 :3-4. “I will set before my eyes no vile thing.The deeds of faithless men I hate;they will not cling to me. Men of perverse heart shall be far from me. I will have nothing to do with evil .”
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