End of the Spear - How About End the Christian Witch Hunt

MommyLife.net ^ | January 23, 2006 | Barbara Curtis

[Guenevere]

Thank-you Dan for being here at FR and speaking truth.

I am so thankful and relieved reading your posts about this...

..I thought I was the only one bothered by Chad Allen protraying Nate and Steve Saint...

..I even stayed away from discussion of this movie, when it was being promoted on various threads, because I didn't want to color someone's opinion or heart if they were an unbeliever and this movie had impacted them for the good.

But now I read that someone has spoken up....it's out there now....and I have to add my voice!

I was heartbroken when I read Chad Allen was the actor playing Steve and Nate Saint.

For years, I have drawn courage and inspiration from Jim and Elisabeth Elliot and the Saints and others who in love and faith witnessed to those people and the five who were martyred.

I had high hopes when I first heard about the movie...

..and was so disappointed when I realized Allen had been chosen to play such an important role.

I kept wondering...How did this happen?....

..Did Steve Saint have no imput in this decision?

It's not as if Allen has tried to hide his sexual expression....it's that he's an avowed, active homosexual....Google him and it's very clear where he stands on this issue.

So I was caught in the agony of ...Did Steve Saint know this from the beginning?

...and Where is Steve Saint's integrity, conscience and spiritual awareness???????????

I cannot support or watch this movie.
..and here it is following Brokeback Mountain!--(what a coincidence???)

Anyway, thanks again Dan.....God bless you!

I have to wonder what Elisabeth Elliot thinks about this...?

..and I will have to go read James Dobson's review and ...I believe World magazine reviewed it positively.

Do they not know??....

I have to belive Dobson didn't know....I don't think he would endorse it if he did/

[Guenevere]

Dan, just read your #38

Chad Allen was the older son in Medicine Woman with Jane Seymore, the long running, and very well made TV western of several years ago.

His acting was good, and he seemed innocent and sweet, unspoiled.

But I remember hearing when he left the series

....that he was gay....

..and that was years ago!

[Guenevere]

To No Fool...

...I am not familiar with Jason Janz, but I Googled him and read his well thought out article about this movie and his objections to it.

There was nothing....nada....not a thing knee-jerk in his writing (as Barbara would have us believe!)

It was heartfelt, genuine and sincerely explaining his reasons for Christians to think before they see or endorse this movie.

I clearly know there will be some who will post here and flame me or Dan or anyone else who find the casting of this movie disingenuous.....

...actually they already have!

Barbara is way off base on this one.

[will of the people]

I understand your observation.

I remember when Narnia came out observing how many reviews trashed the movie because they DID understand the metaphor of Aslan to be the sacrifice of Christ.

It's hard to know how a somewhat veiled message of salvation is received by the world. But when Saint says, 'We can't shoot the Woadani, they're not ready for heaven, we are' I was deeply touched.

The presentation of Christ being speared but not spearing back so that that those who speared him could live better was , I thought, a fresh and necessarily re-worded presentation of the Gospel.

Does the movie dwell on the removal of violence more than the impartation of salvation- yes. But as a tool to remove barriers from peoples' hearts, to open up spirits to allow the Holy spirit to move, to slip the gospel through defenses before they realize it's happened; I think the movie's quite effective.

To watch someone living the sacrificial love of Christ; to see 5 men, and later their brave families risk everything; well, to me, it was inspiring.

If Paul can preach the gospel from a temple of an unknown pagan god, we can surely expect the Holy Spirit to move on lives after a wonderful, if not perfect, presentation of the Gospel in this film.

Will Wallace

[BibChr]

For your interest: Jason relays a conversation he had with the powers behind the movie HERE. The upshot is that knowing of Allen's pro-homosexual-agenda would have made no difference as to his being given this platform, and they'd cast him again in a sequel if one were made.

I find any pretense of not knowing beforehand very hard to believe. Do these people not know how to use IMDB?

Dan
Biblical Christianity blog
Pyromaniacs

[arizonarachel]

I also heard that the people that the movie is based on spoke at Rick Warren's church to over 30K people.

My husband and I actually were there at Saddleback (Rick Warren's church) the Sunday that Mr. Saint and 'Grandpa' were there. It was interesting to hear their story and the love and forgiveness that came out of such a tragedy.

[safisoft]

They knowingly gave a "dysangelistic" platform to a homosexual activist who is vehemently opposed to the very truths the depicted missionaries gave their life for.

You think that's wise? By no lexicon in my possession.

It was both unwise, and rude. Casting the role of Nate Saint this way was disrespectful, and a flaunt in the face of Bible-believing people. They knew full well that this would become common knowledge.

How would people feel if Mel Gibson had cast Harvey Fierstein (an openly anti-Christian homosexual) in the role of Jesus in "The Passion"?

[BibChr]

Of course you're right. But mark my words: had they done that, there'd have been folks -- here, even! -- saying it was a wonderful stroke of casting, becaue Fierstein is Jewish. So it's a brilliant stroke of genius, outreaching to Jews and homosexuals at the same time!

Scary.

/c8

Dan

[I'm ALL Right!]

Jason Janz seems to be reconsidering his arguements. See his website http://www.sharperiron.org/

[EternalVigilance]

I'm sorry, but as someone who wasn't saved until the age of 38 - precisely because of the ridiculous mess Christians have made of Christianity, I do get a little riled up when I see this kind of stuff.

Barf...

[Guenevere]

You are mistaken!---I think you need to read this more carefully....

..He's asking more questions .....seeking more answers...

..but after carefully reading the responses, it's apparent to me more pastors....100 at last count...signed onto his letter to the makers of this movie asking for explanations, and adding their concern to his.

Also, more Christian organizations are becoming aware of this controversy and making their opinions heard....

..see the link to President of Baptist Theological Seminary.

[JHL]

I support Jason Janz and BibChr.

I'm not calling for a boycott, but neither do I intend to see the movie. Imagine, for example, if Jane Fonda had been cast as Colonel Moore's wife in "We Were Soldiers Once and Young." How many of these same Freepers who are insisting we should overlook Allen's activism would have been demanding a boycott if Fonda had been cast in "We Were Soldiers."

It's not a question of Allen's homosexuality, but the fact that he has gone out of his way to position himself as an outspoken activist for homosexual causes that is offensive to me.

[Guenevere]

I agree....good point!

[BibChr]

Thanks, both of you.

What a mess!

)c:

[Guenevere]

Indeed... a sad mess

[will of the people]

"if Jane Fonda had been cast as Colonel Moore's wife in "We Were Soldiers Once and Young." How many of these same Freepers who are insisting we should overlook Allen's activism would have been demanding a boycott if Fonda had been cast in "We Were Soldiers."


You're confusing politics and grace; it's an all too prevalent confusion in today's church.

Will Wallace

[tiki]

Saving my place for when my fundie friends send me the same email.

[0siris]

Bump because I just got back from seeing the film. It's a very good film, I went in skeptical expecting to see some cringe inducing poorly produced Left Behind TBN sophmorism, but its well directed, very well acted, scored, ect. It has action, it has humor, it has characterization and character development, it's one of the most fascinating films ethnographic-wise I've seen in years. The film doesn't patronize the Waedona tribe, it treats each member as an individual with thought, inner conflict, passions, and humor. It's funny that a film by supposedly "close minded Christians" does more favor respecting the Waedonas as individuals than Hollywood does towards not only Indians (they'd idealize them in a Rouseauian fashion to push a leftwing "noble savage" agenda), but especially to those Christians continually stereotyped as evil fascist theocratic hatefilled hypocrites.

And yet I just stumble upon the "controversy" of the film, and I start to agree with Hollywood's portrayal. It is painfully ironic that a film about missionaries who live the Gospel by forgiving the unrepentant MURDERERS of their husbands and fathers--you know, murder, one of the ten commandments, one of the Noachidic prohibitions--is nonetheless derided by Monday Morning Preachers who can't forgive the actor for being gay. No clearer contrast between the Saints and the Saint-wannabes than in the response to this film. Some of the criticisms are head-shaking--the people involved with the film haven't vocally condemned homosexuality, therefore boycott? Well, Jesus must have been a crappy Christian, because he didn't feel a need to have his Apostles record his alleged Fred Phelps like rants against gays in the Gospels. In fact, Jesus saved his worst woes and condemnations for the poor custodians of morality, Woe to those Pharisees and hypocrites, rather than for gays and other sundry sinners. I wonder what sins would be acceptable for the actor to have committed, in the eyes of the critics--maybe if he was a murderer, or a glutton, or a hypocrite, or gay-hater, than he would be an acceptable actor.

Here is a film that shows the value that the Gospel has to the world, an entertaining and moving film that Christians from all denominations can and should get behind and use as an example of A) the power of peace behind the Gospel (keep in mind, it IS a true story) and B) the potential behind Christian-based storytelling, and what do we get? Whining. Whining, whining, whining.

It's one thing to be hated by the world because of the Gospel. It's another thing to be hated because you're not living up to it.

[Theo]

You need to boycott Chariots of Fire, then. He's just an actor. Did you know he's actually encouraging his fans to see the film?

[will of the people]

THIS JUST IN:

High level secret communications between top Pharisee leaders concerning the End of the Spear debacle (may God have mercy on our souls) has recently been intercepted. It is posted below in unedited form.

Will Wallace

---

Dear Exalted Dispenser of Holiness:

As a Pharisee I would like to call for a boycott of 'End of the Spear' for the inexplicable, unjustifiable, heinous sin of the payment of money- money that could have gone to good Pharisaical causes- to a homosexual activist who portrayed a real life missionary of the gospel (insert gasps and breast beating)

I have outlined a strategy below.

1. Full page ads in every major newspaper in the country.

2. Announcements on every major television and radio station across the nation.

3. Announcements on billboards across the nation

4. Announcements on internet web sites and blogs.

Sincerely,

Holier than Most

---

Dear Holier than Most:

Let me see if I understand your request. In order to advance self-righteous-indignation, you propose drawing attention to a relative speck while ignoring your own plank. So far, so good. Unfortunately your plan demonstrates just how unclean you truly are.

For example- Newspaper ads? Have you forgotten our boycott of newspapers because of their hostility toward religion and their embrace- indeed their promotion of secular culture?

Or radio- home of the driving rhythmic beat of conjugal 'music'. Do you dare suggest that a Pharisee actually converse with one of these God-Forsaking heathen to discuss something a holy as money?

Television? Television? Are you unaware of where the activist sodomite in question got his start? Well, it was on television. Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman to be exact. A western where a high spirited well educated woman would preachify every episode to men. With an example like that (non submissive, educated woman 'preacher') is it any wonder this 'bound-for-hell-pervert' grew up in confusion over his own sexuality.

That brings us to billboards- Don't you realize that billboards shamelessly advertise liquor and beer? I'm surprised you didn't suggest advertising across the buttocks of young girl's shorts a la Abercrombie and Fitch.

Web sites and blogs? Is not the web the largest purveyor of pornography in history? And not just heterosexual porn either. Homosexual porn as well. Don't you realize that by posting on the web you are identifying yourself as a proponent of everything that the web stands for. Do you mean to tell me you're not aware that people are using your Internet Service Provider to indulge in unGodly activity? And yet you continue to send them money month after month.

Boycotts are so 2002. We no longer call for boycotts because we've already boycotted all the methods of advertising a boycott. Your letter shows the weakness of your Pharisaical spirit. I must regrettably forward our correspondence to the stoning committee. Take heart in this, though: As you die, you will be able to take comfort in the fact that it is only those of us without sin who will be throwing stones.

Sincerely

Holier than Thou- Chief among the Pharisees