Posted on 01/24/2006 7:51:17 AM PST by No Fool
I got spammed this morning by Jason Janz with some heroic epic about his own personal crusade to save the Christian world from the terrible threat of The End of the Spear - a movie on the redemption of the native tribe who killed the five missionaries including Jim Elliott and Nate Saint.
The movie had gotten a lot of good Christian press and seemed poised to do well at the box office.
Now Janz is demanding a boycott by us and an apology from the film's producers because of the terrible sin they committed of hiring a homosexual actor to play the part of Nate Saint.
I was rushing out the door this morning but sent this hasty email to the heretofore-unknown-to-me Mr. Jantz:
Jason -
Please consider that the best place for a gay activist to spend time would be surrounded by Christians. Who knows what long-term impact that may have on him, what seeds were being planted, what God will do with it?
I am all for building bridges. It's hard to make a monster of a group of people when there is open communication.
And among those Christians were probably at least a couple adulterers, porn addicts, and so on.
Jesus hung out with prostitutes and tax collectors. I think he would want us to not be afraid of associating with sinners. I think he would like it.
Just a few thoughts as I am dashing out to the Blogs4Life conference and the Right to Life March.
Barbara Curtis www.mommylife.net author of Reaching the Left from the Right (out 8/1/06 - my 7th book, but first one on politics)
When I got home there was no email from Mr. Jantz waiting for me. I checked out his website and found that he has made quite a name for himself with his crusade. Then checked around the blogosphere to find tons of Christians who'd jumped on his bandwagon - with hundreds of words, words, and more words.
This is so sad. I disagree with most everything I read, except my friend Molly's analysis. And not wanting to add to the avalanche of words already, I'll just leave it at what I said to Mr. Jantz, plus a few thoughts:
I can picture God saying to those who cast a homosexual in a Christian film: "Well done, my good and faithful servants." I think he would be very pleased. Honestly. I really, truly do.
I don't think he is pleased at the ranting and raving and gnashing of teeth of the sinners he has so graciously saved who find it so incredibly difficult to relate in a meaningful way with anyone not meeting up to their standards. I agree with those who've asked if we should boycott all products and stores owned by sinners. Should we quit our jobs if our bosses are sinners? We live in a fallen world. Get over it. Be kind and be grateful if you ever have an opportunity like the producers of End of the Spear had to live the Golden Rule and be a true witness to the God they are obviously serving, in the face of all this unwarranted condemnation by those who love to call themselves "Brothers and Sisters in Christ."
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.
As to whether the content was overtly Christian "enough" for all the very talented and creative bloggers sitting back in judgment, I would beg to point out that the book of Esther never mentions God.
And finally, my memory verse this week:
Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment! James 2:12-13.
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/
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!
...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.
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
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.
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
Barf...
..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.
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.
I agree....good point!
Thanks, both of you.
What a mess!
)c:
Indeed... a sad mess
"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
Saving my place for when my fundie friends send me the same email.
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.
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?
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