Posted on 02/02/2006 7:52:20 AM PST by Mr. Brightside
Evangelical Filmmakers Criticized for Hiring Gay Actor
By NEELA BANERJEE
Published: February 2, 2006
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1 — Christian ministers were enthusiastic at the early private screenings of "End of the Spear," made by Every Tribe Entertainment, an evangelical film company. But days before the film's premiere, a controversy erupted over the casting of a gay actor that has all but eclipsed the movie and revealed fault lines among evangelicals.
/snip
Many evangelicals are concerned that young people inspired by the movie will look up Mr. Allen on the Web and "get exposed to his views on homosexuality, and that would cause some of them to question Biblical views of homosexuality and every other sin," said Will Hall, executive director of BPNews.net, the news service of the Southern Baptist Convention, which has published articles critical of Every Tribe's decisions.
/snip
One Web log, nossobrii.blogspot .com, written by Kevin T. Bauder, president of Central Baptist Seminary in Minneapolis, stated in a Jan. 13 entry: "Granted, we must not overreact. And it would probably be an overreaction to firebomb these men's houses. But what they have done is no mistake. It is a calculated strategy."
/snip
"Has Focus on the Family made a strong statement against homosexuality? Absolutely," he said. "But what is the message of the product? And do we at Focus feel compelled to check on the sexual history of everyone in a movie? Did they have a D.U.I.? Did they pay their taxes?"
Mr. Hanon echoed: "If we start measuring the sin of everyone in a movie, we would never be able to make a picture because none of us would be left."
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
"Buying this movie will line the pockets of ungodly men. It is distributed by Buena Vista Home Entertainment, which is a division of the Walt Disney Company, which undoubtedly employs a number of homosexuals. While perusing the Buena Vista movie list, you can also select such uplifting film fare as The Hot Chick, Scary Movie, Sin City, and something called Kinky Boots."
Good godly advice.
The time spent with this movie would be much better spent with The Good Book. And the money would be better spent on doing the work of the Lord.
Do you feel the same way about attending baseball games?
If so, I wonder why you or others have not called for Christians to stay home from sporting events.
But humans cannot deal out the wrath of God. Our judgement is imperfect. And often we are not able to forgive as we are called to do. I would think when it comes to judging a homosexual male, God will judge such a man in a way that I cannot even begin to fathom. And I would much rather leave that to God, and trust that He will deal with it in His own time.
Best just to stay home, buy a cow, some chickens and grow your own food in the backyard. Play your own instrument for entertainment...
"Do you feel the same way about attending baseball games?"
If you are asking me if a Christian's time and money are better spent on the Word and work of the Lord, than with baseball, of course it is.
But having honored one's duty to the Lord, a baseball game is just fine. Take the whole family. Such decisions should be prayerfully considered and are between individual Christians and the Lord.
"If so, I wonder why you or others have not called for Christians to stay home from sporting events."
Call? Who do you think I am, the Pope. The only "call" Christians should answer is the call of God.
"Best just to stay home, buy a cow, some chickens and grow your own food in the backyard. Play your own instrument for entertainment..."
You mean like the Founding Fathers did? Working on it. With the money I save I can feed, clothe and educate numerous dying children in third world countries. The work of Christians.
Or I could go to expensive restaurants, buy expensive clothes and attend expensive orchestras and ballets.
It is a choice between selflessness and selfishness.
I heard that some of the Steelers use drugs, so I'm not watching the Superbowl.
One of the player, I am told, is even living with a woman without being married.
Shock... horror!
(rolling eyes)
I wonder if the Southern Baptists have ever boycotted a baseball team for the immorality of one of its players.
"I wonder if the Southern Baptists have ever boycotted a baseball team for the immorality of one of its players."
Don't have a clue. Not interested either. I take my marching orders from the Bible not from the men of the SBC.
By your definition, no Christian should ever have gone to minister to the Aucas. Why should they have taken their children with them? Why should those missionaries have left all they knew to live with these people? They did become intimately connected with them, lived with them, ministered to them. The Aucas (Waodani) were a people who murdered each other at a whim. They buried their living children with their dead. This was as spiritually dark a people as ever walked the face of the planet.
God didn't leave them to die in their sin. He sent faithful people to go, even to die, in order to bring them words of Truth. He brought them peace, both individually and as a people.
Jesus was very loving and open to those deepest in sin. He did not support or excuse their sin, but he met them where they lived. He was gentle, kind and gave them hope. He was harshest on the Pharisees -- people who had all the benefits of God's teaching without the heart of it. He was angered by their self-righteousness and hypocrisy.
Let me be clear -- I believe homosexuality is a sin. I do not waiver on this point. But gluttony is a sin. Gossip is a sin. Lust is a sin. If we are not willing to work with people who are dead in their sins, who won't even see themselves as being dead in sin, then we are useless. If someone calls himself a brother, a Christian, we are to instruct him, admonish him and encourage him with love to follow the Scriptures. In the church, we cannot tolerate willful, unrepentant sin. We cannot bless what God has called profane. But we can and must try to see every human being as someone created in the image of God and no less worthy than ourselves of His salvation. We can work and live among unbelievers and by our faith and example plant seeds of truth and hope in their lives, leaving it to God to make them grow where He wills.
It sounds as if you are making a judgement on anyone who goes out to eat. Just a question for you: Are you a "salty" Christian, who attracts people to your faith with your joy and love? It's wonderful to reach out to hungry children, we support some of those as well...what about out a personal level?
What about your neighbors, your co-workers...those who don't know Christ. Do they want what you have, because you are so obviously at peace, so wise, so loving...Jesus said "go into the world"--are you going? Are you loving? Are you serving? Are you personally making a real and positive difference in anyone's life, other than with a check? I have yet to meet anyone who was judged or ridiculed into the arms of Christ.
Just a thought.
"By your definition, ..."
The only definition I offered was the unadulterated Word of God.
"God didn't leave them to die in their sin. He sent faithful people to go, even to die, in order to bring them words of Truth. He brought them peace, both individually and as a people."
"Jesus was very loving and open to those deepest in sin. He did not support or excuse their sin, but he met them where they lived. He was gentle, kind and gave them hope. He was harshest on the Pharisees -- people who had all the benefits of God's teaching without the heart of it. He was angered by their self-righteousness and hypocrisy."
"Let me be clear -- I believe homosexuality is a sin. I do not waiver on this point. But gluttony is a sin. Gossip is a sin. Lust is a sin. If we are not willing to work with people who are dead in their sins, who won't even see themselves as being dead in sin, then we are useless. If someone calls himself a brother, a Christian, we are to instruct him, admonish him and encourage him with love to follow the Scriptures. In the church, we cannot tolerate willful, unrepentant sin. We cannot bless what God has called profane. But we can and must try to see every human being as someone created in the image of God and no less worthy than ourselves of His salvation. We can work and live among unbelievers and by our faith and example plant seeds of truth and hope in their lives, leaving it to God to make them grow where He wills."
Spoken like a true Servant of the Lord. May the good Lord bless you and yours.
"Keep my commandments and live; and keep my law as the pupil of your eye" (Proverbs 7:2).
"It sounds as if you are making a judgement on anyone who goes out to eat. Just a question for you: Are you a "salty" Christian, who attracts people to your faith with your joy and love? It's wonderful to reach out to hungry children, we support some of those as well...what about out a personal level?
What about your neighbors, your co-workers...those who don't know Christ. Do they want what you have, because you are so obviously at peace, so wise, so loving...Jesus said "go into the world"--are you going? Are you loving? Are you serving? Are you personally making a real and positive difference in anyone's life, other than with a check? I have yet to meet anyone who was judged or ridiculed into the arms of Christ."
These are good questions that I and every Christian should be continuously asking themselves.
I would point out though, that fear of God's divine law and judgment IS what drives people to the saving grace of the Lord. The law of God is perfect, in converting the soul. How is it that one should want the saving grace of the Lord, if they are unaware of their sin and God's judgment and condemnation to come.
It is the fear of God's law that makes repentant, humble men out of worldly, arrogant men. For one does not know sin, but for God's law. And one can not be saved from their sin and God's judgment but by the sacrifice of the Lord.
As for me, I am not a good man. There is only one who is good and that is God. The only thing that redeems me of my wretched sinful nature, is the Lord Jesus Christ. Without which I am nothing.
I pray that I do in fact bring the light of God's truths into the darkness. I try every day to be a better Christian than the day before, by obeying that which the Lord has laid on my heart to do.
In His service, S4T.
Respectfully, I believe that one earns the right to be heard by loving, respecting and caring about those who don't understand God's Word the way we do. We are to point the way, and speak the truth in love, not condemn. The Holy Spirit will work on the heart, and point out the areas that God wants to work on to that person. That is not to say that we are not to ever point out (lovingly) an inconsistency in someone's life, but I believe it is not our primary job.
People cringe and are repelled when they are condemned, but they open their hearts when they are loved. That is how God has an opportunity to work. Not everyone has an Amaeus Road experience, some take years and years to come to a full knowledge of Christ. I believe there is a reason for that. God has lessons and experiences he wants each person to learn from, and grow from, and use to help others. He can even use unsanctified sinners--despite their own shortcomings, and He does just that.
He used Mincaye (the man who killed Nate Saint) in a HUGE way, despite the fact that for years after the slayings, Mincaye rejected Christianity. Now look what has happened! Was it because the wives went in and condemned the tribe? No. It was because they went in and loved them, served them, and taught them. God worked on Mincaye's heart in His time and in His way. There was no need to condemn him, the Holy Spirit did it, and now he is the spiritual leader for his tribe. Thousands if not millions have been inspired by the story over the past 50 years (even when Mincaye wasn't a Christian) and people have been moved into full time missionary work...people have forgiven where forgiveness seemed impossible, marriages have reconciled...God did these things through a sinner who knew nothing of Him, and certainly wasn't sanctified in any way.
Everyone is useful in God's eyes, He will decide whom He will use, and how He will use them. He will also decide which areas of the heart need pruning, and will prune them as He wishes. We are not the Master Gardener...we are only fertilizer.
You have made a god to suit yourself, out of your worldly thoughts and feelings, which is idolatry.
What you stated is not Biblical. And I'm really not interested in the gospel of "I'm ALL Right!" comprised of your unrepentant thoughts and tender feelings. Who do you think you are?
"Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this world, let him become a fool so that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God; for it is written, "He takes the wise in their own craftiness"" (1 Corinthians 3:18-19).
Since matters of the spirit are foolishness to the world, there is no point in continuing this discussion with you. You appear to want to use it to honor yourself, rather than the Word of God, as well as using this thread to taunt Christians and mock God.
May God have mercy on you.
"To employ soft words and honeyed phrases in discussing questions of everlasting importance; to deal with errors that strike at the foundations of all human hope as if they were harmless and venial mistakes; to bless where God disapproves, and to make apologies where He calls us to stand up like men and assert, though it may be the aptest method of securing popular applause in a sophistical age, is cruelty to man and treachery to Heaven. Those who on such subjects attach more importance to the rules of courtesy than they do to the measures of truth do not defend the citadel, but betray it into the hands of its enemies. Love for Christ, and for the souls for whom He died, will be the exact measure of our zeal in exposing the dangers by which men's souls are ensnared" (quoted in a sermon by George Sayles Bishop, author of The Doctrines of Grace and Kindred Themes, 1910).
Love God and love others. Those are the two greatest commandments. The words of Jesus Christ are good enough for me. Have a good day.
"Then one of them, a lawyer, asked, tempting Him and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the Law? Jesus said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets" (Matthew 22:35-40).
Love is certainly no small subject in the Bible. The word "Love" is found in 547 Bible verses. You have chosen those verses to the exclusion of all the others because it serves your god.
Christians do not to get to choose which verses of the Bible they obey and which they do not.
Having a great day in the Lord, S4T.
I'd hope that being exposed to this amazing story and these Godly men, would be a tremendous testimonial to Mr. Allen. Because I'm sure he was treated with respect and love during the shoot. On the other hand, every silly stereotype of the hateful Christian will be validated in his mind if your approach is projected.
Supporting this wonderful production company is so important and using the tainted Hollywood system (Disney distribution) to spread God's word is incredibly cool. I'm sure there's a scripture about God using any vessel to do his work.
Says you.
"I'm sure there's a scripture about God using any vessel to do his work."
Misplaced your Bible, eh?
All that you have stated are your own tender notions, not the Will or Word of God.
Are you god, that we should heed your divine word? Is there a gospel of Deb?
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