Posted on 09/27/2006 6:43:02 AM PDT by LurkedLongEnough
LOS ANGELES -- The new documentary "Jesus Camp" is shocking Christians and non-Christians alike with its scenes of children sobbing and crying out to God at a Pentecostal summer camp in North Dakota.
The film follows Midwestern children Rachael, now 10, Levi, now 13, and Tory, now 11, who attended Fischer's Bible camp in Devils Lake, N.D., in 2005, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Filmmaker Heidi Ewing said she was raised Catholic and her co-director, Rachel Grady, is Jewish, enabling them to present what they hope is a neutral view of Pastor Becky Fischer's "Kids on Fire" program.
Grady said Fischer let them make the documentary in hopes of reaching unsaved people.
In the film, the children cheered when asked if they'd be willing to give up their lives for Jesus, prayed over a cardboard cutout of President George W. Bush and cried as they pleaded for an end to abortion, the Los Angeles Times reported. The paper said that one of the children is home-schooled by a mother who teaches that "science doesn't prove anything."
Ewing said the children explained that they wept because God's heart is broken over a lost and sinful world. But she added that the children didn't seem unhappy -- just more intense than the average American child. Grady said all of the kids plan to become missionaries.
Some critics have labeled the camp a frightening example of brainwashing and child abuse.
"This is war! Are you part of it or not?," Fischer shouted at the children during the film.
Fischer proudly compared her Bible camp to indoctrination of young boys by extremist Muslims.
"If you look at the world's population, one third of that 6.7 billion people are children under the age of 15," Fischer said. "Where should we be putting our efforts? Where should we be putting our focus? I'll tell you where our enemies are putting it. They're putting it on the kids. They're going into the schools."
Fischer went on to say that Muslims in other countries are taking their kids to camps like "we take our kids" to bible camps. She said Muslims are teaching their kids to use rifles, how to put on bomb belts and to use machine guns.
"It's no wonder with that kind of intense training in discipling (sic) that those young people are ready to kill themselves for the cause of Islam," Fischer said. "I want to see young people who are as committed to the cause of Jesus Christ as the young people are to the cause of Islam. I want to see them as radically laying down their lives for the gospel as they are over in Pakistan and in Israel and Palestine and all those different places. Because we have, excuse me, but we have the truth."
The filmmakers told the Times that they want the film to "make a broad statement about how politics and faith have become inexorably intertwined in America."
Fischer said that she plans to help promote the movie and that she is grateful for the national attention she's gotten from the movie and its controversy.
"I couldn't have paid for this kind of advertising," she said.
In the About Film section of the movie's Web site, it describes the movie as follows:
A growing number of Evangelical Christians believe there is a revival underway in America that requires Christian youth to assume leadership roles in advocating the causes of their religious movement. Jesus Camp follows a group of young children to Pastor Becky Fischer's "Kids on Fire Summer Camp", where kids are taught to become dedicated Christian soldiers in God's army and are schooled in how to take back America for Christ. The film is a first-ever look into an intense training ground that recruits born-again Christian children to become an active part of America's political future.
"Jesus Camp" is already open in New York and will open in 20 more cities across the United States Oct. 6.
Oh, OK, that makes what you said correct.
Let religions believe and say what they want to. Violence is the dividing line.
LOL, go Christians go!
The underlying theme of Christ was to bring peace to earth. That is 180 degrees from the method by which Mohammed determined to bring the islam to the world.
The article should be read with that perspective in mind. The fact that is needs to be pointed out shows how ignorant many have become about the Christian faith.
Haven't seen the film, probably won't.
But weeping is normal, everyday stuff in pentacostal worship. If you come from a more staid background, it can be a bit off-putting, but there is nothing sinister about it.
In a world in which Islam is on the advance, even secular christians and jews may be called upon to lay down their lives. We have soldiers laying down their lives right now, every day of the week. If you expect to be a missionary these days, especially in any country where Islam is widespread, you have to face the reality of your own physical mortality.
This may not be normal subject of conversation around the dinner table, but in any discussion with would-be missionaries, you may as well get it right out in the open. Every cop, every fireman, every soldier knows his life is potentially forfeit. Every missionary knows the same thing.
Don't assume that there aren't militant Christians out there. This film may have found some.
Thanks for the links.
You're so right about many folks not understanding the need for a Savior...or the meaning of being truly Saved.
I have a friend who attended a Billy Graham Crusade and thought she was saved for years afterwards...even though she never attended church or opened her Bible, let alone understood why Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice. Fortunately for her, she met someone who set her straight. I know this may tick off some Billy Graham FReeper fans, but my friend has very little respect for Billy Graham Ministries for some reason or reasons.
I think she's talking about the way CHRISTIANS are laying down their lives for the faith in places where muslim rules and Christians are persecuted and hunted down like animals. And it does happen.
Sometimes it seems like being a Reformed Jew is about like being an Episcopalian.
According the BGEA, 10,000 will make a public confession. In 5 years, only 500 will be regular church attenders.
The reason: They never thought they were a sinner in need of Grace. They just wanted a life-adjustment.
These are 2 of the best evangelism messages out there. Ray goes straight to the Word of God & sugarcoats nothing. No seeker sensitive "felt needs". Our need is for a Savior. Ray (& Kirk as well) have the ability to present the true gospel message without trying to change it into something else. And I think Ray has the best gospel tracts I've ever seen.
I saw some of this "Jesus Camp" on the news. There was so much yelling & emotionalism that I found it more than a little disturbing.
In the first place, there is no (sic) about the way the word "discipling" is used here: ""It's no wonder with that kind of intense training in discipling (sic) ... ."
Secondly, the church has always operated in an unseen-by-the-unbelievers manner when pressed, legislated against, such as it has been in the USA for decades. These youth are emerging from behind the scenes but God, who always keeps a remnant for Himself, releases such as these when the time is right for His purposes. Many Christian youth in America have been laboring and praying to usher in this revival -- from the secret place of God's presence, in prayer.
He raises up leaders and does indeed bring revival, which, as the article says, IS happening in America right now. The beginnings of it are here. The youth movement Fischer describes is a big part of it. No age group has been more oppressed by society than our youth; what better place to light a fire than in youth who see their classmates having babies ripped out of their teenage bodies, who see their friends' lives ruined by parental abuse, neglect, abandonment, who see their friends committing suicide in record numbers? God uses the foolish things of this world to confound and humble the "wise" and proud. Many Americans consider our youth to be foolish, but when filled with the power of the Living God that raised Christ from the dead, these "foolish" youth are going to stand the world as we know it on its head. God bless them! This is normal Christianity being restored. What we've seen all our lives, most of us, is a weakened Church that lacks the faith of the first Christians (read the Book of Acts in the New Testament for examples). God is restoring a people to their first love (of Him).
To all who want to flame me, it's useless. I love the Lord, I've spent decades waiting for this fanning into flames that is upon us, and I know there will be countless souls swept into God's eternal Kingdom because of it. People may not like the way the Lord God of Israel and all believers does things, but He is God and I am not stupid enough to argue with Him about His methods. People who don't see this for what it is shouldn't flame me for rejoicing at what they don't understand. FWIW: people who have read my postings since 1998 when I signed onto FR know I love God and am not a freaked out member of the fringe and loony types.
God bless these youth and all who lead them. The Old Testament even prophesied that "a little child shall lead them," and when the older folks reject the way God moves and works with youth, who Jesus said embody the type of faith needed to become born again, then the older folks need to adjust their thinking.
LOL. might want to try a somewhat smaller brush. I've attended a Pentecostal church & no such thing took place on any given Sunday. "Usual" or otherwise. They're not all the same. Actually the most out of order behavior I ever saw was at a Vineyard church.
Precisely.
At the same time, I am concerned that kook fringe groups like this will define Evangelical Christianity.
That depends: will other evangelical Christians unambiguously denounce this sort of abusive brainwashing, or will they spew CAIR-like equivocations on the subject?
They are dangerous, and need to be shut down because what they are doing here is truly child abuse.
No.
A) Freedom of religion
B) Entertainment value
There are two possible responses:
1. Recognition of a nutball faction that needs to be watched and contained, or
2. Whining about "persecution" and evading the underlying issue
If option 2 is selected, there's no need for anybody on the outside to "morally equate Islamic fundamentalism with Christian fundamentalism". In that case, the equivalency will be all too clear.
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