No meek opinions around here. You make a great point. And I do agree with you.

Loved your succinct statement: “The deeper that I grow in my faith, the more I realize that many of those around me proclaiming to be Christians really missed the boat. It is not that they are any less saved, just less obedient, and many do not even realize it.” So true. I get unnerved easily at christianease.

And you gave me a great idea about a subject to blog about: “naming good Christ centered media”. Thanks Steve. Hang around here anytime. Love your opinion and input.

I think that we agree that it is wrong to try to sell someone something like a movie with a little side order of God, as though to say that God alone is not enough. And that if we as Christians rely on this and this alone, then that would be like saying that we do not believe that anyone could be interest in God alone.

In your last post you stated “I do not problem with that unless it’s being packaged as the next thing to save people. If we’re going to use something as an evangelistic tool, it’s first purpose should be evangelism, not a side bonus.” This could not have been stated better by anyone. The only problem that I have with this statement is that this is something that only a devout Christian can comprehend.

And I agree that the first purpose of movies and music (most music anyway) is to entertain.

I guess this is what I am really trying to say:
The deeper that I grow in my faith, the more I realize that many of those around me proclaiming to be Christians really missed the boat. It is not that they are any less saved, just less obedient, and many do not even realize it. I just feel that we as Christians (not to mention the world in general) really need more positive Christ centered influences. I feel that these influences can give people new perspectives and rattle some cages. This is why I view these as supporting tools, and not necessarily evangelistic tools… I do also agree that Hollywood will profit greatly from films like Evan Almighty, I just hope that this will result in more Christ centered media…

You also do a good job of effectively getting your point across if many fewer words that I ever could.

I have gained from this dialog, Thanks again…

My short answer: no it’s not a bad thing.

But I think we’re arguing two different topics here. I’m not in total disagreement with you. Though I think you’re missing the core point to this. There’s nothing wrong with movies and music.

As Christians the Great Commission gives us the job of taking the gospel to the nations. When it comes to music and movies their first purpose is to entertain, and they may have a good message secondly as a part of the package. I do not problem with that unless it’s being packaged as the next thing to save people. If we’re going to use something as an evangelistic tool, it’s first purpose should be evangelism, not a side bonus. Does that make sense?

I think the whole thing gets muddled down because as long as God is in it or someone says Jesus, it can’t be bad. I’m just all about being purposeful (and I’m not saying that you’re not) and the purpose of Evan Almighty is not to bring people to Christ. It’s sole purpose is to make money. Any good that comes from it is a bonus.

A similar subject would be Christian music. Nothing upsets me more than to hear someone refer to today’s Christian music artist as “Wont a be rock stars” and or “Sell outs”. Music is a very powerful tool, and I have seen first hand how God is using the Christian Music Industry to bring many people to Christ for the first time, and many who already know him closer to him. I am 35 years old, and this is a huge part of my testimony. While I was saved as a child, I owe the fact that I am as close as I am to God at this point in my life because of an awesome wife and the explosion in the Christian music industry in the past 5 years. This is also why I am now searching for my place in the Christian music ministry. I want to be a part of what has had such a huge impact on my life. I feel called to do so… Trust me, I am not an artist, and never will be, but I have done much in support of many artist and promoters over the past few years. I have also been blessed with the opportunity to work with some very bright individuals behind these artist and their productions, and want to say that the key trait that they all exhibit is immeasurable faith. And for someone like me to want to give up a very good career making more than twice what I ever thought I would, living about 3 miles from work, and home with my family most every night, to go on the road making about a third, could only be a God thing…

I also want to say that the last event that I worked ministered to about 25,000 people, and that this probably would not have been possible if not for Evan Almighty, and if Evan Almighty would have not been there then some other film or production from another promising group would have.

My whole point is that:
If someone grows closer to God as a result of a movie or music, is it a bad thing?.. As long as Christ values are deeply rooted and not comprised, then I do not see any of this as selling out. In fact, I feel that many people will only truly find their way closer to Christ through means other than someone simply walking up to them on the street and wanting to share there faith with them. I also think that it is no less noble to support a group with an outward ministry prayerfully, financially, or through any other means necessary to help them make followers. Whether that group is a music artist, promoter, media group, or whoever should not matter as long as they are serious about their efforts to spread the faith…

Thanks again, Steve…

Man thanks for taking the time to comment. I agree with some of what you’re saying. My original point was this:

-Hollywood wants to make money
-We want to save people

Partnering up to ’scratch each other’s back’ to fulfill our individual goals is a bad idea.

I openly admitted I never saw the movie and I’ve said time and time again… I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THE MOVIE. I don’t. I’ll see it. You’re right a movie can moves someone closer to God. Anything can. I’m sure in some bizarre way me sitting in a Honey Bucket (port a potty) could move someone closer to God. God can use anything.

The movie is not my problem. It’s the church.

It’s the fact that the church gets excited that we finally have a new way to share the gospel with people! It is so eager to hop on board with something (ie a movie or whatever you want to insert here). We are always looking for other ways to do the simplest task.

Witnessing is simple. Share what Christ has done in your life. Reach out to your neighbor. You don’t need a movie to do that. It’s just seems easier. It just gives us an excuse to not do what we were supposed to do in the first place.

Stuart

First of all, how many of you expressing your opinions on this site actually had seen the move at the time you posted?.. Based on the dates you posted, I am guessing none. I also find it interesting that no one has posted anything since the move was released on Friday…

I have spent the past 10 minutes reading comments like “Christian $ Bandwagon”, “How easily do we as Christians whore ourselves”, and “Sellout”…

I volunteer through an organization who partnered with Grace Hill Media to promote this film. Just because a film has not been release to theaters does not mean that no one has seen it… This organization would have NEVER partnered with anyone to promote anything without first seeing the movie and understanding everything about it and or associated with it. I feel sure that John Cooper and the rest of Skillet had the opertunity to view this as well.

Most of you seem to be more concerned with keeping Christians above those that are not than witnessing to anyone. I do not think that I saw any comments such as “serving others”, “sharing faith”, or “witnessing” in any of these posts. You all need to be viewing this as an opertunity to share the faith with those who may have never before let you in instead of trying to pick it apart before you have even seen it. Yes, you are 100% correct when you said that “We’re always looking for the next big thing as if God isn’t enough”, but you are wrong to think that this film can not bring people closer to God…

This film opens a huge door of opportunity for youth to be more open and share their faith with each other, and as someone else mentioned, open discussions in the heavily guarded workplace.

I also want to say that I have a young family, and it is a struggle to find decent movies and or TV programming. People are going to go to the movies and spend money. The movie is biblically respectful, so what would you really rather see on at the box office?.. What would this world be like if there were more movies like “Evan Almighty” and less like “Oceans 13” and “Knocked Up” which also playing at the box office this week…

Thank you for the opertunity to post a response…