Friday, January 20, 2006
True Spearituality
Film on Christian martyrs suffers from flap about gay activist actor, but it's not "Brokeback Jungle"
End of the Spear, a movie about five Christian missionaries killed trying to reach a jungle tribe and opened yesterday.
The story upon which this movie is based is very compelling. Through the Gates of Splendor by Elisabeth Elliot, whose husband Jim was one of the five, chronicles the events related to the attack. The Waodani (formerly Auca) indian tribe is powerfully transformed by the Holy Spirit from murderous and warlike to gentle and respectable. So this movie carries great potential for highlighting the transformative power of the Gospel of Christ.
And to some extent it succeeds. The film is blessed with stunning natural scenery and Robert Driskill's cinematography that adeptly captures its impact. With Ron Owen's sirenic score wailing in the background, the yellow airplane descends upon the verdant jungle floor like an angel, telling the viewer there is a force of truth and beauty at work. Furthermore, significant life changes are seen as the Waodani gradually fight less and help their enemies.
So, the Gospel is here, but the presentation is about as skimpy as a Waodani loincloth.
The film leaves only tantalizing hints at the Gospel. As the widows and orphans of the slain missionaries move in with the tribe, we learn that Waengongi, the Waodani's concept of God, does indeed exist and has left markings on the path that they can follow. We learn later that there are more grandfathers now than before. Great! Caused by what or whom? Why have the Waodani really turned around? Walking the way of Waengongi, learning of His Son and studying the markings on His path. So, why did they do that? Waengongi says not to kill. Ok, why not? Just who is this Waengongi character and why listen to Him anyway? Is there any eternal consequence, like, say, going to Hell when one jumps the Great Boa? Is the point just to stop the killing, or to prevent eternal separation from God? Exactly why are the missionaries putting their lives on the line?
This film almost makes it look like the transformation of the Waodani is only because of the sacrifice shown by the missionaries, not the Holy and powerful God who motivated them in the first place. Absent a well-versed biblical worldview and familiarity with the real story to connect the dots, the message almost devolves into a subtle humanism: human effort, being nice, and showing mercy is all that is needed to transform murderous Mincayes to kind Kimos.
The film's website says that the Waodani were motivated to participate in the film because they heard about the Columbine school shooting tragedy. So, if the purpose of the film is to help keep people from living violently, shouldn't the Gospel by more clearly and powerfully portrayed? Why can't the redemptive work of the Holy Spirit be more clearly spelled out? Are the filmmakers so politically correct that they're afraid they'll be accused of proselytizing? The story is about jungle missionaries! It's supposed to proselytize!
And on the topic of motivation, what caused the filmmakers at Every Tribe Entertainment to cast a well known and vocal homosexual activist as the lead roll of Nate Saint, one of the Christian missionaries killed? Chad Allen, teen heartthrob of many 1980's TV shows, now evangelizes for gay normalization at every turn. Certainly, he gives an able performance as the late Saint and nothing in the screenplay devolves into "Brokeback Jungle". Instead, the issue with this casting choice is more insidious: the legitimizing of homosexuality among the obvious Christian target market. Says Mr. Allen,
The fact that Mr. Allen is a homosexual is not that big a deal to me (well, it kinda' is, because homosexual behavior is inherently dangerous and I hope and pray he turns away from it). The bigger issue is that he is an active evangelist for homosexual culture and behavior and now has a platform to proselytize the Christian community. Pay close attention to his media appearances in the weeks and months to come and "See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. "
Overall, the setting, crisp pacing, relationship between Nate and young Steve Saint, and themes of forgiveness and redemption make this movie worth seeing (Be sure to stay through the end of the credits!). It is certainly better than the tripe Hollywood normally foists upon the viewing public.
Yet, I was still mildly disappointed. The mission of Every Tribe Entertainment is "to bring to life stories of courage and strength of the human spirit", yet the core of this story is the strength of the Holy Spirit. Thus, a film that is "From a True Story" is true but it is not THE Truth.
End of the Spear, a movie about five Christian missionaries killed trying to reach a jungle tribe and opened yesterday.
The story upon which this movie is based is very compelling. Through the Gates of Splendor by Elisabeth Elliot, whose husband Jim was one of the five, chronicles the events related to the attack. The Waodani (formerly Auca) indian tribe is powerfully transformed by the Holy Spirit from murderous and warlike to gentle and respectable. So this movie carries great potential for highlighting the transformative power of the Gospel of Christ.
And to some extent it succeeds. The film is blessed with stunning natural scenery and Robert Driskill's cinematography that adeptly captures its impact. With Ron Owen's sirenic score wailing in the background, the yellow airplane descends upon the verdant jungle floor like an angel, telling the viewer there is a force of truth and beauty at work. Furthermore, significant life changes are seen as the Waodani gradually fight less and help their enemies.
So, the Gospel is here, but the presentation is about as skimpy as a Waodani loincloth.
The film leaves only tantalizing hints at the Gospel. As the widows and orphans of the slain missionaries move in with the tribe, we learn that Waengongi, the Waodani's concept of God, does indeed exist and has left markings on the path that they can follow. We learn later that there are more grandfathers now than before. Great! Caused by what or whom? Why have the Waodani really turned around? Walking the way of Waengongi, learning of His Son and studying the markings on His path. So, why did they do that? Waengongi says not to kill. Ok, why not? Just who is this Waengongi character and why listen to Him anyway? Is there any eternal consequence, like, say, going to Hell when one jumps the Great Boa? Is the point just to stop the killing, or to prevent eternal separation from God? Exactly why are the missionaries putting their lives on the line?
This film almost makes it look like the transformation of the Waodani is only because of the sacrifice shown by the missionaries, not the Holy and powerful God who motivated them in the first place. Absent a well-versed biblical worldview and familiarity with the real story to connect the dots, the message almost devolves into a subtle humanism: human effort, being nice, and showing mercy is all that is needed to transform murderous Mincayes to kind Kimos.
The film's website says that the Waodani were motivated to participate in the film because they heard about the Columbine school shooting tragedy. So, if the purpose of the film is to help keep people from living violently, shouldn't the Gospel by more clearly and powerfully portrayed? Why can't the redemptive work of the Holy Spirit be more clearly spelled out? Are the filmmakers so politically correct that they're afraid they'll be accused of proselytizing? The story is about jungle missionaries! It's supposed to proselytize!
And on the topic of motivation, what caused the filmmakers at Every Tribe Entertainment to cast a well known and vocal homosexual activist as the lead roll of Nate Saint, one of the Christian missionaries killed? Chad Allen, teen heartthrob of many 1980's TV shows, now evangelizes for gay normalization at every turn. Certainly, he gives an able performance as the late Saint and nothing in the screenplay devolves into "Brokeback Jungle". Instead, the issue with this casting choice is more insidious: the legitimizing of homosexuality among the obvious Christian target market. Says Mr. Allen,
"You know, I made this movie with a group of conservative Christians who do not agree with my expression of sexuality. But we said to each other, I will walk with you accepting your differences, and we can create together. I will give you your space to respect you fully. They don't need to take away from my freedom, I don't need to take away from theirs. And I am so proud to have done that. That's the kind of bridge-building I think we can get to."Kinda' makes you wonder why these "conservative Christians" cast Mr. Allen in the first place. Prominent Christians are also concerned about conflating Christian and homosexual culture. Says Dr. Albert Mohler, President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary:
"I believe that the makers of this movie made a very reckless decision in casting Chad Allen as Nate and Steve Saint. Given the publicity of Chad Allen's activism and the intensity of his mission to normalize homosexuality -- a mission clearly articulated on his Web site -- it is hard, if not impossible, to suspend belief and see him as a missionary martyr for the Gospel. The distance between Nate Saint and Chad Allen is just too great."Similar concerns are voiced at Sharper Iron, Contend 4 the Faith, Musings from Two-Sheds Gomer, Tim Challies. The brewing controversy may eclipse the power of the story, such as it is.
The fact that Mr. Allen is a homosexual is not that big a deal to me (well, it kinda' is, because homosexual behavior is inherently dangerous and I hope and pray he turns away from it). The bigger issue is that he is an active evangelist for homosexual culture and behavior and now has a platform to proselytize the Christian community. Pay close attention to his media appearances in the weeks and months to come and "See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. "
Overall, the setting, crisp pacing, relationship between Nate and young Steve Saint, and themes of forgiveness and redemption make this movie worth seeing (Be sure to stay through the end of the credits!). It is certainly better than the tripe Hollywood normally foists upon the viewing public.
Yet, I was still mildly disappointed. The mission of Every Tribe Entertainment is "to bring to life stories of courage and strength of the human spirit", yet the core of this story is the strength of the Holy Spirit. Thus, a film that is "From a True Story" is true but it is not THE Truth.
"[Jesus said] I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6
Sunday, January 15, 2006
Check out New VitW Blogroll Additions
News of the Day: Written by Seton Motley, it's a compendium of Texas politics, news, and views....from a limited government perspective.
Freedom's Truth & Liberating Iraq: Published by fellow Austin conservative Patrick McGuinness, it has a particular focus on Iraq and the Middle East.
Check 'em out.
Freedom's Truth & Liberating Iraq: Published by fellow Austin conservative Patrick McGuinness, it has a particular focus on Iraq and the Middle East.
Check 'em out.
