On Friday's blog someone commented- why would a christian go to the movie The Dark Knight? I can't speak for all Christians but let me tell you my reasons.
First, I do movie reviews for a London radio station BX93 so it's kinda a job requirement. I go to movies for several reasons and all genres- entertainment, cultural knowledge and experience, an escape from the world for a few hours BUT I never go looking for an affirmation of my faith. If you look to Hollywood for that your are searching in the wrong place and the wrong people.
But it does give me insight into pop culture and society so that I can apply my faith in a real and relevant way to our broken and fallen world. I can't say that a movie is bad or good or have any type of judgement on it if I haven't seen it. I believe we are called to be in the world but not of it and it is easy for me to have that separation while I enjoy the art and entertainment of our society.
Not everyone can or wants to do this. That is there choice and the grace of free will under God's love and guidance.
Hope that helps.
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8 comments:
AMEN SISTER!
Looking forward to talking to you this morning if we can make it work!!
Good answer - and very reformed: discern the spirits.
Pieter
I'm psyched to see Dark Night -- in IMAX!
It is funny that the type of people that take issue with this also are the same type that leave anon messages on blogs. Sourpusses.
Have a great ride -- I've heard it is all downhill after Denver!
Gayle,
Keep up the positive attitude and keep fighting for your viewpoint. Not everything in this world is good but God is sovereign. Legalism always fails as a worldview because it does not allow for God's sovereignty to work itself out.
Chuck Henager
Family of Faith CRC
Let him who is without sin [anonymously] cast the first stone. -- I guess we have a winner!
Keep on applying your faith to this broken world. It needs it.
Keep on cycling and bringing attention to the impoverished people in this world. They need it.
Karl
Hold it people, let's not jump all over this person for asking the question. Believe it or not when I did profession of faith in my beloved CRC I had to justify my movie attendance to two interviewing elders, and I'm not all that old (zip it Pieter). While I too am disappointed that they did not leave their name, I'm also NOT sure I could have come up with as eloquent and well thought out answer as Gayle to justify my involvement in today's culture. Name calling is certainly not going to pave the way for open dialogue. I'm glad the question was asked because it's good from time to time to have to clearly think about what my answers are, and what they should be. Also, glad to see that after two years with us Gayle, we've got our token Anglican in a reformed state of mind!!
God bless you as you pedal, God bless you as you blog, God bless you as you rest. And God bless your short day tomorrow, may it be a welcome change from a tough week.
Sending you love and hugs and prayers.
Heather
There's no way I can stay out of this one...
What ever happened to, "Our world belongs to God?" Doesn't that mean this movie does? (the good, bad and the ugly?)
What about the truth and beauty in the film? Who's is that? Who else could be the author of truth but God?
What if Jesus is saying something through this parable of a film?
What if his 'image-bearing' creations - writers, producers, directors, actors, etc - are reflecting something of His creativity, artistic vision, his take on the battle between good and evil; expressing God's heart on the good and evil sides that reside in each of our hearts?
If Dark Night is out, then so should many passages in the Old Testament be out (R-rated scenes of rape, genocide, murder, adultery, lying, conniving, you get the picture!)
Pieter's right on discernment being the key, but don't throw God's good truth out with the sin polluted bath water as you do that discerning. Nothing is free from sin's taint.
And Augustine said that there's nothing that exists that doesn't have some remnant of God's goodness left in it.
For what it's worth
john van sloten
Just a thought- poverty has its roots driven firmly into the Human Heart of Darkness. Anyone who wants to work at the source alleviating it has to have the strength to face human ugliness head on. It does the world no good to stand aside and refuse to bear witness to the unpleasant. This movie actually affected me very deeply for precisely that reason- it evaluated human darkness and response without flinching. We need more artists honest enough to show us the darkness- for the way to light is through facing down the darkness. My generation (early 30's) and younger are facing some dark times ahead of us if climate change models are even remotely accurate- with mass worldwide migration, famine, starvation, species extinction, etc. within the next 25 years. God only knows what evil the human mind will invent to coincide with the issues. If our current treatment of immigrants is any barometer, it will be heartbreaking indeed. If our generation's escapism is dark, well so is the worst of what we see around us. It doesn't detract from our faith in any way, in fact, I would argue it strengthens it. I saw the movie and enjoyed it greatly- and dark as it was, it paled in comparison to my experiences delivering a baby on the dirt floor of a hut, and finding out the child later died of malnutrition due to crop failure (related to climate change). I hope God gives strength to us all to have compassion enough for the weak when the trying times come. Let's remember that poverty isn't some romantic notion- its roots stem from global apathy, human corruption, disease, and lack of resources. Let's stop taking each other to task for things that really don't matter in the long run- as I hope we're all on the same side!
HF
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