Recently, I heard a discussion on a radio station about the marketing of movies to the Christian community. Ever since “The Passion Of The Christ” it seems that the studios have jumped on the bandwagon of making movies based on biblical events. We have seen such movies as “One Night With The King” (based on the story of Esther) and “The Nativity Story.”
Many feel that the studios finally got the hint that there is money to be made with the Christian movie-going audience. While I appreciate their attempts at historical and biblical accuracy (See James’ article earlier), are their motives true in wanting to convey the truth about the events of the Bible or is this just another “money grab” by the studios?
What do you think of that? What are the positives and negatives of this seemingly new movement in the world of film?
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December 6, 2006 at 09:52
In reality, the Christian community wasn’t getting the job done so maybe it isn’t so bad. It was nice to see The Nativity Story done is a way that wasn’t an embarrassing lack of quality that I wouldn’t show anyone. That only leaves one direction to go as I see it.
Perhaps that’s just plain sad . . .
December 6, 2006 at 10:04
Paul mentions somewhere in the NT that even though Christ might be proclaimed with wrong motives to rejoice because Christ was being proclaimed. I believe that we can do this with the trend coming out of Hollywood. I recently heard an interview with Sylvester Stallone on this subject and he even said himself it was a total money grab. The bible says that His word will not return void, so even though it may be faithless heathens making these movies in a money grab, I believe God will use it to reach people.
December 6, 2006 at 11:43
Jesus was real and relevant to His times. The majority of people that don’t attend the usual church services and activities will not be reached if we do not follow the biggest commission of taking the gospel to the world. Jesus did not spend a lot of time at “church” while reaching out to the lost and hurting. The media is ours for the taking for God’s glory, why not share what us christians know about our Father and Savior Jesus to those that, otherwise will not be reached?
I have viewed the making of these movies and the extent of research of accuracy and remaining true to the Bible, and I will tell you that these movies move the Holy Spirit in me. I pray that whosoever watches may find a piece of heaven to grab on to and start their walk with Christ. We need to support these efforts! God Bless!
December 6, 2006 at 19:05
One Night With The King was made by a Christian group. They are the real deal. I haven’t seen the Nativity movie and don’t know much about how it was produced. As far as the studios jumping on the bandwagon,if the Lord can use a donkey, He can sure use them.
Movies are a powerful way to reach a large segment of the population. Who are we to put God in a box and say we cannot use this method?
FYI – many non-Christian publishers have bought out Christian houses and are producing books for that market. Should we forego reading Christian books or condemn them for publishing them? IMO,I don’t think so.
December 6, 2006 at 20:35
Ah, but would non-Christians even bother to see them? Or would they just scoff at the movies? Or, if they saw them, would they go with minds open enough to see any truth (big or little “t”) in them?
Personally, I think it’s a money-grab. While I haven’t seen any of the ones discussed in the comments, I did see “The Passion of the Christ” – much to my regret.
Even as a Christian, I’m not too interested in seeing such movies. But perhaps that’s just me.
I’ve never been that interested in the commercialization of faith…
December 7, 2006 at 06:28
In all honesty, we shouldn’t be looking at why people are making these films. If it is accurate, and takes the story to folks that don’t know our Lord, then maybe it’s a good thing these people are making them.
December 7, 2006 at 12:21
The movie industry is owned by secularists,even religious ones. Historically the studios have been owned by people of the Jewish community. They have been at the forefront, going back to the 1930’s in making Old Testament epics which have been usually well received.
The bulk of the New Testament movies, such as The Passion, and other Jesus films, have been financed by the same people, but with a heavy influence of Roman Catholic people, and in particular RC theologians. That being said, is that the portrayals we have of Jesus and the Early Church are always laced with distortions of fact and end up with much RC theological innuendo thrown in as being fact.
This is what disappoints me the most. Context is ripped apart in many films.
I personally could not care less about “Christian” films.
The film industry is out to exploit us and get us to spend our money. This is a pathetic ploy where consumerism now affects Christians just as readily as non-Christians.
For the latest exploitation try this on for size. This was found at Christian Books website: http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/giveaway/389293425?code=fox1106&event=1007RNF|949921|1007
They have bought into the consumerism. Read this advertisement.
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List of movies available in this contest.
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If you check out FOX FAITH, you get this (http://www.foxfaith.com/) soft sell consumerism in your face! If anything, it is this in your face consumerism in the name of the Gospel that I cannot stand, and even worse, is when Christians sell out to secular companies and go along with the spirit of the age. This makes me puke!
The whole thing makes me puke. Christians should worry more about living out their lives honouring God and loving their neighbours and serving those in need instead of the next video to buy or movie to see.
It is your dollar. You decide what to do with it. At the end of the day, it is whether or not you can go to bed with a clear conscience or totally seared to the needs in your community. I watch movies, I rent movies, but I am not consumed by them.
December 11, 2006 at 16:58
“Whether in pretense or in truth…”
Most American Christians have been influenced by our secular society in one way or another. On the other side, most American non-Christians have been influenced by our psuedo Christian society in one way or another.
As committed Christians, our focus should be on the fact that the Message is still getting out in ways that people can relate to.
If motives are wrong, keep in mind that a house built on unstable ground will not stand nor can a person serve two masters. We can see many present day examples of these truths
Whatever the motive, let’s just praise the Lord and keep believing Him for more life-inspiring entertainment.
Blessings!
Joe B.
P.S. How many people in the entertainment industry have you prayed for recently?
December 12, 2006 at 01:04
I guess I don’t buy the whole faith based idea. Truth is truth, no matter who says it. Most of those attending these films would be those already convinced. It certainly is a market segment that movie companies have taken advantage of. I’m not sure why there is a need to complain since that is what they do. They make movies to make money. If you don’t go to the movies, they stop making them.
Before looking for more coverage of Christian ideas, I think Christianity needs to do some house cleaning to correct the vast amount of negative images that dominate the public concept of Christian.
I guess I don’t buy the idea that the message is spread by telling Bible stories. There is a far more powerful communication going on and that is the rude, ignorant, arrogant, and often mean statements made by Christians in the public spotlight.
I cringe when I hear the internal language spoken as if everyone in the world knows what it means to:
Proclaim Christ
Hear the message
Know the Lord
be a Faithless heathen
hear the Truth
I’m not sure most Christians really know what these mean, if they even mean anything. Way before movies, Christianity has been reduced to catch phrases and cliches. What does “faith based” really mean? Christians attach the term “faith based” to all kinds of things as if it really has some sort of meaning.
I would rather see Christians embrace what ever is true, rather than some seal of approval called “faith based.” Because, there is a lot of stuff that is labelled “faith based” that has little to do with faith and far less to do with truth.
December 13, 2006 at 19:03
I think, true or not true, God is proclaimed. Look at the big picture, in the Philippines, “Passion of the Christ” made a very big impact. But come to think of it, if they watched it and don’t understand anything about the saving power and grace of God it will just be a mere film. Even if they watched it, it will just be something they will remember as a film and not as what we understand of Jesus Christ.
December 15, 2006 at 01:48
Let me pose this issue a different way.
If the story is appealing, and
If the characters are interesting, and
If the movie makes us think about Christianity in a way that honours the Lord—
Who cares who made it?
Who cares if they make money from it?
We cannot see inside their hearts, so how can we judge their motives?
Isn’t the most important thing what the movie says about faith?
I personally think the most compelling stories are about people struggling with faith. The stories that are emotionally resonant for me are ones where faith is challenged, where some are Saved and others lose faith for one reason or another, and where the Big Questions of Life are posed:
Why should one believe in the Lord?
How can there be a God when so many bad things exist in the world?
What does one do when confronted with a situation where your expression of your faith may lead to your or another’s death?
These are the tough questions that create great drama, and great movies.
January 2, 2007 at 16:26
While the motives for producing the christian theme movies by Hollywood may not be pure the bible is clear that while G*D hates evil he can use evil to accomplish his purpose. Look at how the evil by the brothers of Joseph was used to fulfill his purpose (Gen. 50:20).