Here’s a scene I don’t recall reading about in the New Testament. (According to the Buzzard Blog, where I first spotted it, it’s the work of a North Carolina church that dubbed over an old Bible movie to poke fun at our popular misconceptions about Jesus.)
Definitely not the historical Jesus
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January 10, 2007 at 21:31
Howdy – my brother attends this church and this video and its kin (there are four I think, all hilarious) have gotten a lot of attention. Do the church a favor and check out the website: http://www.vintage21.com
January 11, 2007 at 03:48
I don’t mind the video too much because in many ways Jesus did do just that. Because He fulfilled the Law and the Prophets, He made us ever more painfully aware of our own sinfulness. What I object to is the ridiculous nasal voice as if Jesus was Ned Flanders. Maybe I hang out with people “too serious” about their faith, but no one I know has this conception of Him.
The big objection, though, comes in at the end when He says “there is no hope.” Yeah, because the popular conception of Jesus never mentions anything about the dying on the cross thing, or His own awareness of that…
Funny and well-intentioned, but absolute rubbish.
January 11, 2007 at 12:42
I respectfully disagree with Michael’s comment that these videos are “absolute rubbish”. Essentially the four videos created by this church highlight what the majority of non-believers (and a great deal of believers) think being a Christian is and about Jesus. They think that Jesus came to condemn the world rather than to save it. This is in large part to due to believers acting more like the Pharisees rather than the historical Jesus.
We’ve used this in large group meetings before and it’s a great discussion starter and a big help telling them who Jesus is by highlighting who he isn’t. It is best used in shattering people misconceptions. The misconceptions we’ve given them.
(I’ll admit I didn’t like the video when I thought it’s purpose was to make fun of Jesus but when I found out it’s purpose I embraced it).
January 11, 2007 at 13:53
I’m so sorry and I feel terrible about it, but I couldn’t help myself. It’s hilarious!!! I’m still laughing.
That being admitted, my more spiritual side would say it’s blasphemous. Do we really have to go to these extremes to reach and influence non-Christians?
January 11, 2007 at 14:29
Isn’t this being a little picky about what a church has done? What about the TV shows that are viewed by millions of people (especially children) that depict Christianity as a bunch of spineless wimps (Ned Flanders on the Simpsons) who let people walk all over them. I was a friend’s and he was watching a show (I think it was Family Guy or something like that) and it was making humor of Christ dying on the cross. And the list goes on and on.
If we are going to get riled up over something, make it worth while.
January 11, 2007 at 15:49
Yeah, this movie hacked me off quite a bit when I thought it was to mock Jesus, but now I know it was made by a church, it makes a good deal of sense. It lays every misconception an unbeliever may have about Christ, any fear of what He might be like. By simply expressing all these things, it ironically exposes them to the light and makes them look as silly as they are.
It really could help save people from seeing Jesus in a falsely overserious way (Ecc. 7:16-18). People need the truth, which will be powerful enough on its own to convict them of their unjust ways. God’s truth speaks on its own behalf; it does not need the harshness and bluntness so many of us have added to it. That’s why I’m glad the video mocks the parts of petty and false Christianity we need to do away with, so we may cast them off our eyes and see Jesus as He really is.
January 11, 2007 at 15:55
I agree with you guys—context is key. Not knowing the film was made by a church with a ministry purpose, the film clip comes across as offensive to me. But knowing the purpose behind it gives the whole thing a different slant.
January 11, 2007 at 21:49
I think the videos are great. They will recieve a lot of attention on youtube. Hopefully the creators have some sort of follow up to correct these misconceptions about Jesus. They are great entertainment but I agree with many of you—they need to have the correct message of Jesus go out with these misconceptions. Otherwise, it just looks like it’s poking fun at Jesus. Great fun for Christians but probably confusing and decieving for the unchurched.
January 11, 2007 at 22:17
Why does who made it matter? Does it cover stereotypes of Jesus or doesn’t it? That is a bit hypocritical to say this is offensive….what wait the church made….hurhurhur oh this must be a great teaching tool because the church made it. Humor is humor, and that is personal perspective. If you don’t find it funny you don’t. Nothing wrong with that. If you find it offensive that is your personal bias too. But to say context makes it ok is [mistaken—ed.]. And that is why people shy away from the church. You can’t be honest with yourself and own your feelings or stand on convictions. Why can Jesus not be mocked? Why does he need you to defend Him? Is He actually the person depicted in the video? Can the church do nothing offensive, and can the world do nothing satirically true? To me you seem to miss the point, and bring out the truth in the video.
January 12, 2007 at 09:48
Big C, of course Jesus does not need us to defend him. But context is important. Think about it: if somebody were to say to me, “You’re a big jerk,” it makes a difference whether those words are coming out of the mouth of somebody who doesn’t like me, or from a close friend wearing a sarcastic smile. The words are the same, but the meaning is different. Knowing who’s saying it, and who they’re directing their comment at and why, is important.