"The Loss of Discernment is Evident"
For those who are still strongly supporting The End of the Spear, I highly encourage you to read Jason Janz' latest information on his conversation with the directors of the film. This is not just something to casually pass by. We really need to stop and consider this.
Some have questioned why I would feel a need to bring this up. Here's a brief synopsis of my reasoning: If a film is being held up as a Christian film that was produced to glorify and honor the Lord, who's market is the Christian community, that many high-profile Christians and churches are strongly endorsing and promoting, it should held under a very scrutinizing light. If Hollywood had produced this film, I wouldn't care to see it in the first place, but I wouldn't expect them to think through the implications of who they cast in each role. A Christian film company who is producing an explicitly Christian film should be held up to a much higher standard.
Janz says:
Some have questioned why I would feel a need to bring this up. Here's a brief synopsis of my reasoning: If a film is being held up as a Christian film that was produced to glorify and honor the Lord, who's market is the Christian community, that many high-profile Christians and churches are strongly endorsing and promoting, it should held under a very scrutinizing light. If Hollywood had produced this film, I wouldn't care to see it in the first place, but I wouldn't expect them to think through the implications of who they cast in each role. A Christian film company who is producing an explicitly Christian film should be held up to a much higher standard.
Janz says:
We no longer have a company who was sloppy with their research and made an error in judgment. We have a film-making company that presents itself as Christian who sees absolutely nothing wrong with casting one of Hollywood’s most popular [sodomite] activists in the role of an evangelical missionary martyr.Janz goes on:
Some people have questioned my motivations in writing on this and continuing to write on it. I am doing so because I believe it is important. The loss of discernment is evident in all corners of evangelicalism, and there comes a time when people need to say something. I want to inform the Christian community of what I think is cause for concern. You will have to make your own decision as to what to do.I also encourage you to read C.S. Hayden's post, The Justifying Appeal to Evil.
posted by Crystal Paine at 10:04 AM
6 Comments:
Crystal,
It doesnt seem beyond the pale that God may use this opportunity powerfully in the life of the actor in question. Any engagement with the Gospel is bound to be frutiful for the healing of this man's soul. Why would we not support such an opportunity?
Quoting from the Rebelution's endorsing link to http://agenttimonline.com/?p=448, which quotes World Net Daily:
World Net Daily reports Steve Saint’s interesting take on the situation:
Nate Saint’s son Steve Saint, who served as a producer, a stunt pilot and had a bit part in the film, believes it was God’s plan to have Allen in “End of the Spear,” according to Agape Press.
Saint admitted, however, he was shocked when he learned Allen was homosexual.
“I could feel physical pain,” he recalled, “thinking [that] somebody that lives a lifestyle like that is going to depict my dad.”
But after further reflection, he began to see Allen’s involvement might be God-ordained.
Some Christians might be offended by Allen’s role, Saint realized, but “I thought, ‘What happens if I stand before God someday and He says to me, “Steve, I went out of my way to orchestrate an opportunity for Chad Allen to see what it would be like to live as your father did.”‘ And then I could picture Him looking at me and saying, ‘Steve, why did you mess with my plan?’”
Crystal, I think you're right on with this and I just wanted to encourage you. I think it took courage to stand for something that is bound to be so controversial.
And to quote an old time preacher: "It's never right to do wrong in order to get a chance to do right."
speaking as one who has been involved with this movie for the last 5 years, it has been sad to see the way people have been reacting before they even know the facts. I don't know if you read the Young Ladies Christian Fellowship (www.ylcf.org) but I will be posting an article on the background of this contrversy with Chad Allen sometime this week.
perhaps we should not be so swift to judge when you have no idea of why this all happened.
Just thinking here....but how many homosexuals will go to the movie to support Chad Allen and in the end see the love and forgiveness of Jesus? They will have seeds planted in their hearts.
I encourage everyone that has not, to head over to CS Hayden's blog to read a very interesting dialogue on this subject. It will really make you think:
http://cshayden.blogspot.com/2006/01/end-of-spear-to-see-or-not-to-see.html
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