If you’ve read here very long, you have a good idea about what I feel about homosexuality, the militant homosexual agenda, society’s tolerance and promotion of the homosexual agenda, and people writing blasphemous stuff about God and/or Christianity.
So how is that I can say I am looking forward to End of the Spear?
I am very sad for Chad Allen. I’m sorry about his involvement in the disgusting Corpus Christie and for all his gay rights activities. I’m sorry that he’s such a mess. But how many actors and actresses aren’t messed up?
It would be a bit hypocritical of me to see all the movies I see and then stay away from this one because a gay actor is playing a Christian martyr.
They’re actors. Colin Firth is not Mr. Darcy. We go to real doctors, not to fellows who played one on TV. Is Anthony Hopkins holy enough to play CS Lewis? Who cares? The story is a good story.
So we have Brokeback Mountain, starring two heterosexual men, grabbing awards here and there and everywhere. And we have End of the Spear, starring a homosexual fellow who blasphemes the precious name of Jesus (by producing and starring in Corpus Christie). Which movie do we want to promote? Which movie do we want to take our kids to? Which movie is telling a story we’d like to see more often?
I will reserve my judgment on whether the story falls flat in regards to the message of God’s grace. On the one hand, even if the movie doesn’t speak of the love of Christ as being what changed these tribesmen, I will still be happy to see a movie that promotes forgiveness. And yet, if it promotes forgiveness in a kind of humanistic, “you can look inside yourself and find the power to forgive and love” way, then it’s a pretty dangerous movie.
And I do have some trouble with a quote I’ve seen attributed to Steve Saint. I’m not linking to it, hoping it was taken out of context. But I may discuss it later.
First I will watch, from my Christian pov and I will listen for the name of Christ. And I’ll report my thoughts tomorrow. One thing I don’t care about at all, is that they picked a gay guy to play the lead. It’s just a non-issue as far as I’m concerned. If we are going to go to movies at all then we are going to see homosexuals. If we don’t think we should support them with our money (and that may be a valid argument–I mean, social shunning may not be a bad thing) then we should quit going to movies altogether.
But why go to some movies and then stay away from this one–this one that could show Hollywood what kind of movie we like–just because the lead actor is homosexual? It doesn’t make a lot of sense to me.
The best blog entry I’ve read on this is on Challies.com. I think he nails it with his comment on the inconsistency of Christians who will flock to The Passion of Christ and then turn around and complain about Chad Allen in End of the Spear. Of course, I was one of those few who didn’t see Passion. Couldn’t bring myself to go.
But I will gladly go to End of the Spear, the sad Chad Allen notwithstanding.
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Having a “gay” (I prefer the term sodomite) actor won’t keep me from going to the movie, but I am bothered by it. It is an important issue. The simple question is why choose him for the role when there are plenty of others to choose from? Acceptance of him for the role could imply an acceptance of his lifestyle, and surely the producers must know that many in their target audience would be uncomfortable with it. So why not turn to another actor?
I just read the WorldNetDaily article on this. I am so glad to hear that Steve Saint and Bill Ewing didn’t know Chad was homosexual when they hired him.
What really bothered me before was that Chad said that Steve Saint had purposely wanted him because Chad was preaching what Steve had preached all his life.
I am so glad to hear that this is not true. So very relieved.
After reading the WorldNet article I am in complete agreement with their decision to keep Chad in the role they hired him for.
I have to agree that Chad Allen’s life style is a non-issue as far as him being chosen to play a part in a movie. If it were an issue, then so should the adultery of every heterosexual actor who’s had an affair. These sex sins should not be categorized differently.
If Allen uses his part in the movie as part of his homosexual advocacy (I don’t see how he could, but just, ), then that should be objected to.
In my opinion, this last minute tempest is another example of Christians bashing Christians. Whether it is because the books are fantasy, or the producer is a Catholic, or there’s too much money-making promotional material associated–Christians are finding stuff to complain about and to use to rip other Christians and their endeavors. I say, If they don’t like it, go out and do it better! But stop tearing down a brother for doing what he could to engage the culture in a better way than is the norm.
Should we not give critiques then? No, I am not saying that. The movie should be judged on its merits. And to comment on those, I’ll have to wait until I’ve seen it.
Becky
If I were making a movie and a hetersexual who is an avowed adulterer were being considered for a part, I would nix it. There is no double standard.
I’m not sure what ripping or tearing down is, but simple diasgreement and critique are reasonable responses. I’m quite confident that if an avowed racist were appearing in a film, Hollywood would be out of its mind with rantings and ravings against the movie and its producers, and rightly so.
I believe the moral stands of those we support with our money are issues. It doesn’t mean that we will necessarily reject them completely, but we should carefully consider what we decide to support and what we decide not to support, and the mainstreaming of homosexuality is a dangerous road this country and the Christian culture are traveling.
No disagreement about the mainstreaming of homosexuality, but the point is, in the end it is sin of the same stripe as any other sexual sin. Where is the outcry from Christians against these other sins? It is this selective adherence to God’s standards that makes Christians look legalistic.
Besides, how can believers expect unbelievers to act in any other way except according to the flesh? So why do we support actors who take God’s name in vain, who openly worship a false god, are serial divorcees, in sexual relationships outside marriage, lie, hoard money, or any number of sins?
If Sally hadn’t read what that pastor wrote and reported it here, I wouldn’t have known Chad Allen was a homosexual. I’m sorry I now know. I wish I didn’t, just as I wish I didn’t know about the life style of Brittany or Jennifer, Madonna, Tom, Oprah and a great number that the media report on. But when I do, should I steer away from their work because I know? I don’t think so. Will those people be better off if they no longer cussed or lied or slept around? Not spiritually. They will still be lost without Christ. They can clean up the outside of the sepulcher, but it will still be filled with a decaying body.
Culturally, as far as I’m concerned, it is too late to stem homosexuality. Maybe it’s possible to stop homosexual relationships from being classified as “marriage,” but really we should be concentrating on 1) evangelism; 2) political activism against the next culture killer–bestiality, child pornography, euthanasia. Instead of being reactionary, we should be visionary–a job for writers, perhaps.
Becky
[...] if you’re interested in this movie, go read about it on her site: End of the Spear End of the Spear: Does Casting Matter? End of the Spear Review Those Wacky Christian War [...]
I saw End of the Spear yesterday before knowing anything about the cast and I loved it. And knowing the lead actor is gay doesnt change that fact. Im currently reading the book of James, which coincidentally (or not, because thats how God works) explores this very thing.
v7-10 “Do you not blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? If ye fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”
The conviction of this verse came to me when I was thinking about the brutallity of those people and wondering how anyone can be so savage. Then God showed me these verses and explained that I am no different than them. Christ died for them too. I have commited every sin that they, and any actor in hollywood for that matter, have commited.
Kristie, yesterday my pastor preached on the last three chapters of Judges. And he made the point that we are evil, all of us. Even in the church, the evil runs through our hearts. The Israelites were amazingly brutal in those days. Certainly as brutal as the Waodani. And you are right, we all have that capacity. We all have that sin nature in our hearts. If God restrains some of us, it is not because of any goodness in us.
That is worth remembering as we walk in this world.
Thanks for commenting. I’m glad you liked the movie.