Enough, Already!
By the Rev. John Jackman
September 30, 2001
I recently did an informal count of Christian-produced apocalyptic films. Guess what? I counted nine - yes nine - released in the last couple of years, several with sequels in the works.
Enough, already! With all due respect, Christian filmmakers, it is really time to move on.
It's time for some tough talk that many of you will not like in the least. These films, especially in such concentration, do very little to reach people for Christ. In fact, they probably do more harm than good. Based on my own discussions with average unchurched folks - as well as the nasty comments of many secular press articles that Christians like to ignore - these films leave the unpleasant aftertaste of "oddball sect" more than the sweet taste of attraction to the Savior and salvation.
Let me make it harshly clear: the typical "man-on-the-street" reaction to these films seems to be about the same as your reaction might be to an extreme animal rights protester that throws blood on any passing woman wearing furs. The average unchurched American is about as likely to gravitate to the Christian message after seeing one of these flicks as you are to sign up for the anti-fur group on the spot. This approach, far from influencing people toward Christ, in many cases is the sort of "stumbling block" that keeps them out.
Look, cigarette makers do not influence teens to smoke by blatant and heavy-handed references. They don't have a middle-aged executive from Phillip Morris show up as part of the a film script and talk to the cool lead characters about how great it is to smoke; kids would probably be repelled by that. No, films and television use a much subtler and dramatically more successful approach - they just make sure that the cool, appealing characters in the program smoke or drink or use drugs, with only pleasant effects and no negative repercussions. The characters have a great time, high on life and love, they are respected by others, things are great - and booze, drugs, and smokes are part of that romantic picture.
Jesus said that we are to be "wise as serpents and harmless as doves." Isn't it about time we learned a little wisdom in our communication? How about telling moving, human stories that happen to leave the faith in - instead of taking it out the way Hollywood and the networks do? How about stories of real people confronted with the drama of life, whose relationship with God helps them to do the right thing?
This is a storytelling field ripe for the harvest. Think of the stories of redemption, of moral courage, of selfless love scattered through history! Think of the strong characters, the compelling plots! Think of the ethical dilemmas, the courageous whistleblower sustained by her faith, the politician who could stand against corruption at a crucial moment - because he believed! How many great stories of faith, love, and courage could be reset and retold. I can think of at least three great ways to retell the Parable of the Good Samaritan in a way that preserves Jesus' message faithfully - but which would be totally fresh, the way the story was for the hearers when Jesus first told it. Of course, the retellings would likely irritate the religious establishment mightily - just as the first telling did!
Please, let's lose the Bible robes and painted plaster portrayals. Since when did the Apostles have British accents, anyway? And above all, let's step away from trying to pound premillenial tribulation into people's heads with the spine of a pulpit Bible. And especially, particularly, most importantly after the tragic events of September 11th, let's move away from apocalyptic disaster films. God forbid that Hollywood would clean up its act in response to that mind-numbing day - and Christian filmmakers see it as an opportunity to crank out more of the same! Yet that is the very short-sighted and exploitative sort of plan some filmmakers apparently have.
Remember, as a Christian filmmaker it's not your sole responsibility to convert your audience in the space of two hours. You're not any better than Paul: "I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth" (I Cor 3:6). Your job is to plant seeds. Tell compelling, well-written stories of faith and courage. Make the characters complicated like the real people you know, not plaster saints who always know what God wants in every situation. Let them wrestle with God like Jacob, not be complacent overconfident cardboard figures with blow-dried hair. Make them real. Help the audience identify with their feelings and their hopes and their pains and their doubts. But let them believe, show the strength of faith and the presence of God in their lives. Let your audience see the attractiveness of faith. You might even be watering a seed that someone else has already planted!
Now trust the Holy Spirit, who is already at work in that audience member's life - whether they are aware of it or not. Trust God. Others are out there that will water the seed more. And God will give the growth!
If you want a great example, read John Grisham's book The Mission. Grisham, who is one of our generation's finest storytellers, writes compelling legal pageturners that always hinge on an ethical or moral dilemma. He built a gigantic audience for his bestsellers, and then in The Mission he upped the ante on his audience by telling the story of a conversion experience. How many fertile seeds do you think he planted with that book? Seeds that today are being watered and are sprouting? Seeds that in many cases are rising to full and strong growth in Christian churches across the country?
So what's the message? Tell great stories. Make them stories that happen to have a faith element. Tell them well. Really, really well. God does not deserve "B" movies. It is time for filmmakers of faith to rise to a higher standard.
The Rev. John Jackman, an award-winning director in his own right, is Executive Director of Comenius Foundation, a nonprofit that seeks to use the media for good. More information about their work is available online at www.comeniusfoundation.org.