The first half of 2014 has witnessed an increased share of Christian movies hitting the local theater. Predictably, these releases have created a lot of buzz in the evangelical community. For each of us, the Christlike virtue of discernment (Ephesians 5:15-18; Hebrews 5:11-14; 1 Peter 5:8) becomes vitally important as we evaluate the theological content, moral teaching, and evangelistic potential of these movies. Fortunately, each of us are able to "teach and admonish" ourselves and our brothers and sisters regarding these unique movies if the Word of Christ is dwelling in us richly (Colossians 3:16). In the list below, I've linked to several helpful reviews of some of these hottest movies. Whether or not you see these films, I trust we'll continue to think discerningly, walk distinctly, and live missionally. NOAH
SON OF GOD
GOD'S NOT DEAD
HEAVEN IS FOR REAL (and all other such books and movies on near-death experiences in heaven or hell)
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A good friend of mine recently posted a great article interacting with a recent performance by the singer/songwriter Passenger on The Tonight Show. Passenger's soon-to-be-released single, "Scare Away the Dark," reveals the emptiness that many Millennials feel about life, but fails to provide any satisfying solution. I'd encourage you to read the whole (short) blog, but I'll give you a little teaser. As Passenger put it, “The TV and papers, they fill us with fear / the icecaps are melting and Al-Qaeda is here.” But what really scares us is ourselves—our own hollowness and inauthenticity. As Passenger sings, “We wish we were happier, thinner, and fitter / We wish we weren’t losers and liars and quitters, / We want something more than just nasty and bitter / We want something real, not just hashtags and twitter.” Our Facebook statuses, tweets, and Instagram photos project only the image we care to present. As the generation that has touted authenticity as the ultimate virtue, we have come to embody the vice we most despise: hypocrisy. Deep down inside we know that we are fake. What we really need and want, Passenger admits, is “the meaning of life.” But [as Passenger says,] you can be sure that Gangnam-style videos—trivial exercises in stupidity—will get more YouTube views than the true meaning of life. What solution does Passenger offer? One that is as shaky as his vocal technique... To hear his solution and consider how it squares with Scripture, keep reading here ("Millennials: We Want Something Real, Not Just Hashtags and Twitter"). To reconsider many of these same musings from our study through Ecclesiastes, click here. |
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