Apparently, Irony is not one of the recognizable spiritual gifts

Once again, i am thoroughly saddened by the American Christian Community. I think i should rename my blog.

I've had a few conversations with people about this topic of late, and now that i am doing the cliche thing and blogging about it i can put my opinion out and hopefully move on. There is a big conversation (apparently) and stink about the fact that the movie The End of the Spear that came out this week about martyred christian missionaries has a lead character played by a gay activist, Chad Allen.

And this, apparently, is the largest terror to the christian faith since, i don't know, Marilyn Manson.

I just read a relatively short sighted and saddening article here about this movie and it's production company composed by a pastor from a church down in Denver. In of which (it's long, watch out) he calls for an apology from the media company that produced the film, for all congregations to drub the movie from the pulpit, that Chad Allen's growing teen fan-base will turn all young christians gay and that we need to hunt down homosexual activists with high powered rifles and the intensity of the LORD. (ok, the last part isn't true, but the first three are.)

Now, before i get much farther, i will say that i have not seen the film as of yet, but one of the pastor's other major complaints is that the Gospel is so 'dumbed down' that we shouldn't

"worry about it being a tool of evangelism. The Gospel is so hidden in the film that the chances of people getting saved are slim to none."

I have been told by other friends that have seen it, though, that the film is quite powerful and moving, and i am looking forward to seeing possibly this weekend. But, apparently the literal vision of watching people die for their faith is not a visible enough interpretation of the gospel. Hm.

The production company in question, Every Tribe Entertainment simply sustains that Chad Allen was the actor they chose because he is a good actor. That he was the best actor they could find for the role, and they want to make the best films they possibly can - and that was all that guided their choice. And i'm pretty sure that there is no part in the film in which Ecuadorian tribesmen declare their hate for the missionaries because they support gay-adoption rights, but because they were missionaries of the gospel. But, to fight this vacuum of morality in Christian cinema, the pastor in question suggests that:

Does anyone really believe that Chad Allen was the best possible actor for Nate Saint? This would be like Madonna playing the virgin Mary. I propose that the Christian film-making community come up with a code of ethics that will show the difference between a Christian film company and a secular film company.

Nice. Because, you know, when you begin putting rules and laws onto a medium of ART really allows it to remain ART. And way to not appear judgemental at all, I'm sure that the gay community will continue to look to christians for other similar nuggets of love.

Can we simply have a discussion about why these men died? And for what? Why they gave their life? Can we let the film be just that -- A film?

i would digress, but i already have, and someone much smarter than me has already weighed in with some wonderful thoughts over at internet monk. Here's an excerpt for the skimmers:

"It’s really just like the God of Jesus to put the Gospel’s story of reconciliation into the custody of Chad Allen, gay activist, so that the Pharisees can really get stewed. It’s like a lost chapter of the Gospels. It’s simply outrageous that no one checked in with the culture war powers that be to get the word that real sinners- Activists!!!- can’t be playing missionary martyrs or Christians who must forgive murderers. Oh the notoriety! Those impressionable minds!

It really is like the God who made Balaam’s Ass a preacher to make Chad Allen a preacher. "

Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former proclaim Christ out of rivalry, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice… Philippians 1:15-18