I am planning on going to a movie theater for only the second time ever. I blogged about my first visit here. And once again, I go because I want to support wholesome entertainment.
No longer an extreme fundamentalist (IFBx), I see nothing morally wrong with going to a theater to see a movie. You can see the post I linked to above for a defense of this position, or you may be interested in my post on 1 Thess. 5:22—either way, that whole argument is not really the point of this post.
What I am trying to do with this post is encourage you all to get out and support The Nativity Story. It is the first time in dozens of years that a major Hollywood film studio has produced a Bible-themed movie. Hollywood, which is so often maligned by Christians (and rightly so), has actually stuck its neck out and risked by producing this overtly “Scriptural” movie. Shouldn’t we then support the movie so that Hollywood will realize that we Christians want wholesome entertainment, not the all too common base (and at times downright offensive) variety?
The Nativity Story does its best to “stick to the Script”, so to speak. The screenwriter, Mike Rich, took great pains to stick to material that would fit with Matthew and Luke’s accounts, and director Catherine Hardwicke made his dream a reality. Mike spent months researching to understand the time period as well as to understand what Matthew meant when he described Joseph simply as a “just man”.
The movie fills in the gaps of the Scriptural record in an attempt to depict who Joseph and Mary really were. Before you protest, from what I have read, the movie does this in a much more agreeable way than the old classic The Ten Commandments did with the story of Moses. The main message of the nativity story shines through the movie version, and the extra material does not detract from this message, for the most part.
Albert Mohler and World Magazine give the movie great reviews. While David Neff of Christianity Today reminds us that Hollywood does miss the mark, by turning the story into a bit of a love story, rather than highlighting how the actual events that took place point to the prophetic significance of Jesus Christ.
All in all, this seems like a great movie, and I would encourage you to go see it. Take a few bucks and cast a vote for wholesome entertainment. You can be salt and light to the world even while you are enjoying a great holiday movie that will cause you to dwell on the true meaning of the season rather than (merely) thinking of Clarence’s wings.
∼striving for the unity of the faith for the glory of God∼ Eph. 4:3,13 • Rom. 15:5-7
I’ll be there, eventually. Unfortunately, I work two jobs, have a wife and a 5 month old baby boy, and little time for anything else. We’ll be on vacation in two weeks and we’ll see the movie then.
It looks like a great movie. I am, however, once again reminded that a movie can look real good, and wholesome, and in and of itself as a movie can be great- but it is still Hollywood, and is still the world.
Let me explain my rambling-long sentence.
I was impressed with the preacher in the Christy movies. However, he is simply a good actor.
I was touched by Robert Duvall as the troubled Pentecostal preacher in The Apostle, but afterward realized, he is just a REALLY good actor.
Or the makers of The End Of The Spear using an outspoken homosexual to portray a missionary.
And now, The Nativity’s star who portrays Mary, a 16 year old girl, is pregnant with her 19 year old partner, whom she has been in a relationship with since she was 13.
Obviously this happened after the movie production was completed, since she is I believe 6 months along. Just another jab in the heart regarding this world.
I want to see it, I hope it is true-to-the-Script.
Oh by, you have fallen to post modernism. Kidding. What would Hyles say, if he were alive.
Thank the Lord for John MacArtur’s directing me toward the Scriptures
Charles
Great comments all, thanks.
Oh, and Larry, I’m with you. I’ll probably see it when I am on vacation over Christmas as well. Carolyn’s mom will be able to watch our three girls for us.
God bless you all,
Bob
Bob,
First, I am intersted in your statement about how you are no longer an extreme fundamentalist. I ask, simply because I am extremely conservative but recently left a church that I thought was even to conservative for someone like me. I guess I wasn’t as fundamentally conservative as I thought before attending that church. I find it interesting that you had a pivot point as well. Unless you were being sarcastic and I totally missed it…which is not uncommon on blogs.
Anyway…I always use great caution when hollywood puts “Christian” movies out. I only saw The Passion when it came out to rent and I didn’t get all the way through it…couldn’t handle some of the imagery.
Though I am cautious of The Nativity Scene…I do agree with you that its important to support wholesome entertainment. Surely, we can’t expect hollywood to get it perfect…but, if we are confident they gave it a good honest effort…with consultation from biblical sound christian leaders…then yes…we should support the movie. I would like to see more wholesome movies made to balance the scale…since there are so many less than desirable movies out there.
Just in the last three years…since I’ve had two daughters…I’ve really started paying attention to how many horror movie trailers play on regular television…even during the day. I’m amazed at the sheer terror and gore of these trailers…and how accustomed our cultrue…including myself…has become by so non chalantly (not sure if I spelled that right) viewing such junk.
Bill,
If you check my about page (click on “about” above the title to this blog at the top), or if you read “my story” (also a link located at the top of this blog—althought my story is a bit long), you will find out that I have left something I call “hyper fundamentalism”. I used to be against setting foot in a movie theater, although ironically, I was okay with renting movies—albeit the fundamentalist college I went to preached that no one should really even own a TV at all—period! We also only used the KJV Bible and preached against having women wear pants among other extreme positions.
With regard to Hollywood’s problems—I totally agree. That is why I think we should support decent films (and not just any “decent” film, but the bigger, nobler ones). That, for instance, is why I went to a theater to see The Lion, Witch, and Wardrobe. I have still not yet seen The Passion, although I was still a fundy when it came out.
By all means be leery of Hollywood, and carefully screen your TV watching habits (we rarely watch any primetime TV and are careful with what we do watch). But on the same hand, we can affirm attempts to be noble and to produce truly well-crafted, wholesome entertainment.
God bless you Bill, and thanks for staying tuned here!
Bob