Wolf in Sheep's Clothing? | This Christian Life

April 14, 2005

Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing?

I’ve heard it said more than once that the powers that be in the world of television have “taken notice” of how well certain “religious” movies and shows have done with audiences. Therefore, they are producing more shows with that type of content like Joan of Arcadia (CBS) and Touched by An Angel (CBS). Recently, there’s been a lot of publicity for the new show on NBC called Revelations.

Here’s some copy from the Revelations website:

COULD THE END OF DAYS BE NEAR? — From executive producer Gavin Polone (“Panic Room”) and writer/creator David Seltzer (“The Omen”) comes “Revelations,” a six-hour event series starring Bill Pullman (“Independence Day”) as Harvard professor Dr. Richard Massey, an astrophysicist who is certain that all worldly events can be explained by Science. In the series premiere, Dr. Massey is dealing with the tragic murder of his 12-year-old daughter by a maniacal murderer, Isaiah Haden (Michael Massee, “24”), who was captured and imprisoned. After a strange course of events, Massey is challenged by a nun, Sister Josepha Montafiore (Natascha McElhone, “Solaris”), who leads him on a journey through the unfamiliar world of faith. Drawn together by personal tragedy, these unlikely partners — one who worships God and one who worships Science — are propelled into a deepening mystery, finding evidence that the world, as predicted by The Book of Revelation, has reached The End of Days. Also starring, Chelsey and Brittney Coyle, Tobin Bell and John Rhys-Davies.

There’s just something not quite right about religon that comes through the filter of Hollywood. It almost feels like they’re trying too hard. Not that good can’t happen, but I just can’t totally embrace it.

Posted by pablohart on April 14, 2005 09:14 AM

Comments

i think fo rthe first time ever, you and i disagree on something! wow.

"There’s just something not quite right about religon that comes through the filter of Hollywood. It almost feels like they’re trying too hard. Not that good can’t happen, but I just can’t totally embrace it."

What about God writing the meta-narrative, the "Big Story" on our hearts, even people in Hollywood? It's not that people don't know the truth, it's that they don't want to DEAL with the truth and what it means in their lives. Basically, that God's on the throne and they aren't.

But don't you think artists, painters, musicians, actors, directors, screenwriters, sculptors, photographers (wink,wink) all want to show the beauty that is embedded deep in their soul about who God has revealed Himself to be? Even to them? Jeremiah talks about how he cannot contain it, that it's like "a fire in his bones."

Maybe the reason you are hesitant to embrace it is because Hollywood has a tendency to rip to shreds anything that is "Christian." (mainly because it's lame, but partly out of fear as well.) Maybe Hollywood twists it enough that what we get a sense of the truth mixed in with a lot of Creative License. I get that. BUT, I have also sat in a TON of church services that are the very same thing. A sense of the truth with a lot of bullshit mixed in like traditionalism, legalism, religiousity, shallowness, theology (aka, putting God in your box) and so on.

I think Hollywood gets it right more often than not. It's just so painful when they do because we feel we have the market cornered on who Jesus is.

Then again, maybe not....

Posted by chris at April 15, 2005 12:07 AM

Thanks for the well-thought out response, Chris. I concur with most of what you said, including the part about me being hesitant because Hollywood has a tendancy to twist the truth. However, there's still something inside me that isn't at peace with religion through the eyes of Hollywood (for lack of a better phrase).

Let's just imagine that they only source of our understanding of God, spirituality, and church was from Hollywood. I know that's a far stretch for some of us, but for others it's not that far of a stretch. Movies and T.V. can become so ingrained in our lives that we start making IT the primary source for values, ethics, understanding, perspective and so on. The effect is almost hypnotic. I mean, it's not that hard to understand how a teen ager, for instance, who isn't really all that interested in listening to sermons--or parents, or reading the bible or being all that strategic in his spiritual growth, who watches movies and television every day to become lulled into believing the things he watches. I find myself doing that very thing and I'm in my 30s.

I entitled this post "wolf in sheep's clothing" because I think it's easy to think that if something from a trusted source (like T.V.) presents something that's even close to "Christian" I will be in favor of it without thinking about where it's coming from and that the driving factor behind it is just to sell more ads.

Posted by pablohart at April 15, 2005 9:11 AM

I dunno. I'm with you on the "iffy" feeling of Hollywood on relgion and Judeo/Christian spirituality. It's an empty hope to think that Hollywood will begat followers of Christ from their programs. They might stir up curiosity at best and may entertain, but it's certainly no substitution from our own responsibility and obligation to the Great Commission—going into all ends of the earth and making disciples.

Posted by Michael at April 20, 2005 12:54 PM

Michael,

You put into words what I'm thinking. After reading your post, I think the implication is that Hollywood is becoming a replacement for the voice of the church in many ways if it is the only place many people receive spirituality.

Would you agree?

Paul

Posted by pablohart at April 20, 2005 7:29 PM

I agree. I also think there is a great deal of substitution going on within the Church at large—substituting what Christ intended for a cheap, human-contrived way of reaching people and being more "efficient" and convenient.

It's far easier to hand someone a DVD and say, "here watch this" than it is to say, "I'm going to be by your side through thick and thin for the next DECADE of your life and help you understand what it's like to be loved by Jesus." Personally, if I were on the receiving end, I'd opt out of the DVD and prefer a friend.

Here's to true discipleship! *cheers*

Posted by Michael Tangen at April 22, 2005 1:35 PM

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