Showing Signs of Hope for ‘Hollywood’?

Based on what we typically see in the movies and on TV during the holiday season, we know what Christmas is about: giving, love, and magic. And if you believe Hallmark-type films, it’s about all three. Rarely, however, do we see presentations about what Christmas is truly about: the birth of Jesus Christ.

 

It used to be that the Hollywood realm produced films with a significant faith message, ones like “The Greatest Story Ever Told,” “King of Kings,” “The Ten Commandments,” “Ben-Hur,” and Christmas favorites like “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “A Christmas Carol.” But in recent decades there’s not been much of that. “Elf,” “The Santa Clause” (and its sequels), and “Home Alone” might have become holiday favorites, but Jesus for the most part has been conspicuously omitted.

 

There seems to be a shift underway, if only to a small degree. Whether out of sincere conviction by actors, writers and directors, or recognition of the reality there’s a market out there for entertainment that affirms belief in God and Jesus, we’re starting to see more faith-affirming productions.

 

Mel Gibson’s 2004 film, “The Passion of the Christ,” might have helped to pave the way. Then the Kendrick brothers – not members of the Hollywood aristocracy – set out to produce Christian films that deserved better exposure than church basements. 

 

Perhaps “The Chosen,” the expansive theatrical and TV exploration of Jesus Christ and His followers, has proved once and for all that faith-based films and shows appeal to a sizable portion of American society. Having released its first five seasons, culminating in Jesus’ betrayal by Judas in the Garden of Gethsemane, and season 6 now in the editing stages, Dallas Jenkins’ brainchild has struck a spiritual nerve not only across the United States but also in other parts of the world.

 

Most recently, Kevin Costner produced and narrated “The First Christmas,” a biblically faithful, made-for-TV look at the times and events surrounding Christ’s birth in ways some people have never considered. For instance, Nativity scenes commonly depict shepherds and wise men alike gathering to worship the Christ Child in a serene stable. According to Costner, the ‘stable’ was probably a cave, the setting was far from sanitized, and the Magi – the Bible doesn’t specifically state there were just three – probably arrived a year or two later, by which time Jesus would have been a toddler.

 

The point is, in the midst of our increasingly polarized society, Hollywood-style faith portrayals are no longer taboo. In fact, a number of others are currently “in the can,” as they say in filmmakers’ jargon and scheduled for release in the near future.

 

For too long the entertainment industry has pretty much fit the stereotype of being anti-Christian and anti-traditional values, so it’s heartening to find there are those in the Hollywood realm who are gathering the courage to stand up for Christ and proclaim Him, not only via TV and cinema, but also through music and literature.

 

Just as I don’t believe our Founding Fathers ever prescribed a severe separation of church and state as it’s been interpreted over the past six decades, I know there’s never been anything requiring a separation of church (or faith) and entertainment. 

 

A follower of Christ’s foremost responsibility is to worship and serve the Lord, regardless of whatever arena he or she happens to be in. As Colossians 3:23 admonishes, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.” That includes those – evidently a small minority – who ply their trades and utilize their talents in the entertainment industry. 

 

When the throng welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem in the days leading up to the Passover, shouting, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Luke 19:37-38), the religious leaders insisted that Jesus rebuke them, claiming His followers were committing blasphemy. Jesus’ response was simple: “I tell you, if these keep quiet, the stones will cry out” (Luke 19:40). 

 

Another time, in a passage describing an encounter Jesus had with His closest disciples following His resurrection, He instructed them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation” (Mark 16:15). The truth of Christ shouldn’t be a best-kept secret. He needs to be proclaimed from hilltops, city streets and everywhere we go. This can be done in many ways, including one-to-one, in small groups, in religious settings, and mass crusades. But with media so pervasive in our society, one of the most powerful ways for proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ is through the use of broadcast media and various forms of entertainment.

 

I don’t know that we’re in a time of revival, but there does seem to be an emergence of energy and enthusiasm for standing up for Christ in many public settings these days. I’m excited about that and hope you are too. There’s much darkness in our world today and it seems to be on the increase. The good news is, as darkness deepens even the smallest light can make a great difference, even an eternal one.

 

Yes, Christmas is about giving and love and a sense of magic. That’s true even from a Christian perspective. But as another Christmas celebration approaches, hopefully “the Reason for the season” won’t be forgotten. Biblically sound, faith-based TV and film productions can help in making sure of that.

Everyone Has a Mission Field of Their Own

Our church conducted its annual mission conference this past weekend, with more than two-dozen missionaries from different parts of the world participating. All could attest to the joys and difficulties of adjusting to new cultures and languages – and personal sacrifices – for the privilege of taking the message of Jesus Christ to people who need to hear about Him.

Having gone on short-term ministry trips to countries in Central and South America and Europe, I’ve had brief exposure to what those experiences are like, but I’ve never been “all-in” in the sense of relocating geographically for an extended period of time. I have great respect and admiration for the men and women, often with their families, that leave the comforts of home to answer God’s call for service in a foreign culture.

 

One thing I’ve learned, however, is we don’t necessarily have to venture beyond the borders of the United States to serve as missionaries. In fact, we don’t have to leave our own state, or even our own city. 

 

Yes, in Mark 16:15 we read about Jesus Christ instructing His disciples to “Go into all the world and preach the Good News [the gospel] to everyone.” And Jesus’ final command to His followers, before ascending to heaven, was, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20).

 

However, “all the world” and “all nations” doesn’t just mean people living in distant lands. It includes folks in your neighborhood, the office down the hall, the person sitting next to you in the classroom, someone you engage in conversation while shopping, or even in your own church. More than one authority on evangelism has said the easiest place to find unsaved people in within the walls of the church – those who know how to go through the motions but have not yet come to know the Savior.

 

Historically there’s been a mystique about people working in remote mission fields, as if they are somehow “super-Christians.” As I’ve already said, those who give up so much to become foreign missionaries are special people who deserve our prayers and financial support. But our own missionary responsibilities don’t stop there.

 

The late Jim Petersen, who wrote numerous books about personal evangelism and discipleship, spent many years as a missionary in Brazil and other countries. He told about one experience while on board a ship heading across the Atlantic Ocean to Africa. During the voyage he encountered some young adults whom he learned were headed for another country to become missionaries there.

 

Very interested, Petersen asked to learn more about their assignments. Then he made an inquiry that caught the eager young people by surprise. “How many people did you lead to Jesus Christ while you were still in the States?” After a brief pause, they answered, “Well, no one.”

 

Tactfully but directly, Petersen responded with a bit of amazement. How could they expect to introduce people to Jesus Christ in a strange land, having to overcome the obstacles of language and culture, if they couldn’t effectively share their faith with people they knew in their own country, without linguistic and cultural barriers?

 

Perhaps it’s natural to romanticize going to reach the “heathen” in other parts of the globe, but there are countless individuals and families in our own communities who need to hear a loving, caring presentation of the gospel message. Just because Bibles are plentiful and readily available in the U.S.A., that doesn’t mean everyone has heard the message of Jesus Christ – at least in a clear, meaningful way.

 

My friend Ken for several decades led a ministry for business owners and executives. To each new member he gave a sign they could display atop the door frame inside their office door. It read, “You are now entering the mission field.” What a great reminder! Because whether it’s employees, customers, suppliers, or others we encounter over the course of a typical workday, we’re bound to find some who have never heard of the saving grace and mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ. If we’re paying attention and willing to be used by God, you or I could be the person God uses to tell them about the Good News.

 

A wonderful Bible passage applies here. After the declaration, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13), we read the following challenge:

“How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’” (Romans 10:14-15).

 

This undoubtedly applies to men and women serving in foreign mission fields. But it also relates to us right where we live. In a world with more confusing, conflicting messages than ever, most people won’t simply wander into a church building looking for answers to the perplexing questions of life. 

Throughout history, God has used ordinary people to tell others, to “preach” the gospel message. Who knows? Yours might be the “beautiful feet” that go to someone down the street or to another part of the building to help that person discover a life-changing relationship with Christ. 

Meeting Strangers Who Really Aren’t Strangers

Have you ever met someone and felt an almost immediate bond with them? It might have been their engaging smile, quick wit, or magnetic personality. But sometimes this bond occurs when you discover you’ve got something significant in common – perhaps you were both from the same part of the country; attended the same college; were members of the same profession; knew some of the same people; had vacationed in the same places; or shared common interests.

Whatever the link might be, it results in turning this “stranger” into an instant friend. No longer a stranger. Your lives may be different in many ways, but whatever your point of commonality is, it bridges those differences, allowing you to easily relate to one another on that basis alone.

 

This has happened to me many times t. I’ve met folks who share my fervor for the Ohio State Buckeyes; people who also grew up in my home state; fellow photographers; even those that enjoy the same restaurants. But this instant connection has occurred most often when I’ve discovered that he or she is a brother or sister in Jesus Christ.

 

I experienced this just two weeks ago, when I was invited to a meeting where I met a Christian business leader from Taiwan. I had known nothing about “Ben” before we met, but as we talked together, it was a source of joy to discover we shared a common devotion to the Lord.

 

This instant bond of faith has become most evident while traveling in other parts of the world, discovering that someone in Hungary, Germany, Italy, Jamaica, Venezuela, the Netherlands, El Salvador or Mexico worships and serves the same God that I do, even if they do so in a different language and worshipping in a different style, in keeping with their culture.

 

We see a wonderful example of this in the apostle Paul’s letter to followers of Christ in ancient Rome. He had never been there but knew about the bond of faith they had in common. In his introduction, Paul writes these words of encouragement:

“First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world. God, whom I serve with my whole heart…is my witness how constantly I remember you in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God’s will the way may be opened for me to come to you” (Romans 1:8-10)

 

Clearly, even though they had not met in person – I bet Paul would have loved to have access to something like Skype or Zoom – their spiritual kinship was unmistakable. And he realized it would be even stronger when they could interact face to face. As he said, “I long to see you that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong – that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith” (Romans 1:11-12).

 

Later in this epistle Paul explained more specifically his intentions for traveling at last to Rome. He said with enthusiasm, “I know that when I come to you, I will come in the full measure of the blessing of Christ” (Romans 15:29).

 

I think I understand what he meant by “the blessing of Christ,” at least in part. Whenever I’ve been able to spend time with fellow believers, I’ve not only been able to share some of what God has been teaching me, but also learned from them and gained a fuller appreciation of how God is working in geographic areas and cultures unlike my own. My sense of His majesty and power has been greatly expanded.

 

When Jesus commanded His followers to “Go into all the world and make disciples” (Matthew 28:19), I believe this was not just to evangelize people and help them come to saving faith. It was also to help those who have received the Lord’s saving grace to grow and “be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith,” as Paul stated.

We’re not called to live for God in isolation; He wants us to engage in ministry together, in whatever ways He sees fit.  Because, after all, “We are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building” (1 Corinthians 3:9). What greater, more profound bond could we have than this? 

Huddles Are Good, But They Shouldn’t Be Home

Summer has barely begun, but I’m ready for football. The period between the last bowl games and the start of the next season sometimes seems interminable. March Madness is already a distant memory, baseball’s claim to “national pastime” status has passed, NASCAR’s heyday is also history, and even though soccer’s popularity is on the rise, I’m not among its advocates. So if you ask, “Are you ready for some football?” my answer is, “Uh-huh. Absolutely.”

Which brings me to the subject at hand. For many years, a central element of football has been the huddle. The quarterback gathers his offensive teammates around him and…tells guy jokes. No, that’s not right. And they’re not gossiping about the players on the opposite side of the ball. The huddle is where the next play is called, whether it’s a run, pass, or option.

One distinctive about the huddle is the team doesn’t stay there. They listen intently to the signal caller’s instructions, then “break the huddle” and go to their respective positions on the line of scrimmage, ready to carry out their responsibilities. Hopefully the result will be moving the football down the field, ultimately into the end zone.

And that’s important – the breaking of the huddle. I’ve never heard of football players, even during road games in front of hostile crowds, pleading, “Please, guys, let’s just stay here in the huddle! The fans out there are mean, they’re saying nasty things, and the other team doesn’t look too friendly either. So let’s just stay in the huddle.”

Huddles are good. But that’s not where the game is played.

There’s an interesting parallel for those of us who attend church services every week. Years ago, someone referred to worship assemblies as “holy huddles,” where believers gather, sacred songs are sung, prayers are uplifted, and inspiring messages are presented. Often these activities get us fired up, convinced about what a great team we are – God as the Coach, and the rest of us as faithful teammates, eager to carry out His instructions.

But then it happens. The service ends, the music is over, and we have to go out the doors into the real, sometimes hostile world. “Let’s get back in the huddle!” we’re tempted to cry out. It seems so safe, non-threatening there. We’re pretty much in one accord, unlike the strife-riddled world outside the sanctuary. But God didn’t make us for the huddle.

Jesus gave the first hint of this when He assigned His disciples their initial training mission. “And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits” (Mark 6:7). In effect the Lord was saying, “You know that stuff I’ve been teaching you? Well, I want you to go out and start putting it into practice. Teach others what you have been learning.”

At the end of his time on earth, Jesus clearly stated what He expected His followers to do. “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…teaching them to obey what I have commanded you…” (Matthew 28:19-20). “Out there,” far beyond the walls of what author Joe Aldrich called “the stained-glass aquarium.” If the disciples had been football players, Jesus would have commanded, “It’s time for you to leave the huddle.”

But where were they to go? The Lord explained that, too. “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). In a word, Everywhere. Which means we can’t just hang out at the church, no matter how warm and comfy it seems. God’s mission for us is out there – our homes, neighborhoods, towns and cities, across the country, even around the world, if given that opportunity.

During a football game, good things can happen in the huddle, especially when the winning play is called. But to execute the play, players have to break the huddle. For us, worship services should be where the quarterback (the pastor) calls the plays from the playbook (the Bible) that the Coach (God) has so meticulously assembled. Then we have to break the holy huddle and execute the plays. Just as no touchdowns are scored in the huddle, most of God’s work isn’t accomplished in the worship center.