Narnia
Last night I got to see a pre-screening of The Chronicles of Narnia that was put on by a local church here. I hadn't planned on going to this particular event (that's code for: I was boycotting it) even though I have been waiting with much anticipation to see the film. But leave it to my very un-postmodern friend Jared to offer me two tickets which he had previously purchased for the event. After much deliberation, Heather and I decided to go because hey, who turns down free movie tickets to a pre screening of a film that you have been waiting to see for the past 6 months?Before the film started, a man in slacks and a nice blue button-down shirt came out and talked to us about how within Narnia there are a lot of metaphors that parallel to scripture and the story of Jesus. He also shared that after the film the senior pastor of the unnamed church would be coming out to address us more specifically about the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I apparently didn't know what I was signing up for when I accepted those "free" tickets.
Immediately when the film concluded, the pastor came up on the stage with a microphone and began to address us very bluntly and suddenly about what we "needed" to do. He said that Jesus died on the cross for us, and that we were required to do something in return for this. The thing that we "had" to do was "believe". "And the way you believe is through prayer" he said. Then he said that he was going to lead us in a prayer. At about this time, Heather and I got up, and left the crowded theater.
Now I don't know about you, but I wasn't aware that this sort of thing was going to happen with "Narnia". I read a post by Dan Kimball about a week ago where he mentioned that a church in his area was doing this type of thing. I couldn't believe this. I mean, I guess I could sort of understand why they did it for "The Passion", but with Narnia? Now that "Passion" is completely out of news headlines, Christians are calling Narnia the biggest evangelistic opportunity this year. This to me is wrong for more than one reason...
I get kind of scared. Not for me, but what if I would have brought a friend with me to Narnia? I mean, I can sorta handle crazy christian culture and laugh it off, but I worry about those who don't know God as they see the telemarketer Christians interrupting their evening with something they never asked for. It is just sad to see our Christian faith reduced to this type of cheap marketing scheme. Where the gospel is no longer spread by a life lived out, but rather by something as offensive as an unwanted and unwarranted internet pop-up ad.
5 Comments:
Christian Fundamentalist really love to trick people into hearing about "their" christianity. The American Christian as a whole believe thats "evangelism" means to enticing non-christain in a room and then telling them that if they don't do the following four steps they will go to Hell. Then when they are lying in their beds at night they think to then selves wow I really made a difference, I am doing the "will of God". I am going to stop before I start ranting about how angry I am.
PS: Did I ever tell you I went to a seminar by Dan Kimball?
Posted by Cole Davis
My parents were at what I can only presume was the same screening put on by the same unnamed church. They had the same response and felt it cheapened the power that the story itself conveyed. Anyway, I can't wait to see it. By the way Ryan, I love the pop-up ad analogy...if only it was as easy as getting a pop-up blocker!
Posted by Barrie Bowman
haha...nice Barrie. Yeah, maybe the pop-up blocker would be just not to go. I saw the film again yesterday and thought that it was great (this time with no telemarketers present). the acress that played Lucy was great. Keep in mind that it is a childrens book/movie, so don't go into the theater expecting Lord of the Rings.
Posted by Ryan
Agree about the pop up analogy! I think it is so important that we share the gospel, but I think there is much more than getting people to pray a prayer. I am working on a post that I think I'll call "holistic evangelism" to address some of my thoughts on this issue. Ry, I also read the Dan Kimball Post. I really found it significant that all of the church marketing done around the Passion of the Christ did nothing measurable in terms of changing the spiritual climite or kingdom awareness/life in our cities (Barna research group). I heard very influential national Christian leaders refer to this movie as the greatest evangelistic "tool" ever created. Uh oh. Maybe we need to rethink the whole tool box thing. I also really liked DK's take on the conversation jump off point that is much more likely to be created by the Da Vinci Code. Interesting though, this will require authentic pre existing relationships to have any real relevance. Hmmmmm....
Posted by billy
MOVIES,HBO and SHOW TIME: Hey Guys, I found a cool site that Saves me a bunch on Premium Movie Channels. Beats My Cable Hands Down, and it's ALL DIGITAL. Check this site out .**Movies**