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Are Films Like "Noah" Testing Christ's Commandment to Love?

Teresa Neumann-Commentary : Mar 10, 2014  Phil Cooke – Charisma News

As Hollywood continues to produce movies for faith audiences and celebrities become more outspoken in their beliefs, Christians are being watched and judged by their reactions. Says Christian film critic Phil Cooke, "[Noah] will be a national conversation that millions will participate in and will be a water-cooler conversation for the next six months. What an opportunity for the Christian community! Instead of condemning it outright, let's join the conversation. Rarely does an event come along that begs us to present our side of the story. But if we don't see the movie, we'll be wasting the opportunity."

Noah(Hollywood, CA)—I never used to care how the world viewed Christians. After all, I believed what the world thought of me, and the Church, was irrelevant compared to what God thought. But lately, I'm beginning to wonder. (Photo via Charisma News)

How the unsaved perceive me is often a reflection of how I treat them and how I treat the unsaved is very much important to God.

Consider these recent newsmakers for example: The "Son of God" producers step out in faith to make a film about Jesus and are openly crucified for not making it according to certain Christians' expectations. They (Mark Burnett and Roma Downey) are also publicly lambasted—again by Christians—for stating that there are many in Hollywood who love Jesus. Then, actress and author Candace Cameron Bure decides not to post exclusively Christian blogs on her Facebook page, and is beset with hate mail for it. When she replies to the hate mail, saying that she's doing what she feels called to do, guess what? Yep, the criticism and negativity—from Christians—continue.

What happened to the world knowing us by our love? (Jesus, commanding His followers to love, said, "As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another." -John 13:35

NoahReally, to think we would be known by hateful trolling, disrespectful comments, unsolicited criticisms, and rude postings on Facebook is shameful. In the end, we become no better than those we rail against. (Photo via NoahtheMovie.com)

It's love that opens the door of a person's heart for the Holy Spirit to do the convicting that needs to be done. Not bullying. Not manipulation. Certainly not endless arguing and threats.

I mean, before I was saved there were two types of Christians who tried to speak into my life: those who owned the truth and threatened me with it, and those who loved the truth and offered it to me. One guess as to which one I responded to and which one I rejected. Granted, I may have been more stubborn than most, but Jesus didn't browbeat His disciples to follow Him.

But here we are, facing yet again another big Hollywood release meant to appeal to the faithful that is going to test our spiritual mettle. It's the movie "Noah," and already Christians are up in arms about it. Whether the criticisms about the film are valid or not, it's how we frame our responses and how lovingly, or un-lovingly, we react that will determine how the world—and God—gauges our obedience to His commandment to love.

NoahChristian filmmaker and critic Phil Cooke summarizes it well in a recent article he wrote for Charisma News, in which he gave 10 reasons why he recommends that Christians see "Noah." (Photo via NoahtheMovie.com)

Cooke admits "Noah" director Darren Aronofsky has made a movie about Noah from his own notions that are not Biblically exact. And yet, says Cooke, "for at least a decade, we've been asking Hollywood to produce movies based on the Bible. Now that they're doing it, let's be more encouraging. So far, they've proven to be serious in the effort, whether they miss the target or not. So let's support it."

He goes on to add that Paramount Studios has spent hundreds of millions of dollars to promote a Bible story. Sure, profits are a factor in making films, but profits can just as easily be made from non-faith films. Regardless, says Cooke, "[Noah] will be a national conversation that millions will participate in and will be a water-cooler conversation for the next six months. What an opportunity for the Christian community! Instead of condemning it outright, let's join the conversation. Rarely does an event come along that begs us to present our side of the story. But if we don't see the movie, we'll be wasting the opportunity."

Having seen the trailer for Noah, I have to agree. It's epic on many levels, which means it will likely draw more unbelievers to see it than "Son of God." The special effects are jaw dropping and the scope of the story phenomenal.

I plan on seeing both the "Son of God" and "Noah" in theaters. Don't get me wrong. There are movies I would NEVER see, under any circumstance. But which ones I do choose to see are my responsibility. It is not for any other person, Christian or non-Christian, to dictate that decision.







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