"Exodus" Cast Defend their Film

[Qnts2]

 

 

I do, usually to save space, but this time for alliteration.

"X" is the closest English approximation to the Greek Chi-Ro "Christo-gram".

 

and you just proved my point from another thread-it was just to save space. Even knowing what it meant in greek, you do it just to save space. If you do that, X in greek is an irrelevant argument. just saying. .  .

 

 

In seminary, where you have to take notes rather quickly, the abbreviation used for Jesus Christ is X for Chi-Ro. It is a recognized standard.

[Guest]

 

What is Xmas? Who spells Christ with an X? ...

I do, usually to save space, but this time for alliteration.

"X" is the closest English approximation to the Greek Chi-Ro "Christo-gram".

... By the way, didn't the actor who plays Moses call him a psycopath?

According to HuffPo, Christian Bale said:

"I think the man was likely schizophrenic and was one of the most barbaric individuals that I ever read about in my life. He's a very troubled and tumultuous man who fought greatly against God, against his calling."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/27/christian-bale-moses_n_6054336.html

 

Thanks for the clarification OS2.

[Guest shiloh357]

Hi LadyC, I understand your choice to see these movies and it is your choice.  But you might want to consider the fact that even if they don't have sex and filthy language, there is something far, far worse than that afoot.    These movies are an attempt to make the Bible and God irrelevant to the average person.

 

If God is seen in these movies, He is either a generic creator that cares nothing for mankind, or He is just the figment of a concussion.  In the Noah movie, the "creator" had more in common with the ancient pagan deities that cared little for man and saw man as more of a nuisance than with how God is portrayed in the Bible.  Jesus isn't a redeemer, but a religious martyr like Gandhi.

 

We are seeing Jesus and the Father subtly defamed and/or blasphemed in these movies.  When we pay to see them, the money we spend on those tickets becomes revenue that is used to make more of these same kinds of movies.  Should we spend our money knowing that it is contributing to this kind of agenda?

[Guest LadyC]

shiloh, i respect your opinion. and you have a valid point. but every time we see a movie, we're contributing to the agenda of hollywood. it doesn't matter if it's a disney film, a hasher/slasher film, a liberal michael moore film, or a "religious" film. so personally i have no issue with seeing what entertains me. 

 

but i wouldn't waste my money on slasher or michael moore films because they don't.

 

it's just how i see it. i know it raises the hackles of many other christians, but i'm not going to stop watching biblically based movies, even if they're biblical farces.

[Qnts2]

I always think of Paul at Mars Hill

 

Acts 17:22So Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I observe that you are very religious in all respects. ²³ For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ Therefore what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you. ²⁴ The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; ²⁵ nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; ²⁶ and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, ²⁷ that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; ²⁸ for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.’

 

There is nothing more false and pagan then an altar dedicated to a god. Athens was filled with altars for false gods. There culture was such that they wanted all of these altars, and whenever a new god was learned about, up went another altar. Paul did not shy away from such a pagan atmosphere, but instead, used it to explain a God they did not know. Paul used it as a jump off point for sharing the Good News.

 

Many movies today are about spirits and spirituallity. They are not about the One True God, or are a corruption about the One True God. But, all of these efforts point to one thing which is useful. People want to learn more or imagine more. Many in our society are exploring spirituality. These can be used to tell people about Jesus. Many people think they know about Jesus, but I have found so many are surprised when I actually show them what scripture says.

 

I know people who are upset about what is going on today and are fearful, but are surprised when I show them that God prophesied in scripture, that these things would happen, thousands of years ago.

 

Movies can be useful tools to open a conversation about God.               

[Guest shiloh357]

I always think of Paul at Mars Hill

 

Acts 17:22So Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I observe that you are very religious in all respects. ²³ For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ Therefore what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you. ²⁴ The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; ²⁵ nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; ²⁶ and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, ²⁷ that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; ²⁸ for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.’

 

There is nothing more false and pagan then an altar dedicated to a god. Athens was filled with altars for false gods. There culture was such that they wanted all of these altars, and whenever a new god was learned about, up went another altar. Paul did not shy away from such a pagan atmosphere, but instead, used it to explain a God they did not know. Paul used it as a jump off point for sharing the Good News.

 

 

But you are comparing two completely different things.  The altar to the unknown God and movies like Noah and God's and Kings are not similar in any way shape or form. One is not analogous of the other.

 

 

Many movies today are about spirits and spirituallity. They are not about the One True God, or are a corruption about the One True God. But, all of these efforts point to one thing which is useful. People want to learn more or imagine more. Many in our society are exploring spirituality. These can be used to tell people about Jesus. Many people think they know about Jesus, but I have found so many are surprised when I actually show them what scripture says.

 

I know people who are upset about what is going on today and are fearful, but are surprised when I show them that God prophesied in scripture, that these things would happen, thousands of years ago.

 

Movies can be useful tools to open a conversation about God.               

 

 

But they are not used that way.  I know lots of people who have gone to see these movies and they excuse it as a "witnessing tool."  To date, none of them have found that these movies open up any kind of dialogue about God.  They don't make people more curious about the Bible, they don't cause people to want to read the Bible.   Most of the people who go to these movies are, ironically, Christians.  

 

This notion that these movies will engender conversations and witnessing opportunities is, for the most part, nonsense.  You might be able to come up with a few exceptions I am sure, but by in large it isn't the case. 

 

It's probably just the controversy that gets most people to even go see it.   I remember when the Last Temptation of Christ" came out and most who saw it said was boring and didn't live up to the hype.  It didn't create any meaningful discussions about Jesus that anyone in the world were interested in having. 

[Guest shiloh357]

I would also  point out that if we had a loved one that was defamed the way God is defamed in these movies, we would be up in arms.  We would never stand for ourselves or our family members to be defamed in such a manner.  I wonder...  What's the next aspect of our relationship with God that Christians are willing to sacrifice?

[Qnts2]

 

I always think of Paul at Mars Hill

 

Acts 17:22So Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I observe that you are very religious in all respects. ²³ For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ Therefore what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you. ²⁴ The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; ²⁵ nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; ²⁶ and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, ²⁷ that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; ²⁸ for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.’

 

There is nothing more false and pagan then an altar dedicated to a god. Athens was filled with altars for false gods. There culture was such that they wanted all of these altars, and whenever a new god was learned about, up went another altar. Paul did not shy away from such a pagan atmosphere, but instead, used it to explain a God they did not know. Paul used it as a jump off point for sharing the Good News.

 

 

But you are comparing two completely different things.  The altar to the unknown God and movies like Noah and God's and Kings are not similar in any way shape or form. One is not analogous of the other.

 

 

Many movies today are about spirits and spirituallity. They are not about the One True God, or are a corruption about the One True God. But, all of these efforts point to one thing which is useful. People want to learn more or imagine more. Many in our society are exploring spirituality. These can be used to tell people about Jesus. Many people think they know about Jesus, but I have found so many are surprised when I actually show them what scripture says.

 

I know people who are upset about what is going on today and are fearful, but are surprised when I show them that God prophesied in scripture, that these things would happen, thousands of years ago.

 

Movies can be useful tools to open a conversation about God.               

 

 

But they are not used that way.  I know lots of people who have gone to see these movies and they excuse it as a "witnessing tool."  To date, none of them have found that these movies open up any kind of dialogue about God.  They don't make people more curious about the Bible, they don't cause people to want to read the Bible.   Most of the people who go to these movies are, ironically, Christians.  

 

This notion that these movies will engender conversations and witnessing opportunities is, for the most part, nonsense.  You might be able to come up with a few exceptions I am sure, but by in large it isn't the case. 

 

It's probably just the controversy that gets most people to even go see it.   I remember when the Last Temptation of Christ" came out and most who saw it said was boring and didn't live up to the hype.  It didn't create any meaningful discussions about Jesus that anyone in the world were interested in having. 

 

 

Let's start with the very ancient movie which was blasphemous. Jesus Christ Superstar. I know of at least 3 people who were saved thru that movie. Of the millions of people on this earth, I am sure there were far more then 3. Three is just the number of people I have met. And there is absolutely nothing to look down on when 3 people come to salvation.

 

There was a movie about a Jewish family, and the main tension was a mixed marriage, and another son who had desires for men. The family worked thru these 'issues'. The punch line at the end was, 'it could be worse, your children could have joined Jews for Jesus'. Well, I have friends who are members of Jews for Jesus, so a fellow worker had to tell me about the movie. That opened a conversation about what is a 'Jew for Jesus', and why Jesus is the messiah prophesied in the Tenakh. I notified Jews for Jesus about their name being in the movie, and Jews for Jesus used that to open up conversations. So, a movie dig against Christians, became an opportunity to talk about Jesus.    

 

Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers, but when the brothers find Joseph in Egypt, Joseph was in a position to save the family from starvation.

 

Genesis 50:20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.

 

A movie might be wrong, it might be the intent of Hollywood to ridicule Christians, or it might be meant to deceive people, but what is meant for evil, God can redeem and use it for good, to preserve many people.

[Guest shiloh357]

Let's start with the very ancient movie which was blasphemous. Jesus Christ Superstar. I know of at least 3 people who were saved thru that movie. Of the millions of people on this earth, I am sure there were far more then 3. Three is just the number of people I have met. And there is absolutely nothing to look down on when 3 people come to salvation.

 

I know of people who were saved in connection with  things that I would never use as a witnessing tool.  But they were exceptions, not the rule.  Secondly, even a movie that godly...  I would never claim that someone got saved "through" it.   The movie was not the agent of salvation.

 

A godly movie that correctly reveals God and who He is, has a far greater chance of opening up authentic conversations  about Him than movies that blaspheme.  Those are the movies we should be using if we want to use media to open up conversations about who Jesus is.  

 

Movies like Noah, Son of God, Gods' and Kings  re-enforce what people have suspected about God.  It re-enforces what their atheist friends tell them.  They don't raise questions about God, they don't reveal God for who He is in a way that make people stop and say, "you know, I never thought of it that way before..." 

 

 

A movie might be wrong, it might be the intent of Hollywood to ridicule Christians, or it might be meant to deceive people, but what is meant for evil, God can redeem and use it for good, to preserve many people.

 

Yes, but that is not for us to presume.  We can justify all kinds of evil if we presume that God will make something good come out of every evil thing people do.  

 

We are also called to be a separate people; we are called to separate ourselves from the ways of the world and not to touch the "unclean thing."   It is very irresponsible for us to assume we can throw our support behind things that blaspheme God under the presumption that God will make something good out of it.

 

There are plenty of opportunities and plenty of resources at our disposal to share the truth with people that we don't need to turn to Hollywood for ideas or help.

[Qnts2]

 

Let's start with the very ancient movie which was blasphemous. Jesus Christ Superstar. I know of at least 3 people who were saved thru that movie. Of the millions of people on this earth, I am sure there were far more then 3. Three is just the number of people I have met. And there is absolutely nothing to look down on when 3 people come to salvation.

 

I know of people who were saved in connection with  things that I would never use as a witnessing tool.  But they were exceptions, not the rule.  Secondly, even a movie that godly...  I would never claim that someone got saved "through" it.   The movie was not the agent of salvation.

 

A godly movie that correctly reveals God and who He is, has a far greater chance of opening up authentic conversations  about Him than movies that blaspheme.  Those are the movies we should be using if we want to use media to open up conversations about who Jesus is.  

 

Movies like Noah, Son of God, Gods' and Kings  re-enforce what people have suspected about God.  It re-enforces what their atheist friends tell them.  They don't raise questions about God, they don't reveal God for who He is in a way that make people stop and say, "you know, I never thought of it that way before..." 

 

 

A movie might be wrong, it might be the intent of Hollywood to ridicule Christians, or it might be meant to deceive people, but what is meant for evil, God can redeem and use it for good, to preserve many people.

 

Yes, but that is not for us to presume.  We can justify all kinds of evil if we presume that God will make something good come out of every evil thing people do.  

 

We are also called to be a separate people; we are called to separate ourselves from the ways of the world and not to touch the "unclean thing."   It is very irresponsible for us to assume we can throw our support behind things that blaspheme God under the presumption that God will make something good out of it.

 

There are plenty of opportunities and plenty of resources at our disposal to share the truth with people that we don't need to turn to Hollywood for ideas or help.

 

 

People get saved through the foolishness of preaching the gospel. It is God who does the saving. We all know that. But, God is not limited by what He makes use of. He even uses us, and the foolishness of preaching the gospel.

 

I don't see Christians turning to Hollywood for ideas. I don't see Christians supporting things which blaspheme God. Hollywood comes up with their own stuff. But, God says what is meant for evil, He can use it for good. So if someone watched the old movie, the Exorcist, I can certainly make use of the movie to lead them to biblical truths. The Indiana Jones movie about the Ark is not biblical, but can also be used. The world might not go to a biblical movie. They would go to a secular movie but that does not mean the latest pop culture thing can not be used to bring up God. And that is what Paul did at Mars Hill. He used pop culture to lead them to listen. The NT is filled with examples of evangelism where something is used to lead to a conversation about Jesus.