Jesus Videos

[MorningGlory]

Hi everyone!

Wow I haven't been here for a while. Hope everyone is doing alright and I'm glad to be back.

I've been through a lot while I was away. I was going to a lot of different churches and going to other countries. The majority of the places I've been have all been decent but there are some places that are so legalistic and dead.

Which brings me to my topic. I'm sure many of you know about the Jesus videos which were made by Vintage 21. If you haven't seen them you can go to their website if they still have it up or go on youtube. It is a satire of what many people perceive Jesus as. I personally love them and laugh every time I see them. However, I went to this one church and it really ticked me off as to what happened. The pastor played the videos on the projector and my friend and I were like the only ones laughing in the entire congregation. Needless to say it was awkward when we got a couple of stares. What happened next though sent me over the edge. I've never been so angry during a service I thought I would stand up and challenge the pastor or something. He spent the next 30 minutes after the videos telling the congregation what sinners these people who made the video were and condemning the church that let it happen. He even looked right in our direction and told us that "whoever laughed would face the wrath of the Lord and should repent before his judgment fell on us". That's when I grabbed my friend and walked out the door. It took every effort not to flip that guy off for what he said and did.

What's everyone else think about this?

I located the videos and watched parts of each. These are disgusting, not to mention very poorly scripted and filmed. I have to question what would make a Christian think Jesus is a fair target for ridicule and that these videos are, in any way, funny? You believe that 'many' people believe Jesus to have been a squeaky voice buffoon who was self absorbed? This stuff was dug from the same dung heap as Blasphemy Challenge. Ask yourself why you would even consider 'flipping off' a pastor then why no one else was laughing. After that, consider that this pastor was talking to YOU and giving you some good advice.

[Iryssa]

Hi everyone!

Wow I haven't been here for a while. Hope everyone is doing alright and I'm glad to be back.

I've been through a lot while I was away. I was going to a lot of different churches and going to other countries. The majority of the places I've been have all been decent but there are some places that are so legalistic and dead.

Which brings me to my topic. I'm sure many of you know about the Jesus videos which were made by Vintage 21. If you haven't seen them you can go to their website if they still have it up or go on youtube. It is a satire of what many people perceive Jesus as. I personally love them and laugh every time I see them. However, I went to this one church and it really ticked me off as to what happened. The pastor played the videos on the projector and my friend and I were like the only ones laughing in the entire congregation. Needless to say it was awkward when we got a couple of stares. What happened next though sent me over the edge. I've never been so angry during a service I thought I would stand up and challenge the pastor or something. He spent the next 30 minutes after the videos telling the congregation what sinners these people who made the video were and condemning the church that let it happen. He even looked right in our direction and told us that "whoever laughed would face the wrath of the Lord and should repent before his judgment fell on us". That's when I grabbed my friend and walked out the door. It took every effort not to flip that guy off for what he said and did.

What's everyone else think about this?

I located the videos and watched parts of each. These are disgusting, not to mention very poorly scripted and filmed.

Um, you can't exactly blame the poor filming on the people who made them...they just took old videos that were already made and dubbed over them.

I have to question what would make a Christian think Jesus is a fair target for ridicule and that these videos are, in any way, funny? You believe that 'many' people believe Jesus to have been a squeaky voice buffoon who was self absorbed? This stuff was dug from the same dung heap as Blasphemy Challenge. Ask yourself why you would even consider 'flipping off' a pastor then why no one else was laughing. After that, consider that this pastor was talking to YOU and giving you some good advice.

They're not ridiculing Jesus, they're ridiculing the people who see him as an overbearing, careless fun-killer.

[nebula]

Sorry, but I fail to see how portraying Jesus as a dork gives Him any glory.

[Scarletprayers]

Sorry, but I fail to see how portraying Jesus as a dork gives Him any glory.

I agree Neb!

[MorningGlory]

Um, you can't exactly blame the poor filming on the people who made them...they just took old videos that were already made and dubbed over them.

They're not ridiculing Jesus, they're ridiculing the people who see him as an overbearing, careless fun-killer.

Well, I wasn't aware that these videos were redubbed but, if that's the case, the originals appear to be awful as well. I do think they ridicule the Lord by portraying Him in this way, even tongue in cheek, because our Savior should only be contemplated seriously. Making light of Jesus is the devil's way of marginalising Him, IMHO.

[None]

Here is the Jesus I know:

Matthew 23

1)Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples:

2)"The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat.

3)So you must obey them and do everything they tell you.

But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.

4)They tie up heavy loads and put them on men's shoulders,

but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.

5)"Everything they do is done for men to see:

They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long;

6)they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues;

7)they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them 'Rabbi.'

8)"But you are not to be called 'Rabbi,' for you have only one Master and you are all brothers.

9)And do not call anyone on earth 'father,' for you have one Father, and he is in heaven.

10)Nor are you to be called 'teacher,' for you have one Teacher, the Christ.

11)The greatest among you will be your servant.

12)For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

13)"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces.

You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.

15)"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!

You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one,

you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are.

16)"Woe to you, blind guides! You say, 'If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing;

but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.'

17)You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred?

18)You also say, 'If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gift on it,

he is bound by his oath.'

19)You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred?

20)Therefore, he who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it.

21)And he who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells in it.

22)And he who swears by heaven swears by God's throne and by the one who sits on it.

23)"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!

You give a tenth of your spices

[MorningGlory]

37)"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you,

how often I have longed to gather your children together,

as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing.

38)Look, your house is left to you desolate.

39)For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say,

'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'"

And I wouldn't be caught dead making fun of Him.

Amen, None. And you state the crux of the matter above. The blasphemers and mockers WILL be caught dead making fun of Him.

[Iryssa]

Well, I wasn't aware that these videos were redubbed but, if that's the case, the originals appear to be awful as well. I do think they ridicule the Lord by portraying Him in this way, even tongue in cheek, because our Savior should only be contemplated seriously. Making light of Jesus is the devil's way of marginalising Him, IMHO.

I thought it was VERY obvious that it's redubbed. But anyway, if you think they're making light of Jesus, I guess that's your opinion...I think what they're making light of is people's skewed view of what Jesus is, and if you read what their website says about them, that's pretty much what they say too. They clearly say what their intentions are, so frankly, I don't much care what anyone else thinks their intentions are.

[None]

Well, I wasn't aware that these videos were redubbed but, if that's the case, the originals appear to be awful as well. I do think they ridicule the Lord by portraying Him in this way, even tongue in cheek, because our Savior should only be contemplated seriously. Making light of Jesus is the devil's way of marginalising Him, IMHO.

I thought it was VERY obvious that it's redubbed. But anyway, if you think they're making light of Jesus, I guess that's your opinion...I think what they're making light of is people's skewed view of what Jesus is, and if you read what their website says about them, that's pretty much what they say too. They clearly say what their intentions are, so frankly, I don't much care what anyone else thinks their intentions are.

The problem is that they're leaving the door WIDE OPEN for people to make fun of Jesus. Satan's goal.

People who don't see the "noble" mission Vintage 21 is claiming to be doing, by casting down an image of Jesus they feel is a wrong portrayal, will be lead to believe it is normal behavior to make fun of Jesus on a regular basis, as though He were nothing more than a comedy target. Laughing at their movies is like joining satan in laughing at Jesus. It's a serious matter.

It doesn't anger me when I see ignorant people laughing about it, though, I know the powerful blinders satan is capable of.

It's more a sadness I feel for them.

I would send letters to the makers of the films and any sites who play them.

[uvn477]

First of all, I think people need to understand what the video is portraying. It does show exactly what some people think Jesus is. If you don't realize that you need to get out into the world and find out. Second, a lot of people see God as someone who has no sense of humor. Has anyone ever made a joke about you? I for one have been a target of jokes and I laugh alongside the people that make them. I don't get angry and condemn them. If God made me in His image and I can take a joke why can't He? In fact, I think our God should be a target for more of our jokes. He's our God, our Father, our friend and he tells us over and over how much he loves and cares for us. So why are we so afraid of laughing at Him or with Him?