Jesus Camp

When my wife and I saw a trailer for Jesus Camp in a theater, my wife's immediate comment was, "That's scary." Indeed it was. Jesus Camp is a look at a Pentecostal camp for kids where they not only go just for fun, but also to be trained as soldiers in the culture wars.

The film takes us to Becky Fischer's Kids on Fire Camp in North Dakota where the children do all the things most kids do at camp, but also study Bible, worship and go through intense instruction (some might call it brainwashing) in living a Christian life.

Whether or not there really is a culture war going on could be debated, but those involved with these children, the ministers and the parents, certainly believe they are in the middle of such a war, and they are counting on these children to be part of the solution of all that they see as wrong in America.

Although it focuses on a portion of the evangelical community, it is really more of a political film than a religious film. It is more concerned with the political implications of what is happening than the religious implications. And what we see is right-wing politics that have been baptized to give them a Christian flavor.

The film opens on a political note, listening to talk radio around the time that Sandra Day O'Connor resigned from the Supreme Court. That taste of politics never really leaves the film, which includes scenes such as the children reaching out to bless a cardboard cutout of President Bush and families taking part in vigils outside the Supreme Court building. Also included is a more progressive voice, lawyer and Air America commentator Mike Papantonio, who sounds a note of warning in the film about the religious right and eventually has an on air dialogue with Fischer. But Papantonio is left in the shadows throughout the film -- never really becoming a voice to be heard.

Even though I characterize it as primarily a political film, it is set in a religious world. Much of this world will be alien to many viewers. It is not just Evangelical; it is specifically Pentecostal. It involves scenes of praying in tongues and of worshippers (including children) in the throes of Pentecostal fervor. For many this may be a voyeuristic look at what they may think is a strange religious experience. The film is much more valuable than that.

The key question of the film is to what extent is this an accurate portrayal of what is going on in the struggle to define our nation and culture. Certainly the film focuses on a very narrow element of Evangelicalism. One of the criticisms from some Evangelical critics is that it implies that all Evangelicals are of the same mindset. There is some validity to that criticism. Evangelicals are a fairly diverse group.

But although this may be an extreme within Evangelicalism, it is in no way isolated from the rest of Evangelicalism. They are firmly part of the religious right that has sought to wield power in American politics the last several years. They are convinced that their politics and their religion are essentially tied together.

Whether it is a narrow element or not, it is in many ways representative of the broader religious right. It focuses on the same issues. It may be a bit more intense in its approach, but only as a matter of degree.

There is much to criticize in way the children are being taught -- the uncritical view of creationism, the glorification of martyrdom, the intense messages that bring them to tears -- it must be noted that it is all done out of a basis of faith -- believing that these children are the hope of turning the world around and bringing the world to Christ. Within the worldview of these families and churches, all of this is not only appropriate, but required as Christians.

These children are already taking part in what they see as a war for God's glory. They know that the enemy is all around them, and it looks a lot like us. That's what is scary.