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OPINION
Subject: Newsletter
#26
Date: Tue, 12 Jun 2001
From: Tom
David, I am
a pastor (of a "cool church", hopefully), a father of three (4,
11, and 15yrs), and a cinema buff. My criteria for my kids is
"is the movie true and is it beautiful?" I have seen some G movies
that are so stupid and insulting that I wouldn't allow my kids
to watch them and some R movies that were excellent. Here are
a few random thoughts concerning the issue:
1. Why do
you keep visiting these churches? Spiritually masochistic?! :)
Why are you so surprised by these attitudes? (I
don't know. I think I will need to get some therapy, there must
be something wrong with me. -David)
2. You have
more allies than you think. If you can find a copy of "Sham Pearls
for Real Swine", by Frank Schaeffer (son of late Dr. Francis Schaeffer)
you'll love it. Among other things, He convincingly argues that
Terminator is a pro-life movie! It is a marvelous rant!
3. Banality
and stupidity are more offensive than "colorful metaphors"!
4. "Christian"
movies are to cinema what "Precious Moments" are to sculpture
and Thomas Kinkade is to art.
5. A real
problem: when I see an violent image (say, a murder) on screen,
I know that it is not real. When I see nudity on screen - it's
real! A film with a murder (like Traffic)
is simply staged and therefore not sinful in itself. Sex scenes
in movies are by definition sinful when filmed (whether simulated
or not) and then preserved and distributed for secondary sinfulness
(lust) as we watch them.
6. We had
some friends which we innocently offended by inviting their kids
to go to the movies with our kids (Beauty and the Beast) because
Christians don't go to the movies. But they then invited our kids
over to watch a video that we considered way too violent for them
at the time (Jurassic Park). It's okay to watch the video but
not to go to the theatre! (Go figure. -David)
7. Do you
get Ken Myer's "Mars Hills" tapes? He is the author of "All
God's Children and Blue Suede Shoes". He occasional has a
good interview on the topic of Christians and cinema.
Much grace, Tom
Response:
Thank you Tom. I am totally with you on all your thoughts. You
must be a great father. And, yes, yes you are right I need to
slow up on church visitations, after all, it seems to be a dangerous
activity. -David
KEEP
UP THE GOOD WORK...
Subject: Newsletter #26
Date: Tue, 12 Jun 2001
From: Paul
Hi David...
I just read your notes regarding how you were treated by some
of the local church folk. I guess they don't get out much. I have
worked for Toronto (Canada, you know that country just north of
you) Youth for Christ for 21 years. My focus is educating parents,
youth workers, and teachers on youth culture issues. I also work
for an agency in Pennsylvania that specializes in youth culture
as well. I always direct my audience to your website as one of
the really insightful places to go. As Tony Campolo once said,
"You'll find truth in the strangest places." Your spiritual insights
into the film kingdom is one such place. "Let us not become weary
of doing good for in due time we shall reap".
Blessings from Canada.
Paul
Response:
Thank you Paul. And thanks for dedicating your life as you have
to young people. That is really a wonderful thing. God bless you
man. -David
RESPONSE
TO R-RATED MOVIES & R RATED CHRISTIANS
Subject: Newsletter
#26
Date: Tue, 12 Jun 2001
From: Bob Jackson, Pittsburgh, PA
David, Like
you, I get frustrated with "closed" minded or "simple" to "non-existing"
minds. They are not just out there regarding movies, but politics
and any other area.
I am sorry
for your experiences and email from spirit-quenching Christians.
At times, I have to work hard to remember that these folks are
brothers and sisters, too. I agree with you, that when someone
from "the world" is looking for hope, they aren't looking for
a moralistic piece of advice. Too often, Christians are like the
"older brother" in Jesus' famous parable regarding the prodigal.
(Very good, I like that -David)
I agree with
your assessment of movies. Too often, a rating says nothing about
content.
May I offer
one other suggestion. A few years ago when the movie "The Titanic"
was so popular, I read a review from a Christian minister who
I greatly respect otherwise, who condemned the movie because of
its nudity and casual sex scene. As a minister myself, I had friends
sheepishly comment that they had gone to see it for its entertainment
value.
To be fair,
I did have some frustrations with it, as it rewrote history and
made the story into one of class division, and it attributed some
comments to some historical people. However, I have another take
on the issues of non-marital sex as is frequently shown in movies.
I think that Hollywood generally does sex scenes as a very loving
interaction, the highest good that it can give to love and romance
(minus the rape scenes, of course). I think that Hollywood uses
"sex" to mean "intimacy." It doesn't know how else to portray
a depth of intimacy and bonding apart from sexual intercourse
between new or young love. (You are absolutely
right on this on. Keen insight. -David)
If my hunch
is correct, then we have to judge Hollywood efforts on their own
terms, not ours. They are attempting to show love, bonding and
intimacy. I do not think that they are necessarily promoting casual
sex (at least not all the time). They want it to be rich and beautiful.
I think that in general, the people writing and expressing their
ideas probably do not think that it is portrayed well, if at all,
in long, enduring marriages.
I congratulate
you on your ministry and your efforts to help me and others communicate
with our culture.
--Bob Jackson, Pittsburgh, PA
Response:
Thank you, Bob. I really like how you analyze and reason. That
kind of analysis is difficult for most, because they can not get
past their knee jerk response. Thanks for thinking -David
GAY
FRIENDLY
Subject: Newsletter #26
Date: Tue, 12 Jun 2001
From: dale
love the sight,
david. thank you for not bashing gays as like those other
"christian" sites do. your openness is refreshing. why
is there so much hatred in christians? what happened to you at
that church, happens to us all the time. i simply will not go
to church. you are right in saying that "thomas kinkade perfect
families" go to those churches -everyone else is not welcome.
i am a gen-x outcast. you as an insider who is really an outcast.
when they finally kick you out, remember you have friends
--dale
Response:
You are welcome Dale. You encourage me. Thank you. I truly believe
Jesus loves every gay, every person. And that Jesus' love embraces
the entire gay community.. This whole thing is about love, not
hate. If this makes me an outcast, then so be it. Stay in touch.
We can chat. -David
GREAT
WORK!
Subject: Newsletter #26
Date: Tue, 12 Jun 2001
From: Twinky
That was
one of the best newsletters I have heard from Hollywood Jesus.
I totally agree with you wholeheartedly on R-rated critisism from
Christians. Some Christians I have known and do know are so closed
minded and oblivious to everyone that they put up these blinders
in front of them. They somehow think that if they cannot see what
is going on around them, it won't affect them. I recently stopped
receiving a magazine (no names mentioned) mostly because of their
"Christian music and movie" reviews. They bashed the Matrix,
for example, because a "real" portrayal of Christ wouldn't have
him giving authority "the finger" or using the Lord's name in
vain. I was horribly tempted to write a complaint letter. How
can you expect Hollywood to be perfect? At least appreciate the
symbolism. I mean, Hollywood isn't a church.
But anyway,
it is, I agree, totally unbelievable what some people to in God's
name. They quote scripture while they are tormenting others. It
makes me sick. My father is a pastor, and he watches many R-rated
movies. Does that mean he is not a Christian? No! I never heard
Christ tell us that we should stay away from the world around
us.. no.. he told us to love one another and follow God's commandments.
He never told us to be rock throwers and judge everyone around
us. Thank you so much for your website and your insight. Keep
up the good work and know that there are many Christians that
support you.
~Milena
Response:
Ooh, thank you, Milena. Your words are so thoughtful. Thank you
for not subscribing to that rock throwing rag. There is to much
hatred in the Christian community without supporting it with our
dollars. We need to find common ground with those around us. All
too often we build walls. It is so sad. I shake my head when I
think of it. You must make your pastor dad proud. Thank you for
being the supportive daughter that you are. -David
WELCOMING
CHURCH
Newsletter #26
Subject: New Hope Lutheran Church in Neenah, WI
Date: Tue, 12 Jun 2001
From: Pastor Jeff Prewitt
Dear HJ,
Thanks for thinking spiritually and looking for the spiritual
in movies. At this church we try to direct people to consider
the spiritual and see the spiritual all around them. We are New
Hope Lutheran Church in Neenah, WI. website is newhopeconnect.org.
Thanks and rock on.
WELCOMING
CHURCH
Newsletter #26
Subject: Centenary United Methodist, St. Louis, MO
Date: Tue, 12 Jun 2001
From: Gwen Trullinger
Hi, Beginning
July 1, I will be the senior pastor at Centenary United Methodist
at 55 Plaza Square, St. Louis, MO 63103. From all I have learned
thus far, Centenary is very inclusive and will be a wonderful
place of ministry.
Thanks, Gwen Trullinger
Response:
-David
WHAT
HAPPENED TO RESPECTING OTHERS?
Subject: Newsletter #26
Date: Tue, 12 Jun 2001
From: Kevin
hello Hollywood
Jesus man-
When I first saw your site I was immediately intrigued. Hollywood
and Jesus.......how could they ever go together??? I wonder what
movies Jesus would like if he was in human form here today? Jesus
was much deeper than people like to realize and quite the rebel.
We Christians
seems to forget all the rules he broke and the people he made
mad. I am a new Christian of a couple of years and the "cookie
cutter" is big around my parts. But, I just say let God deal with
me and I'll let Him deal with you. I love Jesus and the Bible
is my source of comfort and the way I feel closer to God. My husband
and I also often go to the movies. We don't even pay attention
to the ratings. If their is a good movie we go see it....no matter
what the rating. I love your Site. Keep up the good work.
May God Bless
you and continue to use you to OPEN up people's minds, Pam
Response:
Thank you Pam. I am with you. Jesus was a rebel! People tend to
forget the real character of Jesus. Thanks for the affirming words.
And yes, what did happen to respect? -David
A
REALLY COOL CHURCH
Newsletter #26
Subject: Without Walls International Church, Tampa, Florida
Date: Tue, 12 Jun 2001
From: Mary E. Lowther
"Without Walls
International Church" in Tampa, Florida (by Raymond James Stadium).
Pastors Randy and Paula White minister to a 5000 strong congregation
of roughly 1/3 white, 1/3 hispanic, and 1/3 black believers along
with the many outcast tatooed, long-haired, whatever seekers.
This is a bible based church, speaking the truth of God. There
are 250 outreach programs to the inner city, kids, etc. All are
welcomed.
Mary E. Lowther,
OTR, D.C. Certified
NeuroEmotional Practitioner
813.281.1820
KEEP
THE FAITH
Newsletter #26
Subject: Keep The Faith
Date: Tue, 12 Jun 2001
From: Paula
Mr. Bruce:
I am writing to encourage you to continue your ministry here on
the Hollywood Jesus web site. You recently published a
newsletter article accusing the Baby Boomer Church Leaders
of holding the church hostage. Those are fightin' words! Jesus
said similarly challenging words to the religious leaders of his
day. If the master is rejected, how can the servant expect to
be treated any better? Of course, these words coming from me prove
that you are in the enemy's camp. I am not an agnostic, atheist,
or pagan. I am worse. I am a liberal Episcopalian. If God is calling
you and empowering you for this ministry, who will stop you?
Paula
Response:
Thank you. I really believe something new is in the wind. -David
A
COOL NON JUDGEMENTAL CHURCH
Newsletter #26
Subject: Eastgate Christian Fellowship
Date: Tue, 12 Jun 2001
From: "rob woodrum"
Love your
stuff. Don't always agree...but that matters little. You rock
dude...Jesus bless you big. Hang in there, no matter what fools
may say.
Rob
(pastor, Eastgate Christian Fellowship)
www.eastgatefellowship.net
www.javalooyah.com
COOL
CHURCH
Newsletter #26
Subject: River Hills Christian Church
Date: Tue, 12 Jun 2001
From: Jeff Metzger
River Hills
Christian Church Office: 683 Loveland-Madeira Road Loveland, OH
45140 Meets at: Oasis Conference Center 902 Loveland-Miamiville
Road Loveland, OH 45140 Phone: 513-677-7600 Web: www.riverhillscc.com
This healthy new church is doing a series called Summer at
the Movies starting in July, 2001.
TEACHING
CHILDREN
Subject: Newsletter #26 About_R-Rated
Date: Tue, 12 Jun 2001
From: Jane
I am not
sure that I am sending this to the write address given, but here
goes. When our kids were young teens and preteens we had a rule
in our house, no r-rated movies. It made it easier to keep tabs
on what movies were brought into our house. As the years have
gone on the line between r and pg-13 has become very blurred.
And after finding your sight and reading some of your reviews
we have altered our stance a bit. I have seen some quality r-rated
movies that I feel good about seeing, for in stance The
Patriot" and I have avoided some pg 13s and even pgs that
I might otherwise have seen that would not have been right for
my husbabd and I to spend our time and $$ on. (our children are
now adults and hopefully use some discretion and judgement in
what they watch. After all that is what is really important...teaching
our children to make wise decisions and not just controlling what
they see and hear while they live with us!)
Sorry for rambling..keep up the good work.
Response:
You are totally right on. I hope all parents weill follow your
lead. -David
WAY
TO GO
Subject: Newsletter #26
Date: Mon, 11 Jun 2001
From: gord taylor
I have really
appreciated your site. I was initially very skeptical, expecting
the usual "christianize" schlock, but was very pleasantly surprised
to see that you fairly looked at films without mashing them into
some cookie cutter mold. Though I have been a Christian most of
my life I have never been comfortable being identified as such.
This has nothing to do with Jesus, but all to do with popular
contemporary Christianity (so called). I too have been questioned
and prejudged ( I'm a philosophy major, graphic artist, anarchist,
punk music aficionado) so I can understand where you are coming
from, and your response from "narrow majority". Just thought you
should know that not all Christians are down on your thing, some
of us find strength and solidarity from it. Be encouraged. Goredough
Response:
I appreciate your kind and affirming words. Thank you. -David
SOME
WORDS OF PRAISE
Subject: Newsletter #26
Date: Mon, 11 Jun 2001
From: Ben
  Mr.
Bruce, I have been getting your e-mails ever since my youth pastor
told me about your site, and let me tell you that I think you
are right on the money. First of all, your tone reminds me of
three books that I have read, Dangerous Wonder, by Mike
Yacconelli, The Ragamuffin Gospel, by Brennan Manning,
and Roaring Lambs, by Bob Briner. Wait. Make that four.
In my rather inexperienced view of the Bible, your insights are
exactly congruent and theologically consistent with scripture.
If you haven't read this book, Roaring Lambs, I'd recommend it,
because I'd imagine you and Briner share this same vision.  Either
way, what you are doing and talking about is one of the most important
things the church should be doing right now. Culture must be relevant
to the church, and the church must be relevant to culture; not
through reactive criticism and isolating bigotry, but by proactive
efforts such as your newsletter. I hope you don't go back to those
churches who attacked you, and I hope no one else does. In my
corner of the world, there are a group of people in my church
who think like you, and on behalf of them, I must say keep up
the good work. As you spoke of in your last letter, there are
major generational differences, and I sincerely hope Generation
X will not grow up to be their parents. There is hope, and your
efforts will eventually pay off. Thank You for your time and effort
putting all this together, and I look forward to the next letter!
Ben
Response:
Ben, thank you for the affirmations. I have read Roaring Lambs
-a real favorite. Also, I believe something new is beginning to
come forth. A new direction, I can really sense it. I want to
be a part of it. The modern era is over. The Boomer churches (Thomas
Kinkade family fellowship types) have had their day. I believe
God is breaking forthe something brand new and very different.
-David
YOUR
OPEN MINDED CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE
Subject: Newsletter #26
Date: Mon, 11 Jun 2001
From: T
Dear HJ,
Let me begin by telling you that I thoroughly enjoy your newsletter
and appreciate everything you are trying to accomplish ( although
I dont always agree with you). I assume this is the same free
thinking and respect you are endorsing. While I applaud your attempt
to find some Christian good in almost every movie, methinks thou
trieth too hard. While I agree that its not what goes in that
is the problem, but what goeth out, some movies are so chock-full
of worldly evil as to have no good value at all. ( Ninth
Gate, for example, was foul for the soul as well as beig a
thoroughly crappy movie).
I am saddened
by your experience with the very closed-minded church, saddened
for them more than you. If they are as you say, they are missing
out on most of the joy and glory that Jesus so wants us to have.
Everything about the experience you relayed was so off base as
to what Jesus is about. Jesus WAS about hanging with the very
most lost, this is true. But be very careful when you do. We are
also commissioned to live IN the world but be not OF the world.
When you encourage people to be free-thinkers, there is a very
real danger of trying to fit Jesus into a box that will fit into
our lives. This is every bit as bad as the person who uses Jesus
as a stage to look down on others from or a club to beat others
into submission. If we study the word and realize that our righteousness
is filthy rags, we may begin to glimpse the awesome love that
God has for us.
I am an emersed,
God loving, Bible believing Christian. I believe in loving everybody,
"punkers, gothics, blue collars, suits, divorced, singles, outcasts,
freaks, geeks, doubters, the broken and abused, smokers, drinkers
and maybe even a few "Thomas Kinkade perfect family" types". But
loving them is not the same as accepting what they do, what they
may be "about" right now. I can love a homosexual person (some
of the nicest guys I have ever met are gay) but uttery reject
the behavior and lifestyle. I cannot accept it, endorse it in
any way. And I object to anyone who tries to force me into acceptance.
But I still love them. For some people, this is very hard to even
understand, let alone live it. But it is exactly what Jesus did.
He hung with the prostitutes, the dregs of society. But he did
not condone the behavior, nor did he tolerate it in his presence
( look at the moneychangers). Big difference.
The point
I am trying to make is this: study the Word. Find out what Jesus
was really about. Dont just follow the man in the pulpit. THAT
is the best free-thinking you can do for yourslef. Dont shy away
from whats going on in the world, but ALWAYS remember who you
are and why He has put us here. Being like Jesus means accepting
everyone but rejecting unhealthy lifestyles, behaviors and attitudes.
It is our burden to show His better way. Differences? The more
the merrier....as long as the differences are within the boundaries
of scripture. I will continue to see movies of all types (other
than X) because they are often entertaining and enlightening.
But ultimately, I'm gonna dance with He who brought me to the
party.
God's Love and Peace to All,
~T.
Response:
I like your last line. Clever. -David
I'M
A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING
Subject: Newsletter #26
Date: Tue, 12 Jun 2001
From: "Jakob Smith"
Hi David,
Having enjoyed reading about your last visits to the churches,
I just wanted to write you a few words.
You have made
a number of email-adresses for the different types of persons
out there, and I just came to think that each of the questions
you pose there designates a problem that every christian church
have to deal with from time to time. Even those churches that
seems to have gotten the focus right. Because the church is build
up from living stones it can begin to wander in the wrong direction
if it's not guided.
Maybe people
become like those you've described out of a sincere hope of serving
God in "the right way", just like the pharisees. And maybe we
are all, as christians, in danger of acting likewise, when we
are going to put into action all the fine words. It can take some
time to understand practically that we can't earn us into the
love of God.
 I
guess my point here is to see the positive in this and that we
can learn something from it. I'm reminded of a two good books
that I've read about God's love for us. They're by Floyd McClung
and their names are: "The Father Heart of God" and "Learning To
Love the God That Loves You". There are some good words in them
about knowing God better, not only as a condemning and angry God,
but also as a very very very loving father.
My background
is that I'm from Denmark, 24 yrs old, attending a baptist church
where I was baptised a month ago. I come from a somewhat lutheran
background, because in Denmark you are automatically a member
of the lutheran state-church if your parents are and if they don't
decide otherwise for you. I was both baby- baptised and confirmed
there, without ever really understanding what or rather who the
center of christianity is. That is one problem I have with the
danish state-church, that it seems that it has become so much
of a culture that the personal relationship with God has been
forgotten. But then again I never really became a part of it,
so my overview can be imprecise.
In the last
4-5 years I've come to know Jesus Christ through some friends
and accepted him as my Lord and Saviour. I have settled now in
the baptist church, but I have also come into contact with some
very charismatic churches. I went there by my own free will, i.e.
not forced, and also because I was looking for a congregation
to be a part of. These encounters with tongue-speaking, falling
and so on gave me a lot of doubts about myself and whether I was
really saved and so on and I still meet this very devastating
fear from time to time. The fear can be expressed in the following
question: "If I'm not acting like them, with tongue-speaking,
loooong hours of worship-singing, lots of "Amen"'s and "Halleluja"'s
etc., am I then a real christian and am I still a member of the
community of the holy spirit?"
I had a hard
time reconciling the quiet times at home where I was speaking,
crying and praying to God with these very noisy meetings. Trying
to deal with it I researched a bit on the internet on the subject
of the charismatic movement, word of faith etc., but what really
helped me was meeting some people in the baptist church and in
other contexts, that reminded me that the holy spirit has many
ways of dealing with us. The research also gave me bad feelings
because you (or I) could see it as a way of doubting that those
things I had witnessed at those meetings were what it was said
they were. I guess that I was afraid that God would punish me
for doubting my experiences.
It's really
hard to visit those feelings when I write this, but I feel it
is very important to share them, so people can read how crazy
ones ideas can get. Enough of that for now. I really like reading
Hollywood Jesus and the newsletters.
Thanks for doing it. :)
Jakob Smith
Response:
Thank you Jakob for sharing your story. You have had a very interesting
journey. May God continue to bless you and make the adventure
exciting. I have been in every church imaginable. It's interesting
to saw the least. Thank you for the affirmation. -David
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