DownshoreDrift

Tallskinnykiwi linked to this and it reminded me of a conversation I had the other day with a friend of mine. Apparently, movies with a strong Christian worldview and Christian themes/morality do MUCH better at the box office than movies with strong sexual content or very foul language.  That is really no surprise for anyone who has been paying attention the last couple of years, but it goes against the conventional wisdom that Hollywood dishes out and that Christians lap up. It has gotten to the point that I have no real problem finding movies that have family themes and are about epic adventures full of courage, loyalty, and honor. Yet, we still claim that everyone is out to get us and there are no Christian entertainment options available (as though that was some kind of right of ours or something). I just think that it is interesting that our culture seems to be beginning to value things that are important and they are beginning to tell stories that have weight and meaning. Perhaps we should take notice and do a better job of pointing out the eternal themes that are being explored.

In my continuing quest to embrace the true meaning of Christmas, my family and I went to see The Nativity Story tonight. It was a really beautiful movie. It was a simple retelling of the story of Mary and Joseph and the birth of Christ. The power of the film, for me, involved the perspective of how small God became to take on flesh. He was born to a simple peasant girl in a backwater region of the Roman Empire. He was born amidst controversy and scandal. He was hunted by the King, and attended to by low born shepherds and Eastern Wise Men, who were basically astrologers. What an amazing story! Who could believe it? God took on flesh and made His dwelling among us - a Savior for all mankind!

Several times during the movie, tears came to my eyes as I mediated on the glory and humility of the Incarnation of Christ. What an amazing God. Jesus, our Lord and Savior!

O Come, O Come Emmanuel . . . and ransom captive Israel . . . who mourns in lonely exile here, until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel, shall come to thee O Israel.

There is just something about us that loves to point out the flaws of others and pile on. I know that the liberal media is overjoyed to hear about Mel Gibson's drunken tirade against Jews, and I agree that his comments were horrible and incredibly stupid. In addition, it gives really good credence to the recent SBC Resolution against Alcohol Consumption, eh? But, beyond that, we generally love to see celebrities or people in power blow it, don't we? There is something in us that loves to tear people down and criticize, whether they are politicians, preachers, or celebrities. It should cause us to grieve. In my opinion, he showed more strength of character by apologizing the way he has, coming clean, and entering rehab, than many who try and pretend like they have no problems. The truth is, we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. We all desperately need a Savior. The same people who accepted Bill Clinton's apology will not accept Mel Gibson's and vice versa because of their agendas. Forgiveness starts with recognizing that WE are sinners. Then, maybe we won't throw stones at others and we will help people who have fallen get back up.

Why don't we forgive and restore? Often, it is because we enjoy the power that we now hold over people. We can feel morally superior to them. "Well, at least I didn't do what she did!"  In this we become hypocrites ourselves. We need to find a way to point out wrong, but at the same time, accept and restore people who genuinely recognize their mistakes and try and make changes. We could just as easily be next. How can we not affirm someone who sees the error of their ways and tries to do right? We can deplore the sin and the sinful attitude, but we have to be willing to allow someone to confess and be forgiven.

Many will say, "Yes, people can be forgiven, but they no longer can have a voice or a platform to influence others because of their mistake." I see the reasoning in that, but if we are not careful, we make the moral platform that people have flow out of their own righteousness. From a Christian perspective, we are all to radiate God's grace and point to Christ as our Savior. As Christians, are we to be a moral example? Yes. Are our lives to be above reproach? Absolutely. Are there standards? Sure. We should join with Paul as he said, "Follow me as I follow Christ." But, we should be very careful that our authority does not come from our own righteousness, but the righteousness of Christ.  We should not point to ourselves, but point to Jesus who loves us, saves us, and lives through us.

I say this because Mel Gibson claims to be a Christian who made perhaps the most influential Christian film of all time, The Passion of the Christ.  As we think of his sin, we should also think of his repentance and see his flaws through the eyes of grace. That is what the cross and the true passion of the Christ is all about, isn't it? If our lives were ripped open and examined, who could stand?

In thinking about the cancer that my son, Caelan is going through, it would SO easy to throw a pity party and say, "Why us, Lord?" I could do a really good job of it, if I had half a mind. I've been known to throw some amazing pity parties in the past, with balloons, music, and even the paparazzi showing up to take pictures. I can be a pity party professional (P3 for short).  But, God, in His amazing grace is using all types of things to provide incredible perspective and to cause me to praise Him for His abundant blessing and goodness. He is using His Word, the prayers of others, and also things like books and film to remind me to pray without ceasing, praise the Lord, and think about the horror that others go through in this world.  My family really is blessed. 

The other day, Erika and I saw Hotel Rwanda.  I've been wanting to see this movie for some time, but haven't gotten around to it.  It is a really heavy movie about the genocide in Rwanda in 1994 where almost 1 million people were killed.  The story follows hotel manager Paul Rusesabagina (a Hutu), as he works to save around a thousand Tutsi from extermination.  It is an amazing story of courage and compassion, and it also shows the incredible depth of our sin and how evil man can be to one another.  I found myself terribly ashamed that when this happened, I was in college and did not even notice.  I don't think I even uttered one prayer on behalf of all of the people that were killed or that the violence would be stopped.  The West turned a blind eye to what was happening because it was not in our vital, immediate, interests.  Shame on us.  Shame on me.

This past week, I have also been reading The Great Deluge by Douglas Brinkley.  This massive book chronicles the week of August 29, 2005 in New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast when Katrina hit.  It tells the story of the lack of preparation before the storm, all that went wrong on the local, state, and federal level during and after the storm, and the incredible suffering and courage that was experienced and shown by the people down there.  That is my homeland, being born in New Orleans and growing up in Picayune, MS, right up the road.  The Gulf Coast was our playground and the culture and people there mean a great deal to me.  During this disaster, I (and my church and so many others) did respond with many prayers and action, sending a team of 30 with supplies enough to start two Red Cross shelters on September 2 in Ocean Springs, MS.  All of that work has led us to stay involved down there and we are now  helping start and support, Pathfinder Mission in Waveland/Bay St. Louis.