Last Friday the movie "The End of the Spear," about missionaries Nate Saint, Jim Elliot and three others that were killed in Ecuador, opened in theaters. The movie tells the story of Christian forgiveness, love, and redemption as relatives of the missionaries later returned and led the tribal people—including the killers—to Jesus.
Yet on the day it opened two Baptist leaders attacked the movie. Why? For being inaccurate? No. In fact, Nate Saint's son was closely involved with the project. Rather, these leaders were upset because the actor that plays Nate Saint is a homosexual in real life.
Albert Mohler wrote a piece attacking the casting of homosexual Chad Allen. And Kelly Boggs wrote that he was facing a dilemma in whether or not to take his family to see the movie because of Allen. The only time he offered any wisdom was when he wrote:
"When I first heard about 'End of the Spear,' I was excited. I thought, 'Here is a film that will communicate the apex of Christian commitment.'"
The movie will still do that regardless of Allen's homosexuality. It is so sad to see one of the few positive films to be made being attacked by the very people that should be urging everyone to go see it.
However these two men seem to hate homosexuals so much (as they treat it in an unbiblical super-sin way), that they would rather condemn the whole movie. If we cannot have a homosexual playing the role of Nate Saint, then we would also have to disallow the cheaters, liars, thieves, adulterers (including lusting in the heart), and every other human being because we are all sinners!
Perhaps these two men would do well to not only consider the lessons of Jesus about love and forgiveness (wait, aren't those the lessons of the movie!), but to listen to the words of Nate Saint's son who stated he was originally upset by the choice but now is okay with it. He explained:
"I thought, ‘What happens if I stand before God someday and He says to me, ‘Steve, I went out of my way to orchestrate an opportunity for Chad Allen to see what it would be like to live as your father did.' And then I could picture Him looking at me and saying, 'Steve, why did you mess with my plan?''"
Do not listen to the naysayers. Go see this movie, and if possible take a non-Christian friend. Chad Allen may be a sinner, but so was Nate Saint, those that killed him, and each of us. The lessons of the movie—love, forgiveness, and redemption—still speak loud and clear!
Yet on the day it opened two Baptist leaders attacked the movie. Why? For being inaccurate? No. In fact, Nate Saint's son was closely involved with the project. Rather, these leaders were upset because the actor that plays Nate Saint is a homosexual in real life.
Albert Mohler wrote a piece attacking the casting of homosexual Chad Allen. And Kelly Boggs wrote that he was facing a dilemma in whether or not to take his family to see the movie because of Allen. The only time he offered any wisdom was when he wrote:
"When I first heard about 'End of the Spear,' I was excited. I thought, 'Here is a film that will communicate the apex of Christian commitment.'"
The movie will still do that regardless of Allen's homosexuality. It is so sad to see one of the few positive films to be made being attacked by the very people that should be urging everyone to go see it.
However these two men seem to hate homosexuals so much (as they treat it in an unbiblical super-sin way), that they would rather condemn the whole movie. If we cannot have a homosexual playing the role of Nate Saint, then we would also have to disallow the cheaters, liars, thieves, adulterers (including lusting in the heart), and every other human being because we are all sinners!
Perhaps these two men would do well to not only consider the lessons of Jesus about love and forgiveness (wait, aren't those the lessons of the movie!), but to listen to the words of Nate Saint's son who stated he was originally upset by the choice but now is okay with it. He explained:
"I thought, ‘What happens if I stand before God someday and He says to me, ‘Steve, I went out of my way to orchestrate an opportunity for Chad Allen to see what it would be like to live as your father did.' And then I could picture Him looking at me and saying, 'Steve, why did you mess with my plan?''"
Do not listen to the naysayers. Go see this movie, and if possible take a non-Christian friend. Chad Allen may be a sinner, but so was Nate Saint, those that killed him, and each of us. The lessons of the movie—love, forgiveness, and redemption—still speak loud and clear!
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