The Threshold

Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

True worshipers worship from the heart, individually or collectively in cooperate worship.

Christ teaches in John 4:23 “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth;  for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.

Verse 24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Verse 24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

The church is for worship, for Christians to worship God the Father, from their hearts, thanking God for His great plans and gift of His Son as a believers Savior, in faith.

Worship is to yield to the Holy Spirit, to be sensitive and dwell on the Spirit’s leading in guiding our heartfelt thoughts, considering the words in our minds, we bow to our Lord Jesus. We worship God for our position as obedient children of Him through Christ alone.

I have been taught that church worship is for believers. Church is not a place to accommodate the outside world and try to entice non-believers to come in by bells and whistles. Worship is not entertainment ie: CF (Christian Films).

Where is the millionaire with a godly biblical motive to make a non-profit God honoring entertaining Christian film? A Christian film perhaps to be shown in a film theater or on a TV or device monitor by streaming it in or renting a DVD. NOT, entertainment in a true Christian church and call it worship!

With regard to outreach it is clear to me that forms of entertainment can and do lead people astray. Mixing some gospel truth with the worlds venues of occupying a person’s mind is to minimize the word of God. From the few so-called Christian films I’ve seen, what seems apparent is the tendency for “Christian-lite.”

The missing motive in outreach films is a boldness to proclaim biblical truths.

Boldness is shining God’s light into the darkness exposing Satan, sin’s evil, a culture of sin and hell. Boldness is revealing the bountiful grace of God to cleanse sinners through Jesus alone and God’s assurance of heaven.

What may be a topic of discussion, is the casual direction of CF’s in holding back the bold truth found in the Bible. For more reading on Christian film making please see one of my earlier post regarding Hollywood and Big Stars at;  2014, 4th of July Dependence https://www.mdr-thethreshold.com/2014-4th-of-july-dependence/

Not explaining the seriousness of sin and how it is so offensive to a Perfect and Holy God, is treating sin lightly. What seems to be missing in “outreach” films is the courageous proclamation of God’s Holy Scripture and what God demands in submitting to Him totally in repentance.

On one hand by Christian-films “playing it safe” and not showing visual immorality, violence or hearing foul words spoken, they are of course, rightly avoiding the exploitation of sins.

On the other hand “playing it safe” and seeing how far visuals can push the limits of safety (morality vs. immorality) Christian film makers are heading in the wrong direction.

Tempting, teasing or feeding an audience visions of “partial sins” is the wrong motives.   Boldly proclaiming Jesus, Scripture and faith is the right direction and motive to honor God.

Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

“If” CF’s are to be a worthy component in the big picture of presenting the bold gospel message then ‘perhaps’ they can and should rise to the level of public preaching as was seen in the zeal of George Whitefield and others.

For that one CF to break out of the trendy mold of mixing commercial appeal to draw a box office pay out and be a “safe” film, it needs to be made like true church worship, for sincere believers and made with pure motives.

A film for true Christians, not a film for non-Christians, is what is necessary if a film is necessary at all. Believers speak louder and clearer than pictures. A personal testimony is proclaiming God’s miracle.

There are many searching people living in these uncertain times and they genuinely sense the worsening times ahead.

It will be God’s elect that will respond in faith to the truth of Scripture, by the grace of God. Truth spoken, lived out or seen in a picture is powerful.

A CF should not be anything but clear about the cost of following Christ. With a films wide appeal there is a huge risk of attracting the self-deceived into a warm and fuzzy “country club” entertainment based church community.

Anything but the bold truth of the gospel is pandering to the crowd looking for free bread.

God’s word has always been powerful and will always be powerful. Whether the outcome or reaction to a CF is positive or negative is out of the hands of the film maker. God’s grace alone moves hearts in God’s perfect timing.

What is in the hands of the CF maker, as an ambassador of biblical truth, is to have a pure motive to tell God’s truth. The motive should not be about making money or receiving fame.

If a movie is a viable venue of the gospel then the makers have the duty to glorify God in the best way. Doing what is right in the eyes of God, is what the question or the challenge is.

Not shrinking back from worry of offending someone may be the method to reach the right motive. Watching what God does or doesn’t do with good biblical motives is a good position to be in.

Bowing before God in the meditations of our hearts and actions of our life is the greatest drama on earth, it is living in submission to glorify God. Preach the Word, Christ is King.

Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.