Music Review: Building 429: Rise

alternative rockers offer solid follow-up effort

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Allow me to present my new favorite CD. A lot of bands’ sophomore efforts fall flat for a variety of reasons. Sometimes expectations are set too high by their first disc’s success. Sometimes the second album is too much like the first. And sometimes, for fear of that, the band chooses to go a different way with their second release, alienating their core group of fans. I am happy to say that Rise, from Building 429 falls prey to none of these issues. In fact, without sounding too cliché, they construct a strong second story on the solid alternative rock foundation they established with The Space In Between Us.

Building 429 has this ability, like few other bands, to convey their message not just through their lyrics, but also to craft such moving compositions that the words seem a natural progression of the music itself, rather than the other way around.

Their first radio single, “Fearless,” is reminiscent of “Glory Defined,” in its radio friendliness, but the message is a little more on-point:

No, I can’t comprehend
This power that draws me to you
But I know for the cross
I’ll consider all lost
In an effort to tell of the truth…
That the world may know
That you have been heaven sent to us
That the world may see
That the captives are free…
I’ll be fearless for You

The strongest track is “Searching for a Savior,” which takes lead singer Jason Roy’s own family experiences and turns them on their ear to create the core of the CD, that we all have a space in our deepest hearts that can only be filled by one person.

Just a boy with something in his heart
Says life doesn’t add up
The dreams inside
Are telling him, seek and you will find

He caught a ride and he left this town
He never came back around
Lord I miss him now
But he had to reach, to make sense of his world

Cause we’re all searching for a savior
Cause no one else will do…

The title track, “Rise,” is a song from a mother to a child, hurting for him, but knowing that he must grow on his own. It then manages to become a song of Mary’s love for Jesus and how every parent can relate to her sufferings. A different perspective – not only do parents watch their children rise to adulthood, but our heavenly Father and Mary watched their child rise to the cross as the ultimate act of maturity.

Rise is rounded out by “Fighting to Survive” and “Home” that speak to the struggle of life and of faith, “I Belong to You,” and “Because You’re Mine,” which offer the response to the struggle, from our perspective and the Lord’s, respectfully. “I Believe” calls for reconciliation. “Now That It’s Over,” and “Empty” take a look at the consequences of sin, while “Alive” reminds us why we were put here in the first place, to glorify the creator of the universe.

A solid follow-up, I highly recommend this album to any fans of Building 429 or alternative rock in general.

Recovering the Lost

If you’ve been paying attention to KeyWords over the past few weeks, you’ve noticed that we’ve talked a lot about the TV show LOST. Robin & I are both big LOST fans, as are quite a few of our staff members (their committment to 24 notwithstanding). Plus, lets face it, the show is water cooler material and even those who are frustrated by the mysteries and the complex twists and turns keep tuning in (unless American Idol happens to be on…)

One of the things we have tried to highlight are the various websites and hidden clues on the Internet that capure people’s interest. Not since The Blair Witch Project has a major media organization done such a good job at alternative advertising that captures people’s attention. For fans of the show, its a more interactive way of delving deeper into the show’s mythology and meaning.

The writers and producers amped that up recently, launching the worldwide scavenger hunt, The Lost Experience, that, if you follow the myriad of clues, gives you a much deeper (and often even more frustrating) understanding of some of the minds and companies behind our castaways little adventure on the island – as well as their predecessors. The experience started with a commerical for the Hanso Foundation during the May 3rd episode of LOST. Calling the phone number at the end opened up a series of clues and red herrings that have led people across the Internet and created brand new communities to explore their implications. (Including SaveJoop.com – which is totally fan created and sponsored)

One of the brightest and best sites that helps fans work through the ins and outs of The Experience – and filling in the gaps when bandwidth runs out, which seems to be happening more and more often these days – is The Lost Experience Clues Blog. The information is updated consistently and constantly with a focus on accuracy and details.

What’s more interesting is that the site has it’s own hidden “hack” that resembles the clues spread out by Persephone and the Hanso Foundation. If you click the head banner – like the one at the top of the last paragraph, you are transported to “Stories of the Lost” – a site that explores the spiritual themes of the show as well as offering – stop me if this sounds familiar – the reason for the Hope that the Lost souls that started the website hold.

You see, both The Lost Experience Clues Blog & The Stories of the Lost are actually started by a member of Watermark Community Church, in Dallas Texas. To quote from the Stories site:

We want to share with the world, the hope and redemption that we have personally found. Our intentions as administrators is that this site be radically different than any other out there in terms of two things: 1) EXCELLENCE OF CLUES. We want to be the best “Lost Experience” clue giving site in the world! 2) SPIRITUAL CONTENT. We want to talk about things beyond the game. We want to talk about how some of this show’s themes relating to faith & redemption aren’t too different from what goes on in our real lives.

As my long time readers know, I’ve been observing and interacting with the Emergent Church movement (aka Postmodern, post-postmodern, hyperpostmodern, etc.) for years – long before it took off or caught the fire that is now quickly eroding the presence of the so-called mainline denominations, forcing them to evolve or die. In my experience – from Vineyard to Willow Creek to Saddleback, this is the strongest and most relevant effort I have seen to date – and maybe it says something that it was developed not by a pastor or committee, but by a lay minister – a guy named David Penuel who also works with their Jr. High Youth. If only church was like this – looking for answers, asking questions and exploring truths, regardless of its “Jesus Quotient.”

Check out The Lost Experience Clues Blog. See what they have to say in the Stories of the Lost and, if you are a believer, consider what you can do to make a difference for Christ in this world – with excellence, not religion – turning others to Jesus, without turning people off… It’s something to think about.

Summer TV Learning

I only have time to do a quick post today, but I wanted to let folks know about some upcoming shows on the History Channel that may interest you… As I’ve pointed out before, the History Channel shows a surprising lack of bias in this day and age of hyper-political climates, usually presenting the facts with little commentary and clearly and even-handedly looking at both sides of a theory or proposition. You’ll want to check your local listings to find out when these air in the next couple of weeks…

Ancient Marvels – Bible Tech

Arguably the most influential book ever written, the Bible provides a glimpse into the origins of ancient technology and its use to withstand the elements, build great structures, wage war, and conserve precious water. We examine the technological plausibility of biblical structures and machines–including the Tower of Babylon, the Temple of Jerusalem, ancient bronze and iron forging, and shipbuilding skills that might have been employed to build Noah’s Ark.

Building in the Name of God

The greatest religious structures are marvels of engineering, technology, and invention, representing not only the glory of God, but also the ingenuity of man. This 2-hour special charts the challenge of erecting the five breakthrough monuments from the birth of Christianity to the present day. Each structure broke the engineering mold by demanding that their builders go higher and bigger than ever before–sometimes leading to disaster as domes collapsed and massive walls and pillars buckled under the strain. We’ll reveal the secrets of their epic construction using computer-generated imagery coupled with material specially-shot on location, and interviews with experts. Each building combines major technical innovation with breathtaking human endeavor, strokes of genius, ambition, and intrigue. We’ll visit the Hagia Sofia, Notre Dame, St. Peters Cathedral, Barcelona’s Segrada Familia, and the Crystal Cathedral in LA.

Sodom & Gomorrah

Did the sinful biblical cities Sodom and Gomorrah exist or was the story of their destruction crafted for other purposes? Near the Dead Sea, archaeologists uncovered the ruins of two ancient cities, Bab-edh-dhra and Numeira, that show evidence of fire and collapse and an inscription on a sanctuary near a cave calling it a shrine to Lot. Is this the cave where Lot and his daughters sought refuge after the demise of the evil cities? We examine the many theories.

Time Machine – Gnostic Gospels & The Apocrypha

In a 2-hour special, we scrutinize ancient writings that didn’t “make the cut” in the battle to create a Christian Bible in the new religion’s first few centuries. Biblical archaeologists and scholars examine why they were left out and if others might yet be found. Beginning with the little-known Life of Adam and Eve, we also peruse the Book of Jubilees, the Book of Enoch, the Gospel of Thomas, the Protevangelium of James, the Gospel of Mary, the Gospel of Nicodemus, and the Apocalypse of Peter.

Decoding The Past – Fatima Secrets Unveiled

In 1917, the Virgin Mary supposedly appeared six times to three children near Fatima, Portugal, and revealed three prophecies–two of which were made public. She bore a message of peace and prayer–but warned of a horrifying hell. The second part prophesized the end of WWI, the outbreak of WWII, and the rise and fall of Soviet Communism. In 1978, the third secret was revealed to the Pope, who just recently related the prediction–that an assassin would try to kill the Pope in St. Peter’s Square!

Da Vinci Believers Already Convinced

Bad news to all those Christians out there hoping for converts and worried about their flock straying. A recent study by The Barna Group has determined that, in fact, the people who believe the claims of The Da Vinci Code are primarily those looking to confirm what they already believe. Among the 45 million who have read The Da Vinci Code, only about 5% said that they changed any of their beliefs because of the book’s content. George Barna explains:

Before reading The Da Vinci Code people had a full complement of beliefs already in place, some firmly held and others loosely held. Upon reading the book, many people encountered information that confirmed what they already believed. Many readers found information that served to connect some of their beliefs in new ways. But few people changed their pre-existing beliefs because of what they read in the novel. And even fewer people approached the book with a truly open mind regarding the controversial matters in question, and emerged with a new theological perspective. The book generates controversy and discussions, but it has not revolutionized the way that Americans think about Jesus, the Church or the Bible.

On the other hand, any book that alters one or more theological views among two million people is not to be dismissed lightly. That’s more people than will change any of their beliefs as a result of exposure to the teaching offered at all of the nation’s Christian churches combined during a typical week.

Barna goes on to look at the potential impact of the film version and subsequent DVD. It will come as no surprise to Infuze readers that movies have greater “stickiness” with information than do print materials – most likely leading to the movie and DVD having more of an influence than the novel alone. One word of caution – while I do not ever advocate creating an ultra-safe, supposedly sheltered environment for our kids, because the belief systems of young people are still developing, Barna notes that kids are understandably more susceptible to new teachings. However, to me this just reinforces the need to actively be involved in your children’s lives, not to protect them, but to gently and Biblically guide them along the paths of Christian belief and reinforce the truth of the Bible over the myths, suppositions and falsehoods portrayed in The Da Vinci Code, The Gospel of Judas and other, less-reliable and tested sources for a belief system. To read more about the study, including the relatively high number of Catholics that are reading the book, click here.

History Channel Explores It All

 

As we countdown this week to the release of The Da Vinci Code movie, the History Channel moves to take advantage of the interest in all things Da Vinci & Templar. They are running a series of shows each day this week, with a re-broadcast of almost everything in a Da Vinci Code marathon, if you will, this weekend. Historically (ha, ha), the History Channel looks at things very even handedly, making a lot of the major network news specials look rather silly in comparison. This series of shows is no exception as they delve deep into both sides of every story and theory raised by The Da Vinci Code and related works. Check your local listings for the exact times these segments will air.

Digging for the Truth – The Da Vinci Code:Bloodlines

Josh Bernstein searches for solid evidence behind the controversial theory laid out in Dan Brown’s book The Da Vinci Code. Brown’s theory claims that Jesus married Mary Magdalene and that she conceived a child. It also suggests that the bloodline continues–unbroken–to this day. Josh shows what’s true and what’s clearly make-believe in Dan Brown’s bestseller. From musty libraries to ancient churches, Josh’s unique quest leads him to seek the DNA evidence that might prove or disprove one of the most sensational claims in modern history. Most remarkably, he’ll orchestrate the first ever DNA test on a Merovingian royal to find out if the story of a divine bloodline stretching back to Jesus and Mary Magdalene could possibly be true.

Beyond The Da Vinci Code

Is it the greatest story ever told – or the greatest story ever sold? A best-selling novel sparks a debate that could change Christianity forever. Were Jesus and Mary Magdalene married and co-leaders of their movement? Was Mary Magdalene, herself, the Holy Grail – the vessel said to hold Jesus’s blood–and mother of his descendants? Did the early Church know this “truth” and deliberately mislead followers? Is there a secret, ancient society, the Priory of Sion, which still protects this bloodline? Have some of the most illustrious names in art and science been members? These are some of the questions that Dan Brown’s best-selling novel The Da Vinci Code raises. We examine both sides of the story–the conventional view of Christianity and the “alternate history” proposed by Brown–so that viewers can decide.

Behind The Da Vinci Code

Before Dan Brown’s book The Da Vinci Code, there was Holy Blood, Holy Grail, written by Michael Baigent, Richard Leigh, and Henry Lincoln, that is known for its revelation of the possibility of a sacred bloodline continued by Jesus and Mary Magdalene. It was their research on which Brown based much of his novel. Now, 30-some years since they wrote their last follow-ups, Henry Lincoln continues to investigate the source of the story. In this special, the man who launched the whole story breaks his silence, allowing viewers to unlock his secrets and addressing critics who say the whole thing is a hoax. We also explore the connection to the Knights Templar.

Opus Dei Unveiled

Secretive and cult-like or divinely inspired and misunderstood? Opus Dei, a conservative organization within the Roman Catholic Church, was thrust into an unforgiving spotlight because of the way it was portrayed in Dan Brown’s thriller The Da Vinci Code. Opus Dei claims it’s more fiction than fact and that it’s misrepresented. Founded in 1928 by Spaniard Josemaria Escriva de Balaguer, it encourages members to find God through work and daily life. Members can be found in 61 countries and the majority are lay professionals. Another fraction is comprised of priests. The most orthodox commit to a celibate life, live in Opus Dei residences, give the majority of their income to the organization, and practice corporal mortification, the infliction of self-pain as a holy act of sacrifice. Now, Opus Dei leaders grant unprecedented access as we lift the veil surrounding their mysterious organization to reveal the truths and demystify the myths.

The Templar Code

For nearly two centuries, the Knights Templar were the medieval world’s most powerful order, a fearsome and unstoppable Crusader militia. Then came accusations of unspeakable crimes. Who were the Templars, really? How did they become so powerful, so fast, and why did they fall just as quickly? Evidence hints that the Templars excavated under Jerusalem’s Temple of Solomon. What did they find there? Was it, as The Da Vinci Code suggests, the true identity of the Holy Grail–the bloodline of Christ? Or an unimaginable treasure, documented in the Dead Sea Scrolls, buried 1,000 years before Christ’s birth? We explore the Templar’s origin, how they lived, trained, fought and became a medieval world power, and the suspicious circumstances behind their sudden downfall. Plus, we reveal why these warriors, dead for seven centuries, and their treasure still populate Hollywood blockbusters. Narrated by Ed Herrmann and featuring preeminent Templar authors.

Modern Marvels – Da Vinci Tech

Nearly 500 years after his death, Leonardo da Vinci still intrigues us. Most people think of him as a great artist, but he was also a remarkable scientist and inventor. His love of mechanics was unparalleled and he filled his notebooks with pages of incredible machines–from weapons of war to “Ships of the Skies”, from submarines and scuba suits to robots and an analogue computer…even contact lenses and alarm clocks! How did a 15th-century man envision such modern innovations? If we follow his plans, would any of his designs work? We need wonder no more. With recent technological advances and new materials, we’re the first generation able to bring Leonardo’s drawings to life–to learn whether his “mechanical dreams” were workable plans. We explore the fascinating intersection of his art, science, and engineering marvels, and use them to offer insight into this “Genius of Geniuses”, who remains as elusive as Mona Lisa’s smile.

The Holy Grail

Christ’s cup from the Last Supper. Medieval poets sang its praises, and King Arthur’s knights chased it to the ends of the earth. Did Joseph of Arimathea really claim the cup after the Last Supper and collect Jesus’s blood in it at the Crucifixion? Why are there so many Grail tales, no two of which fully agree? And why does the scent of heresy linger about the sacred cup? Many treasures are bigger, but none more precious or elusive as we discover in this quest for the venerable vessel.

Da Vinci & the Code He Lived By

Known as “the Mind of the Renaissance”, this amazing artist, scientist, and inventor envisioned flying machines, submarines, parachutes, armored cars, and multi-barreled guns centuries before their time. His mysterious painting the Mona Lisa still moves us and his fresco The Last Supper remains an icon of faith. His secretly recorded dissection of human bodies that brought accusations of consorting with Satan led to the early understandings of human anatomy. Against a backdrop of 15th-century Italian opulence, intrigue, and corruption, he navigated through the glittering palaces of merchant princes. The bastard son of a notary in the town of Vinci, Leonardo couldn’t even take his father’s name, but sensed that he must develop a way to overcome the limitations of illegitimacy. And so a code emerged, a pattern of decision-making that evolved throughout his life, enabling him to become the greatest of men in a time of great men–a mind above all others.

Mysteries of the Freemasons – The Beginning

Suspected throughout their long history of plotting to overtake the world, accused of fomenting revolution, and reviled as devil worshippers that stole King Solomon’s treasure, the Freemasons claim they’re merely a civic-minded fraternity, bound together by harmless rituals. Our high-energy cocktail of dramatic reenactment, expert interviews, and on-location footage entertains historians Akram Elias, Stephen Bullock, and Brent Morris to retell the Freemasons’ central myth concerning Hiram Abiff, mythical builder of Jerusalem’s Temple of Solomon. During construction, he was killed by three workers who believed his “secret” would impart magical powers–representing the three evils against which Freemasons believe they’re still struggling: ignorance, fanaticism, and tyranny. Today, the world’s 2.5 million Freemasons meet to reenact the ritual of Hiram’s murder as the initiation ceremony for the main rank of Master Mason.

Mysteries of the Freemasons – America

Is America the creation of the Freemasons? For hundreds of years, suspicions of a plot to take over America have swirled around the Freemasons, the world’s oldest secret society. Freemasons led the Revolution, framed the Declaration of Independence and Constitution, designed our nation’s capital, and in the early years of the Republic, grew to unmatched heights of influence and power. The untold story of the Freemasons in America reveals secret codes, patterns in the sky, murder, and a radically new picture of the nation’s Founding Fathers. We’ll explore this remarkable story through dramatic reenactments, expert interviews, sophisticated CGI, and original location documentary footage. Features historians Stephen Bullock, Dan Burstein, Brent Morris, Akram Elias, and author David Shugarts. But will a rational view reveal the Freemasons as an important and honorable thread in the fabric of America?

Music Review: Charlie Peacock: Love Press Ex-Curio

Peacock’s jazz efforts are strong

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The guest list on Charlie Peacock’s latest release reads like a who’s who of jazz icons. Myles Boisen, Ravi Coltrane, Tony Miracle, Gino Robair, Kirk Whalum, Jim White, Ralph Alessi, Kip Kubin, Jerry McPherson, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Roger Smith, Henry Robinett, Craig Nelson, James Genus, Joey Baron, and Jeff Coffin all contribute to Peacock’s most unique project to date.

Peacock has mentioned in interviews for years that he wanted to explore a jazz album, and for his first, he pulls out all the stops. Recorded in New York City’s world renowned Avatar Studios and Peacock’s own Art House Studio, the album has the weight of true jazz, mixed with Peacock’s own contemporary sensibilities, creating a true 21st century jazz experience. Peacock took advantage of his years of producing to create a special twist of traditional improvisational jazz with ethnic drum beats, danceable synth sounds and purposeful distortion that hearkens back to the music Peacock grew up on: Eddie Hearst, Les McCann and others.

The title, Love Press Ex-Curio is an imaginative, improvisational take on a phrase Peacock wanted to create the album around, “Love’s Pressure Exhibits Curiosity” and is reflected in some of the more creative titles, like “Be Well, Johnny Cash” and “All Or Nothing Grace.”

The more festive, fun-loving aspect of Peacock’s work comes out in the songs “Bucketachicken” and “London Twist N’ Turn,” while he experiments with more fluent piano stylings on “Dodo’s Whim” and “Frank the Marxist Memorial Gong Blues”

The hardest part, I think, for Peacock will also be the one downside for most of his fans. This is a true jazz album. In keeping with that vision, Peacock’s carefully scripted song lyrics are absent from this recording and he must convey the story and nature of the song solely with the instrumental sounds. However, after a few listens, this is actually one of the Love‘s strongest points. Immersing yourself in the music allows you to truly connect with Peacock’s intentions and not being distracted by lyrics opens the heart to a more inspiring, emotional experience through the music than words alone can express. One might even say a more worshipful experience. And isn’t that what all music should do?

Look! A Can of Christian Worms!

Okay, I’m about to open a huge can of worms here and I expect that in the next few hours, my inbox will fill up with hate mail.  Luckily, I can handle it.  Maybe, just maybe, the people who read this posting will get to the end before they go off.  Uncomplete thoughts are dangerous, and if you don’t get to the end of my argument before taking offense at the journey, then you’ve cheated yourself.  I’m sure not everyone will agree with me, and that’s fine, too.  I just hope that the if I raise your ire, you have decent reasons for getting upset and you’ll let me know AFTER you finish reading what I have to say.  Now with that disclaimer out of the way, let me open my argument by saying…

I think South Park creators Trey Stone & Matt Parker did a good thing by presenting an image of Christ defecating.

(See, some of you have already stopped reading)

In a recent two-part episode of South Park, Stone & Parker scripted a scene where al Quieda airs a defamatory cartoon of Jesus defecating on George Bush & the American flag.  The al Quieda cartoon is in response to a fictional episode of FOX’s Family Guy that depicts Muhammed with a football helmet.  The irony?  Cartoon Network refused to air the scene with Muhammed, but approved the Christ-fecal matter scene without batting an eye.

You might think now that this is going to be one of my rants on the media’s marginalization of Christians.  Not today.  Nor am I going to go into large detail on the irony of the response the episode got from the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights.  (“Like little whores, they’ll sit there and grab the bucks. They’ll sit there and they’ll whine and they’ll take their shot at Jesus”)  I agree with the Washington Post reporter who noted that the League’s Bill Donahue completely missed the point. 

I could go into the fact that Jesus most likely did have bowel movements. I mean, they never mention them in the Bible, but we do find plenty of mentions of him eating and drinking, and we all know where that leads, eventually – except of course in the case of constipated religious leaders. (Sorry, a little tongue in cheek slipped in there.) I could question “What Would Jesus Do,” if he were living on our society today and felt, as many Catholics and Christian Democrats do, that Bush has led us into a war for his own greedy gain. I’m sure that he would not see the need, as Triumph, the Comic Insult Dog would say, “to poop on” them. And before all of the Chuck Colson fans come out of the woodwork, I am not questioning the President’s motives or stating that he is a greedy son-of-a-gun, just making a point.

And actually, the point I am making comes out in the words of Kyle, talking to the FOX executives about their boycott of the Family Guy episode. “Either it’s all okay, or none of it is,” Kyle tells them. “Do the right thing.” You see, I think we all take our Christianity WAY too seriously (avoid the temptation, don’t click that comment button yet) – at all the wrong times.

First off, we should NEVER take the purely religious aspects too seriously. By that I mean to reference the Princeton University’s definition of religiousness, “piety by virtue of being devout.” You see, I think we concentrate too much on that side of the story, instead of working on the American Heritage Dictionary’s definition, “implying adherence to religion in both belief and practice.” For some reason, the church in general and American “Evangelicals” in particular decided a few generations ago that Christianity was more about what you did – as long as it was in church – than living out your beliefs regardless of where you are. Nevermind the book of James, skip over Hosea and Jeremiah (except that part about the plans I have for you), just focus on making a difference IN YOUR CHURCH and making sure everyone knows how pious you are. I’m relatively sure that’s what caused the decay of the Catholic Church a few centuries ago, leading to Protestantism and Reformation.

I think we need more mockery, only I think it should come from within the church, like Brian Power’s Prime Rib, here on InFuze. I know, some of you are ready to tell me that the Bible tells us that God will not tolerate mockery. And the truth is, I hope I never do mock God, and rest assured I am not planning to push that limit. But the church is Christ’s BRIDE, not Christ himself. In fact, the Bride is so dirty and warped right now, I believe Christ is the only one who can still love her. Sure, some of us say we love the Bride of Christ, but what we’re really saying is that we love the parts of her that we want to see, the parts that we fantasize still exist, and the parts that were never intended to be her legacy. Christ’s love for the Bride is unconditional, which is why we’re all still here allowed to struggle and hope and God hasn’t just held his finger down on the SMITE button until he can find a Noah to sail out of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.

The hypocrisy of Comedy Central and Viacom aside, Kyle, speaking for Parker and Stone, expresses a very true statement to ponder. Why is it acceptible to mock Christianity with no repercussions? A better question would be, why are they so scared of the Muslim backlash, but not the Christian one? Is it because we only bomb abortion clinics and despite the recent death threats received by an Indianapolis NBC affiliate for airing The Book of Daniel, nobody thinks we’ll follow through? Or could it be because they’ve seen, time and time again, that we don’t act on our beliefs – no matter how skewed they (or we) make them appear to be?

You see, we get up in arms about South Park, & The Book of Daniel, about Target and Wal-Mart, about The DaVinci Code & the Gospel of Judas, and we ignore the homeless, the AIDS victims, the hungry, the poor, the hurting, the enslaved (real & hypothetical), and the lost – THE LEAST OF THESE. The very same people Christ was sent to the world to seek and to save. Yet we, supposedly having the spirit of Christ co-habiting in our flesh, ignore the commands of Christ in favor of the demands of the church. Don’t believe me?

I John 3:16-17

“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?”

Ouch. And who is our brother? You might be tempted to take Jesus’ words in the Gospels and say that those who do Christ’s will are our brothers. But Jesus took that one step further in Matthew 25.

Matthew 25:31-46

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

John writes more in Chapter 3, cementing the argument:

I John 3:18-20

“Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.”

I could give countless examples of the Epistle writers warning us that we are not of this world, and admonishing us to accept persecution that Christ might be glorified, but I’ve made more detailed arguments in previous posts and see no need to re-hash those here, at this point. I will talk about the Book of James, since I’ve already mentioned that we like to ignore its teachings and the implications in today’s church.

James 1:2-5, 12

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him… Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him”

James 2

“My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong?

If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.

Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!

What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.

You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that–and shudder. You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.

In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.”

Just earlier this month, our readership expressed dismay, as did I, at the hypocrisy of Isaac Hayes resigning his South Park role because they made fun of his church or “alternative method of thinking.” The fact is South Park is an equal opportunity offender. They poke fun at all religions, castes and mindsets for the parts of them they see as ridiculous or just plain silly. I’d rather have them mock the foibles of my fellow believers (and myself) and laugh along with them than be like the British journalist who recommended boycotting The Chronicles of Narnia and The Passion of the Christ because she found Christ’s sacrifice offensive to her self-sufficient point of view. At least Parker & Stone admit that there might be something there, just not something they’re willing to deal with on a personal level right now.

I began this argument by saying I agreed with Parker & Stone and the way they handled the censorship the network heavies threw at them. When the residents of South Park, CO are trying to decide how to let the terrorists know that they didn’t see the offensive “Mohammed with a football” cartoon, one person suggests they all put their heads in the sand. That way they couldn’t have seen it. Unfortunately, that’s often reflective of the Christian response as well. “Na-Na-Na. If I don’t see you then you’re not there” But Christ has called us to something greater.

One of the other South Park denizens, shocked at this response, shouts to those around him, “Freedom of speech is at stake here, don’t you all see? If anything, we should all make cartoons of Muhammad and show the terrorists and the extremists that we are all united in the belief that every person has a right to say what they want.

“Look, people, it’s been really easy for us to stand up for free speech lately. For the past few decades, we haven’t had to risk anything to defend it. One of those times is right now. And if we aren’t willing to risk what we have now, then we just believe in free speech, but won’t defend it.”

The problem many Christians have is that they want to defend THEIR right to free speech and freedom of religion, but not allow anyone else a say. If we are truly American Christians, then we should honor this great land we live in by defending free speech – everyone’s free speech, whether we agree with them or not. That means we should also embrace the freedom of the United States and allow for the opinions of crazy, offensive cartoon makers, the women’s NOW movement, Planned Parenthood, PAX Christi, and NBC, just as much as we allow for The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, Focus on the Family, Liberty University, and the PAX Network. Or we allow that no-one’s freedoms are safe and admit that we have no argument against being limited in our religious activity, because we want to limit others.

You see, I don’t always agree with South Park. Okay, the fact is, I’ve seen maybe a handful of episodes in the last 10 years. I think quite often the show is offensive – to many parties. But I understand that to live in a country where I want to worship freely, I have to be willing to let them worship freely too, whether they’re worshipping Allah, Bhudda, Krishna, Television or the almighty dollar. And I think Christ allows for this freedom, too. Don’t misunderstand – there is only ONE way to eternal life, and that way is through Christ. However, Jesus allows the people he created to worship and serve whomever they want, with no restrictions – that’s called free will. Are there consequences? Of course, but there’s consequences for Believers, too. And forgive me for thinking that maybe we should learn to live with them. They include persecution, having the world hate you because you love Him, the requirement of witnessing, always having an answer ready when anyone asks where your hope comes from, doubt, and the occasional afternoon snack for a lion. They also include a greater understanding of the world beyond our world, the freedom of knowing you live in grace and can respond to Christ’s love with acts of service because of that grace, faith that gets you through the troubling times, belief that outweighs the doubt, and finally, getting to spend eternity exploring all of the uncharted facets of Christ’s love in an ongoing, never ending or dissolving relationship with the person who created you to be exactly who you are.

And finally, before you click that almighty comment button (assuming you’ve actually read this far), consider one more passage from the Book of James, “My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.”

The Dumbing Down of Christianity

I get a weekly newsletter from a website called SermonCentral.com.  I’ve found it very helpful at times to use the site to search for older and varied sermons on a variety of topics in church life and the Bible.

Of course, right now, the hot topic is the book The DaVinci Code and the upcoming film adaptation.  A few weeks ago, in KeyWords, Managing Editor Robin Parrish noted that Grace Hill Media had created a site called The DaVinci Challenge that welcomed a number of major Christian thinkers to talk about what was right and wrong about the story as well as discuss the proper weight to give the discussion and how Christians should react.  The writers list on the site continues to expand, including such top minds as Lee Strobel (The Case for Christ), William David Romanowski (Eyes Wide Open), Larry Poland (MasterMedia International), Richard Mouw (Fuller Theological Seminary), Mark Mittelberg (Becoming a Contagious Christian), religion reporter/professor Terry Mattingly, Robert Johnston (Finding God in the Movies), singer/songwriter Gloria Gaither, Craig Detweiler (BIOLA University), filmmaker Phil Cooke, Prison Ministry’s Chuck Colson, Tony Campolo (Speaking My Mind), David Bruce (HollywoodJesus.com), Darrell Bock (Dallas Theological Seminary), pollster George Barna, and a handful of other Catholic and Ancient Christian History experts.  Oh, yeah, then there’s Josh McDowell, who I consider to be a significant voice in Christian thought.  But then Josh wrote this letter that’s contained in this week’s Sermon Central newsletter.

It’s Part I of the website’s “Decoding Da Vinci” series of resources, and it basically is there to promote Josh’s latest book, The Da Vinci Code – A Quest for Answers, and his evangelistic “Companion Guide” to The DaVinci Code.  I’m not even going to comment on the fact that these, along with a half-dozen other “limited edition resources,” are being marketed to Christians who have no idea what they believe – I’m just going to ask you to think about how much better this money could have been spent educating our fellowship in the first place rather than doing a knee-jerk reaction to some false testimony – in the form of a work of FICTION.

No, what really irks me, and I think should you too, is this line from Josh’s letter: “Imagine one of your parents or youth watching the movie… he or she will probably not be able to distinguish where facts end and fiction takes off.“  You see, at first I was a little annoyed that Josh would presume that even the adults in our churches cannot tell the truth from a lie.  Then I considered it a moment longer.

I also get a newsletter from a company called The Barna Group.  (Yeah, my inbox is never empty…) It’s headed by George Barna (mentioned above) and it does research solely on people’s beliefs.  In survey after survey since the Group started tracking trends, fewer and fewer people outside of the church know what the people inside the church believe or why.  What’s worse, he’s also seen that the people in the church are progressively losing track of who they are, what they believe and why it might matter.  In fact, the people inside the church are forgetting (or never learning) their beliefs at a much higher rate than outside its walls.  And I challenge anyone who thinks we live in a “Christian” country to read their research and tell me just how that Christianity that the majority of Americans supposedly hold to is defined.

So rather than being upset with Josh for understanding the world we live in – beleivers and non-believers alike, perhaps I should take his words to heart and publicize his 164-page personal Da Vinci Code research notes for more people to read.

The truth is easy to learn – it takes reading the single most important source for all of Christian thought – THE BIBLE.  The more you are exposed to God’s truth, the less likely you are to get confused when a lie is presented to you.  As Josh sums up later in the letter, “Truth is our friend. True historical data holds no skeletons for belief. But you want to look for answers in history, not fiction.”  Amen, brother.

Off on a Tangent

I was going through some old music last week, working on a project for the worship team for my church’s Good Friday service. I wanted to experiment with an old song by Petra, titiled, “It Is Finished.” After scouring through way too many CD’s, I located Beat The System, and went to work. After reviewing the song a few times, I just let the CD player keep going while I was making notes. First, it amazed me that the music didn’t sound quite as dated as I had expected. This is probably why Petra was popular in their heyday (the band just retired after 33 years of making music). When the rest of Christian music was 5-10 years behind the current trends, it was refreshing to catch a group that was only a couple years behind, or that had a solid sound that transcended trends. Anyway, as the CD played a song came on that I hadn’t listened to in years. What struck me is how relevant the song is with some of the things happening in the church these days, whether it’s Harry Potter, POD, Left Behind, Politics or even Brokeback Mountain. The remarkable thing is that the song was written and recorded 22 years ago, in 1984. I think you’ll see what I mean, whether you agree with me or not as I quote the lyrics:

Witch Hunt
(Bob Hartman)

Everybody look! There’s a new bandwagon in town
Hop on board and let the wind carry you around
Seems like there’s not enough to keep us busy
’til the Lord comes back
Don Quixote’s gotta have another windmill to attack

We’re on another Witch Hunt

Looking for evil wherever we can find it
Off on a tangent, hope the Lord won’t mind it
Another Witch Hunt,

Takin’ a break from all our gospel labors
We’re on a crusade but we forgot our saber
Witch Hunt

There’s a new way to spend all our energies
We’re up in arms, instead of down on our knees
Walkin’ over dollars, trying to find another dime
Never mind the souls, ’cause we really haven’t got the time

We’re on another Witch Hunt

Looking for evil wherever we can find it
Off on a tangent, hope the Lord won’t mind it
Another Witch Hunt,

Takin’ a break from all our gospel labors
We’re on a crusade but we forgot our saber
Witch Hunt

So send out the dogs and tally ho!
Before we sleep tonight, we’ve got miles to go
No one is safe, no stone’s left unturned
And we won’t stop until somebody gets burned
Bro Bro Bro Bro Bro Bro Brothers

Another Witch Hunt

Looking for evil wherever we can find it
Off on a tangent, hope the Lord won’t mind it
Another Witch Hunt,

Takin’ a break from all our gospel labors
We’re on a crusade but we forgot our saber
Witch Hunt

So what do you think? Have we gotten too far away from the true purpose of Christianity by involving ourselves in some of these causes, or are is it part of our Christian mission to protect our kids, our churches, our country from the evils we percieve? Or is the answer somewhere in-between? I await your responses.

Please note: Unless they’re downright rude, all comments will be posted – the system just going through changes and flagging most comments before they get posted.

When Does the Temple Become a Den of Thieves?

A recent entry into Robin Parrish’s Keywords has sparked quite a debate on the site about Christian retailing and marketing. The storm started when Robin posted a link to Rik Swartzwelder’s film, The McPassion. Rik’s site has garnered quite a bit of response as well, but I want to focus on the comments our readers made. 1. That’ll hopefully be of more interest to you, 2. They bring up a number of good points, and 3. There’s a whole lot fewer of them…

First I want to address whether or not the film was meant to or does mock Jesus’ suffering and crucifixion or the debt He paid for us. Even if Swartzwelder wasn’t a believer himself, I would have to say no. The film doesn’t even touch on the crucifixion – just the marketing of Christian concepts and traditions. To be honest, the film is just as respectful of Christ’s passion as the toy marketing tie-ins are to the films and TV shows they are based on. Does anyone remember the old Kenner Star Wars commercials? The McPassion definitely draws from that. Do the kids playing the roles think they are mocking the crucifixion? I doubt it. To be honest, those kids are still learning what this whole church thing is about, not realizing that The Eucharist is Christ’s body (in some churches – there are those that say it’s only representative of it – but that’s a discussion for another day). It’s a sad commentary when you look back and realize that in Jesus’ day, Jewish kids had the Torah – the first five books of the Bible – memorized by rote by the time they were 8 or 9, and we have high school kids “raised in the church” that have no idea who Moses even is, outside of the Ten Commandments. Even sadder is the sobering truth that The McPassion, rather than mocking the crucifixion, is actually pointing out how our consumerized “faith” is the real source of the mockery of Christ’s sacrifice.

Steve Hill comments that the film’s, “got some witnessing potential.” Was he paying attention? This is the same attitude that drags friends to see the Left Behind films and Christian concerts, buys Testa-mints and Bible gum, and wears T-Shirts that are witness wear, hoping that by exposing his friends and coworkers to shades and shadows of Jesus, they will suddenly come to a realization of their need for salvation, rather than taking the time to develop a relationship that might lead someone to start asking questions and offer an opportunity to give witness to the hope that we have. Nope, we’d rather offer them a Bible verse stamped onto a piece of candy or gum with a tract instead of Bazooka Joe.

And speaking of tracts, I just had to share this image, downloaded directly from Chick Publications website. No time to witness? Just haven’t got the time to invest in a real relationship with a fellow human being who believes differently than you – or to even find out if he might agree with you? Worry no more! Let our slightly inaccurate and dogmatically twisted theology do the witnessing for you! Christianity’s version of Rocky & Bullwinkle’s Fairly Fractured Fairy Tales. Brother – are you saved? (And, no, Catholics don’t qualify, says Jack Chick)

Ryan at Media Green House has a lot to say. His first question is a valid one. Well, at first. He asks, “How can we spend all of our time talking about how judgmental and greedy, backbiting and fake the church is and expect them to accept the Gospel which established it.” Well, first, we shouldn’t be spending all of our time doing that, and I’m pretty sure those of us who do point it out have time for other things, but unless I misread the Bible, we are to point out each others missteps and sins, in an effort to help them get back on the right path. I know I don’t point out how horrible and hypocritical the church sometimes is in an effort to make them feel bad or turn people off to the church. Rather, I am worried about exactly the same thing Ryan is – perceptions. The fact is, people aren’t stupid. Well, as a whole, people have some sense. No one’s fooling anyone with the big hair and the King James language. When the church does things wrong, whether its Catholic priests abusing altar boys or brycreem prophets lining their own pockets, all the misdirection in the world only goes so far. People see the truth for what it is – isn’t that what we keep preaching? That people will see the truth and the truth will set them free? So which is worse, shoving all of our faults and wrongdoings under the carpet until the light of truth exposes them – as the Bible says it will – and looking like we’re all lying to the rest of the world, or admitting that ALL have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God? Guess what – the world will see it anyways and which approach might lead them to trust the Gospel more – Christians collectively defying it’s preaching for the sake of appearances or Christians living out its principles, even when we have to admit that we’ve screwed it up too? Ryan himself repeats this theory in a later comment, talking about Jesus and the moneychangers. He says Jesus was angry because there were, “Essentially people doing things appearing to be righteous and yet being morally corrupt.” Hmmm.

Ryan also has something to say about large budget films (do we have any of those in Christendom?). First he points out that people can’t believe who haven;t heard. I agree with him there. Where we diverge however, is in our approach. Ryan states, “We live in a time like none other where the message can be preached to a larger audience than ever before…” Yeah, that doesn’t work. Believe me when I say this, because I thought this was the case for a long time. I believed that I was called into an artistic ministry and that television and films have the power to reach millions for Christ. I was/am called into an artistic ministry. However, what I have come to understand, through God’s leading, is that His gospel was not meant to be preached to a mass audience. DON’T MISUNDERSTAND ME. The Gospel should and must be told to anyone who has ears to hear. However, God’s mission and intent has always been to use individuals to reach individuals. Most people have never seen what happens behind the scenes at a Billy Graham Crusade. ONE YEAR prior to the Crusade’s visit to a community, people from the ministry arrive and start laying the groundwork. They talk to the churches, building a joint ministry within a ministry, preparing for the “main event.” Except that Billy’s preaching isn’t the main event, either. After the Crusade – for up to five years, members of Graham’s staff stay in the area, doing follow up, helping the churches they prepared to continue touching the lives of the people who came to Christ during the Crusade. You see, when Billy or Franklin preach, people have an emotional reaction. Like buying a car or television, that fervor wanes a day or two after the acquisition and the person wonders what they were thinking. They must be ministered to the next day, week, month or year, when the emotional cools and the logical considers the decision. The most successful mass media ministry on the planet knows that one on one ministry and witnessing is the only way people move from darkness to light, from emotions to true belief. One on one.

Ryan has many more thoughts on this phenomenon. He writes, “Like it or not, the church is the bride and we’re told to love it.” Yes, but loving is NOT accepting. Loving is understanding where someone is and wanting something better for them. A parent will not let their child sin because they love them. No, Love is when they discipline and admonish their children for doing wrong.

Ryan continues, “The Word is still the Word even if shrink wrapped and sold at a Walmart. Is the good news less potent printed on food packaging. Because it’s not bound in a leather book and read at church with solomn tones, does that make it untrustworthy. If we can’t get the truth out using the mediums provided for us, then how should we?” Absolutely, the Word is still the Word, but you HAVE to wonder how people could trust their whole lives to something that the “true believers” believe is SO TRIVIAL that they stamp it on breath mints. Who gives a … what Jesus would eat – let’s talk about something real – what did Jesus preach? When did he get the most angry? Who did he come down on most? Oh, yes, the religious leaders of the day. I could go more into this, but instead, I’ll just refer you to a previous blog post here. And as to using the mediums provided for us, I have to ask – who provided the mediums? I’m pretty sure God hasn’t been sitting up in Heaven all this time going, “I’m witholding judgement until they can figure out this whole celluloid film thing so they can really get my message to the masses. Oh, yes, breath mints would be nice, too.”

I have to admit, I found some of Ryan’s reasoning amusing. Not to poke fun at him, but there are times that he doesn’t realize what he doesn’t realize. For example, he says, “The example given in this film discredits all christian ‘marketing’ with a strawman.” Why do I find this statement to be ironic? Well, let’s explore.

The Straw Man fallacy is committed when a person simply ignores a person’s actual position and substitutes a distorted, exaggerated or misrepresented version of that position. This sort of “reasoning” has the following pattern:

1. Person A has position X.
2. Person B presents position Y (which is a distorted version of X).
3. Person B attacks position Y.
4. Therefore X is false/incorrect/flawed.

This sort of “reasoning” is fallacious because attacking a distorted version of a position simply does not constitute an attack on the position itself. One might as well expect an attack on a poor drawing of a person to hurt the person.

In case you missed it, Ryan doesn’t like what the filmmakers are saying so he sets up a straw man argument against The McPassion by calling it a straw man argument. The McPassion doesn’t discredit all Christian marketing – it just pokes fun at our misguided attempts to, oh, I don’t know, be like the world?

Then Ryan goes a little sideways on us… “Perhaps The Passion of the Christ made too much money, perhaps some of the merchandise was in poor taste, perhaps it made Mel a very rich man. But I do know this, it communicated the love of God, it was of exceptional caliber, it showed that the Gospel message isn’t lame and shouldn’t be apologized for, and it fullfilled God’s promise that those who sow much will reap much, let’s pray that Mel sows more.” Oookay… I don’t see anywhere where any of the filmmakers said or implied that The Passion of The Christ made too much money. No, that honor would be to the two writers who re-titled their modern day Noah story, “The Passion of the Ark,” and sold it for millions of dollars. You can see it in theatres next summer, under the title Evan Almighty – re-worked as a sequel to Bruce Almighty I have no problem with Mel making a lot of money off of the film, either. He took the risks and he reaps the reward. God’s laws work on earth as well as in Heaven.

Enough about Ryan (for now). Loretta has some interesting thoughts. She writes, “I realize that without the marketing, not as many people would buy the product, be it movie, music or books and if someone is not going to make money off it – then it probably won’t get off the ground. But at the same time, if this marketing does get some people to watch, listen or read something that they wouldn’t normally have heard about, and that this could bring them closer to a relationship with Christ, it could be a good thing. Also without big money, (productions such as Narnia), you get low budget result like the Left Behind movie, which wasn’t good enough to show in a theater.”

There’s only one problem with this theory. Before a little film came out in the late 70′s, there really was no marketing or tie-ins for films. George Lucas & Star Wars changed the face of movie-making. And at the time, it was barely more than an independent film. In the old days, before film budgets became bloated, movies could and were made without merchandising – which is different than marketing. Merchandising is the toys and the corporate tie-ins and the kids meal treats. That has – in theory – nothing to do with the Marketing, which is the money that goes for trailers, posters, TV commercials, standees, special marquee inserts, etc. Box Office Mojo tracks this expense seperately from the cost of making the film. Merchandising is also seperate from the cost of the film. In fact, the movie-makers don’t usually have any expense in this area, and they usually do not reap the rewards, either – the studios generally get that money and use it to finance movies like Closetland that are not going to make a lot of money at the box office. Merchandisers (Hasbro, McDonalds, Pepsi) pay for the right to use movie images and ideas in and on their products to increase their sales of items like Happy Meals. It is, in their opinion, a win-win, because they movie gets added exposure from the merchandising and movie fans buy the products because of their novelty. There are exceptions to this of course. One could say (and many have) that the G.I. Joe and Transformers shows are merely 1/2 hour commercials for toys. But the discussion of whether or not that can be good art is one I’ll tackle another time. I also should point out that many movies have done very well at the box office without tie-ins and merchandising – or even much marketing. Blair Witch is the best example of this concept. Also, marketing and merchandising have little to nothing to do with the film’s budget. The people who bankroll the movies do that. The fact is, Narnia was well-made because Phillip Anschwitz chose to team up with Disney so they could throw $180-million into making the movie. Mel Gibson poured $30-million of his own money into making The Passion of the Christ. Left Behind was a poor movie for a variety of reasons, but part of it was the $17.4 (or $14.7, depending on whose figures you trust) million budget. And that doesn’t take into account the variety of Left Behind: The Movie related dreck that came out. So merchandising can’t really save a film.

I’m hesitant to react to aige_michelle’s comments, because, as I pointed out on the comment board, she has repeated the same comment almost verbatim 3 or 4 times, but she does have one comment I agree with strongly. “We miss so much when we make it about the stuff.” Too true.

Oh, and there’s a final shot from Ryan. He agrees (now) with Michelle’s comment, “I can see how that kind of marketing can turn sacred or good things into a formulaic semi-religion, where as Christians we’re content with buying the stuff rather than using the stuff as a tool to point to the real object of our faith.”

I would say that as American Christians, were FAR too content to buy the stuff, wear the stuff, parade the stuff and give away the stuff than… Well, I’m sorry, but I still believe that most Christian merchandising is a poor excuse for not witnessing one on one – and I suck at this too. The stuff cannot be a goos tool to point to the real object of our faith, because if we were really paying attention closely to the object, or rather the person of our faith, we’d know the stuff isn’t it. If He calls our righteousness dirty rags, how little must he think of our “witness wear” that allows us to abdicate the responsibility of actually getting to know the people He loves – in and out of the Body of Christ. I’m sure He cares about our personal hygiene (I really do), but I think he’d rather we popped a life saver and built a relationship with someone, then spend the money wasted to print crosses and Scripture verses on candy to buy some real food for the hungry.

One final caveat I’ll throw out here, though. I have no problem whatsoever with people earning an honest day’s wages for their work, regardless of what that work is. If they are a salesman, marketer, merchandiser or whatever, they deserve to be compensated for their time and effort, just like pastors, policemen, secretaries and grocery store clerks. If an artist is commissioned for his work, he should get paid that commission. The standard we are held to, though, should be much more than what the world expects. After all, we are NOT of this world.

Update: Dr. Terry Mattingly’s column this week has some background on what Schwarzwelder was thinking and reacting to when he made the movie