A different pespective on an ongoing debate
Copyright 2015 Theresa Harvard Johnson
I received major chastisement from the Lord last week. I found myself jumping on the band wagon about how bad the quality of “Christian movies” are and how they should be better or as good as Hollywood. You know the drill.
You see, Father has raised me in Him to be an exhorter of present day scribes, a mother and mentor in the spirit realm to many – especially as it relates to strengthening them in the calling upon their lives. I find myself standing at the starting lines with pom-poms all the time shouting: YOU CAN DO IT! But this recent realization, left me standing fully repentant. I firmly believe that God has a purpose for every called scribe; and that we, as a body of believers, should do what we can to encourage everyone at all times — no matter what the small beginning might look like. So it became official, I am no longer a part of the “Christian film-killing” bandwagon. This is why.
1 Thessalonians 5:11, “Therefore, encourage each other, and build each other up — just as you are doing.”
My words and my thoughts concerning the Christian movie making were very critical, judgmental – not edifying. Listen, before you dismiss this message hear me out – I beg you. I know this is my experience that I am sharing, but I also believe God is standing with me in this experience.
First, this post is not about whether a movie is poor quality or high quality. Some movies are indeed better put together than others. It is our response to what is released that I hope we can examine – at least in a general sense. We all know that there are movies that are of lower quality than others. What I failed to acknowledge and appreciate in the midst of this was that every vision for a film, in the heart of a sincere believer, starts with a dream placed inside them by God – and we must always remember that with many dreams there are humble and small beginnings.
Some of the most wonderful inventions we are taking part in today began with a not-so-wonderful beginning – captured by limited knowledge, skill, support and resources. In light of this discussion, this can be amplified with movie making. In the midst of being righteously convicted concerning my response, this was one of the first truths the Lord revealed to me. Degrading or killing the first “effort” is as good as killing that small beginning.
The Lord went so far as to remind me of the very first book I published — a collection of poetry. It was so, so far from great! BUT IT WAS MINE! It was a dream held in my heart that seemed impossible. I WAS THE FIRST IN MY FAMILY TO PUBLISH A BOOK, and in my eyes and those who loved me — it was beautiful. And guess what else, it was also a seed.
Yes, a seed.
Listen, I did some in-depth research on the development of motion pictures here in the United States. While its beginnings are indeed secular, all the efforts began with seeds. The history of the motion picture industry here in the United States spans about 160 years. It’s technological peak hit between 1948 and 1960 – without color television, and very few channels. Commonly called the Golden Age, this time period in history saw extensive technological and well as industry advances. Stars were born as we have come to know the term. The industry was dominated by three television networks and the “emerging” motion picture industry had very little competition. People of God, when we consider 1960 as a peak – we are only looking at 55 years from then until now that gives us a framework for “television and motion pictures.” I’d say we have come an extraordinarily long way in a very short span of time.
Note that during this time, there was some programming that was Christian but it was not wide-spread like we see it today. Though there were critical films released that spread the Gospel message, they were far and few in-between and produced primarily by the growing motion picture industry – at their leisure. Remember, we are speaking of television and the motion picture industry – not radio. Now listen to this, it has only been in the last 25 years or so that we have seen an explosion in Christian television programming and motion pictures. Today, we have more Christian television and film networks popping up than we can count.
And I assure you, some of them didn’t start off with the level of excellence in presentation that we see today. There is always a beginning – especially for those that do not have the resources, experience, networks and skill that Hollywood has brokered over the years.
With so young a history, wouldn’t you think it might take more time to strengthen those who are radical about their faith to move to the forefront? Remember, we must press pass denominations, doctrines, theology, finances, training, skills, etc. — a completely new paradigm for the technology, internet ready church. Most congregations are at a place of emerging in this area! From a prophetic perspective, the church as we know it is still in the dark ages “so-to-speak” in this area and those who are coming out have VERY FEW PLACES TO TURN FOR HELP OR SUPPORT THAT THEY CAN AFFORD to produce their God-given vision and dreams.
But the beauty here is that in God’s economy, these challenges are simply steps people take in fulfilling the dreams placed on the inside of them. While these films might be underpar “in comparison with Hollywood,” they are taking giant steps in the congregation of the people of the Lord that have never been taken before. We must at least acknowledge this truth.
Every artist or every person who creates has a place of beginning from which they launch. We must not despise this.
While Hollywood has had decades to prepare and strengthen itself, the Nehemiah’s among us often rise in the midst of Sanballats and Tobiahs. Even more so, it has only been since the surge of technology and the great testimonies of people like Tyler Perry that many believers can actually SEE that the dream Holy Spirit placed in their heart can actually be a reality! Within the BELIEVING community shouldn’t this count for something? Is this NOT what Father wants to happen?
Secondly, what was even more convicting was when the Lord stirred my Spirit with this question: “How dare you, Theresa, compare anything that I have given my people to Hollywood’s standard.”
Wow.
I realized that I was looking at Hollywood as my model for film perfection. I realized that I was perhaps mentoring or advising people who inwardly felt HOPELESS because of the standards they are presently unable to reach. I realized that in the Christian community at large, we have had very few role models and opportunities to breakthrough in this area with the kind of spiritual support needed for this kind of task. Yes, we can gain the skills but there is yet a spiritual dynamic that we cannot overlook.
In other words, I was being reminded that our standards – as a believing community – MUST be different from that Hollywood, not just regarding quality of a movie but our perception of the message, and the need for the message. Is not God able? Really consider this. In our humanity, we tend to measure everything by what other people are doing. That’s human nature. Either we can accept this aspect of our humanity and ignore the Christ perspective; or we can seek to attain a higher understanding in which God challenges us to have no respecter of persons (Romans 2:11; Acts 10:34); to not compare ourselves with others (2 Corinthians 10:12); and to not despise the day of small beginnings (Zechariah 4:10). We can also consider the value of encouragement and the role we play individually in helping others achieve their God-driven destinies in this area. We must ask the question: Have I done my part – prayer, intercession or some other means of support?
Before we cut down the dream next time, lean into the power of prayer. Call forth the destiny of scribes who are destined to transform the Christian film industry. These visionaries need our prayers more than ever. There are networks popping up to pray for Hollywood all over the place, and we need this. But what about the networks praying with the same ferver for those arising.
Listen, it is very difficult for me to believe that those who have produced what has been called poor films set out to spend thousands of dollars to produce sub-par work. It is more likely that they had a vision or dream to produce a film that they believed God placed in their heart. As a result, their entire walk has been one of pure faith and trust. Take a look of this list of Christian films produced over the years and what they earned in the box office. The least grossing film earned $90,000 in its lifespan whereas the top grossing film earned $370 million. While the former was not a success based on these figures, who is to say the vision was any less important if driven by the Lord?
Do we have the right, as a believing community to kill the dream regardless of whose it is? Do we have the right to stomp out hope and unleash buckets and buckets of discouragement? Do we have the right to be a part of the hecklers that instill fear — stomping on the dream? There has surely been some good dialogue, but most of what you find leans to the former.
Listen, this article is about what God did in my heart concerning this issue and my response. It caused me to repent, stop talking and to consider the “small beginning” as the Christian film industry continues to emerge. AND YES, it is STILL EMERGING. People of God, let’s STOP being so hard on ourselves, on others. Let’s STOP the comparison – which is a sin regardless of the circumstance. Let’s STOP competing with Hollywood, one another and focus on strengthening our camp by strengthening one another. Let’s keep those elements revealed in prayer before the Lord. Let’s exhort one another with access to the tools needed to rise up.
Let’s view this in light of God’s love. Let’s give others room to grow; not a grave to lie in. Remember, in the midst of killing Christian films, we run the risk of killing the “spirit” of people who have a sincere and legitimate call.
