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March Poll

Posted by Adam Terrell at 08:14 AM on March 31, 2009

Should Christians be Involved in Hollywood?

Answer	Votes (45)
Yes	93% (42 votes)
No	7% (3 votes)

Does no one who visits here know why this Web site exists? Apparently, only three people do. Here is a clue for the rest of you: Christian movies. Does Hollywood make these any more? With increasingly rare exceptions, it does not. Why should Christians be helping to make self-proclaimed, anti-God manufacturing companies wealthy and be cutting their own paychecks from it?

Here's a quote from Lance Wilder, an animator for the TV show "The Simpsons:"

"...[O]ne of the things I love about good television and good film-making, whether it is animated or not, is just working with so many wonderful talented people who care about doing something here in Hollywood that has some benefit for people[,] and certainly if Christians with good values abandon this place, just like any other business, you are going to get garbage."

I agree with Mr. Wilder's last statement. I also think even more so than that. I think you will get garbage when Christians are not the leaders. When the Christians no longer have say over what is produced, destruction inevitably lies ahead. Soddom was condemned even with a few believers still remaining.

While certain people have good intentions, that does not mean the whole institution is now justfiable. I think a highly similar parallel is the government schools. There are Christian teachers who are wonderful people and want to influence people for Christ. I personally know people who do so, but that is not enough for home-educating parents to send away their children to the public schools now. I have nothing against the people themselves. My problem is with their methods.

Therefore, we Christians should leave these institutions and let God deal with them now that we are removed from them as Soddom. We are no longer trying to save the public school system; we're leaving altogether. This is what I suggest we do with Hollywood.

In Christ,

Adam

Categories: Personal

8 Comments

Reply AM

09:32 PM on March 31, 2009

A few nits to pick.
one of the valid definitions of "hollywood" is "the film industry of the united states" in which case I believe most people voted in general agreement with you.

Also, you seem to be taking a somewhat isolationist position. Although it isn't our job to "save the world" I disagree with your statement about the public school system. Christians should be trying to change the public school system. Not only because of our moral ideals but because of the plain fact that we are tax payers and fund the public school system. If you can't stop funding it, then do your best to change the nature of what you are funding.

Just some thoughts.

Reply Adam Terrell

09:54 PM on March 31, 2009

Yes, I understand why everyone may have voted that way, but I did say Hollywood. I mean the institution itself - red carpets, the Oscars, et cetera. I definitely think we should be involved in the media.

I don't quite see what you mean by "save the world." I'm guessing you don't mean evangelize.

I do see that the puclic schools are not a perfect parallel in every way. I think it is time we pulled out of Hollywood. Hollywood is not funded forcibly as with taxes, but willingly with ticket and DVD sales. If Christians remove themselves from it, it will go bankrupt. The schools were bankrupt a long time ago, and they show no signs of ending.

The difference is between trying to change it from the top down versus from the bottom up. Christians must be the leaders in the schools to change things. We could take Hollywood back if we held all of the top positions, but that is not likely since it is so anti-God, which is just like the school system.

How far do you go to pull a failing institution back up. If there were a photography group that fell into shooting pornography, would you get a job from them so you could witness to the rest and pull it out of that situation? That was what the animator on the Sompsons was doing. He's helping this show make one of the most popular, anti-Christians shows a success! I know this is an extreme example, but it's to make you think how deep should we dive in to save others? I think Hollywood is too deep. Have you seen SAW V lately?

Reply Adam Terrell

09:59 PM on March 31, 2009

Kirk Camern can't even get an acting job because he's a strong Christian. How on earth is a director or writer supposed to get in if we can't get in at the basic levels.

Most teacher's hands are tied in some way. They can't talk about religion and such, teach Creationism, and so on. The movie, "End of the Spear" is a good example. It had a great original message, but when Hollywood was done "marketing" it and funding it and getting it in theaters, you come out without a single mention of Jesus, much less the gospel.

Fireproof was the #1 independent movie of 2008. It's not exactlylike we need Hollywood anyway.

Reply Allison

04:33 PM on April 01, 2009

I voted no but my thoughts are yes they should make christian films NO they should not be involved in movies the completely contridict the Bible.

Reply AM

08:47 PM on April 01, 2009

I'm kinda curious, suppose through some strange something or other a "Christian" movie was awarded an oscar (or nominated for one or whatever, I'm foggy about how this entire institution works), would you accept the award?

Also, suppose for some reason a Christian director were offered a position in "Hollywood" directing a movie which would not go contrary to their beliefs? Would it be reasonable for them to "involve" themselves in hollywood?

I suppose I advocate a more passive approach. I don't see on what basis Christians are to write off hollywood as a "lost cause". There are definitely more favorable and profitable areas in which Christians can invest their efforts and time. But opportunities are possible, I believe Christians should take them.

Kinda on a tangent... I find it kinda interesting how there is a "Christian sub-culture" developing. We have our own versions of all kinds of stuff, and we love to rate it separately. The Christian music industry is quite popular, but generally sub-par as far as quality goes. What are your opinions?

Reply Adam Terrell

11:25 AM on April 02, 2009

Yes, that would be strange. The Oscars have always been so political, I don't think it's currently possible for that. I think I would not accept it if that's possible to do. It's like being endorsed by the very thing you're going against. My mom wouldn't accept a public school award for being "Teacher of the Year" because we've specifically chosen not to be a part of that system.

I think he should take the job it if he is not having to compromise any beliefs or his reputation in any way. If Hollywood wants to hand us leadership spots on a silver platter where we could change things in a major way, I think we should accept it, but we should be wary and not get surreptitiously drawn into any kind of favor trap. Christians in the leadership spots are the main idea of the Christian film movement. We're not getting in at the basic levels in Hollywood currently, so it's certainly not humanly possible to get leadership spots without compromise. God could redeem the institution an inch from the cliff, however.

Hollywood may very well see its predicament and come back without our help. But I don't think we should be inside the burning building, helping people until it blows up. We would be gone too.

Sub-cultures in this situation are good. I personally don't care for the music part of most of the "Christian" sub-culture (if that much of it can be called Christian), but the film industry is trying to shake off all bad influences. Large parts of the Christian music industry have embraced many bad influences to remain popular. Fireproof didn't go with the flow of Hollywood to make it marketable, and God blessed it in His approval of this.