THE FIRST AND LAST TEMPTATIONS---AND EVERYTHING IN-BETWEEN
There’s an ongoing petition urging Netflix to drop a comedy film that portrays a bumbling 30-year old coming home for the holidays where both he and the parents have a surprise for each other. The son wants them to meet his boyfriend and the parents want to tell him about his true identity. The idiot is Jesus and the parents are, well, you know who they are.
The producers defended the film as something that “values artistic freedom and humour through satire on the most diverse cultural themes of our society and believes that freedom of expression is an essential construction for a democratic country.” The defense begs the question: why do we seldom hear of similar endeavors involving other religious founders and leaders for diversity’s sake? The fact that these people know they can get away with it actually achieves unintentional affirmations and implicit acknowledgements to the faith they treat with as much respect as an old dishrag:
- That Jesus is the true God otherwise they won’t be making stuff that mocks and ridicules Him and only Him.
- That they understand they are safe in the hands of His followers. They know the most they can expect is a call for a boycott which fortunately for them, adds more world-street credence to them. Not only that, they can also rack up some points by dismissing it as homophobia. In today’s society, there is nothing worse than to be labeled as “intolerant”, “homophobe,” and “Islamophobe.”
For us, followers, to see our precious Savior mocked is sad, offensive, heartbreaking, and naturally, maddening but remember what our Lord Himself said: The world hates Him (John 15:18). Today than ever before, it’s not only fashionable but acceptable for the hate to be so much out in the open. So what are we to do? First of all, pray.
What makes me angry more than the blasphemous film is the vitriolic comments of Christians. And we wonder why the world enjoys ruffling our feathers? Leave the judgement to God who is not mocked (Gal. 6:7) and pray for those who persecute our faith (Mt. 5:44). Remember, they are not our enemies per se but the god of this world who has blinded them (2 Cor. 4:4). We do our Lord no service and favor by acting like 1/3 of the angels. Let us instead keep ourselves busy doing His work. Instead of just showing the world what we are against, let us demonstrate what we are for. Too often, we are known for what we don’t like---smut, violence, homosexuality, abortion, etc. And it is good that the world knows what we stand against but let them also know what we stand for---compassion, mercy, justice, etc. so that we don’t come off as a community that has only a set of don’ts.
Boycott if you must but try not to be so vocal about it. Starting and joining a petition and calling others to sign as well is a two-edged sword. Yes, we are warning others about this film but at the same time, we are also promoting it. Good or bad, it is still publicity for the producers. I wouldn’t have heard of the film if it weren’t for the boycott call. I realize I might be contradicting myself by writing this piece but I do not write solely in regard to it but for all that will come after and believe me, there will be others. I don’t have to remind you that this is hardly the first blasphemous film. Personally, I’d rather be quiet and let it just die a natural death among forgotten films. “The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever.” (Isa. 40:8 NLT)
There’s an ongoing petition urging Netflix to drop a comedy film that portrays a bumbling 30-year old coming home for the holidays where both he and the parents have a surprise for each other. The son wants them to meet his boyfriend and the parents want to tell him about his true identity. The idiot is Jesus and the parents are, well, you know who they are.
The producers defended the film as something that “values artistic freedom and humour through satire on the most diverse cultural themes of our society and believes that freedom of expression is an essential construction for a democratic country.” The defense begs the question: why do we seldom hear of similar endeavors involving other religious founders and leaders for diversity’s sake? The fact that these people know they can get away with it actually achieves unintentional affirmations and implicit acknowledgements to the faith they treat with as much respect as an old dishrag:
- That Jesus is the true God otherwise they won’t be making stuff that mocks and ridicules Him and only Him.
- That they understand they are safe in the hands of His followers. They know the most they can expect is a call for a boycott which fortunately for them, adds more world-street credence to them. Not only that, they can also rack up some points by dismissing it as homophobia. In today’s society, there is nothing worse than to be labeled as “intolerant”, “homophobe,” and “Islamophobe.”
For us, followers, to see our precious Savior mocked is sad, offensive, heartbreaking, and naturally, maddening but remember what our Lord Himself said: The world hates Him (John 15:18). Today than ever before, it’s not only fashionable but acceptable for the hate to be so much out in the open. So what are we to do? First of all, pray.
What makes me angry more than the blasphemous film is the vitriolic comments of Christians. And we wonder why the world enjoys ruffling our feathers? Leave the judgement to God who is not mocked (Gal. 6:7) and pray for those who persecute our faith (Mt. 5:44). Remember, they are not our enemies per se but the god of this world who has blinded them (2 Cor. 4:4). We do our Lord no service and favor by acting like 1/3 of the angels. Let us instead keep ourselves busy doing His work. Instead of just showing the world what we are against, let us demonstrate what we are for. Too often, we are known for what we don’t like---smut, violence, homosexuality, abortion, etc. And it is good that the world knows what we stand against but let them also know what we stand for---compassion, mercy, justice, etc. so that we don’t come off as a community that has only a set of don’ts.
Boycott if you must but try not to be so vocal about it. Starting and joining a petition and calling others to sign as well is a two-edged sword. Yes, we are warning others about this film but at the same time, we are also promoting it. Good or bad, it is still publicity for the producers. I wouldn’t have heard of the film if it weren’t for the boycott call. I realize I might be contradicting myself by writing this piece but I do not write solely in regard to it but for all that will come after and believe me, there will be others. I don’t have to remind you that this is hardly the first blasphemous film. Personally, I’d rather be quiet and let it just die a natural death among forgotten films. “The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever.” (Isa. 40:8 NLT)