Sermon Series Videos
This is a link to my Vimeo page. The last 6 videos posted are for a sermon series at FBC Hayden, AL
Subtlety is Key (How to market christian movies)
There are many variables that are involved in determining whether or not a film will be successful at the box office. This ranges from marketability to target audience age to the number of theaters that a movie will premiere in. With most christian movies the target audience is already assumed. The movie is to be targeted towards christians. This is where the movie fails in both ability to do well at the box office and in delivering the main message of the movie. As christians if we are called to make disciples of all nations then shouldn’t our movie be marketed towards non-christians?
Bruce Almighty and Amazing Grace both do a good job of being marketed to a more mainstream audience than say The Left Behind series or Fireproof. Not to say that those movie don’t have a good message or try to be marketed towards more than just christians but the way these movies are presented almost handicap themselves as far as general audiences go. Bruce Almighty found its way into general audience theaters by showing almost a satirical view of christianity that still presented the viewer with a good christian message. Amazing Grace proves to be a great period piece that just happens to have its roots in christianity.
Both of these movies do a great job of showing aspects of christianity without explaining them or spelling them out for the viewer. In other movies you find characters presenting the gospel as almost a sales pitch that seems almost overdone. However, the message is delivered much more effectively in a subtle way. This allows the viewer to draw their own conclusions about what a movie is saying as well as not offending those who feel like christianity is constantly shoved down their throats.
What are your intensions with my congregation?
As Christians we are encouraged to see people for who they are, and to assume that others are being authentic with us. We are encouraged to treat others with respect and in a manner that we would want to be treated. But then how do when situations arise where individuals turn out to be less than truthful about who they are and their intentions towards you and others. This is seen from time to time. Pastors realize there is money to be made as an evangelist and decide that they can tell people the wonderful news about Jesus. Sure theses people can do some good as their are many decision made for Christ. But how long do these decisions stick in these new believers lives. This is another topic for another day. But most well intentioned pastors invite new believers to get involved in their local church whereas those in it for less admirable purposes seem to gloss over some of the important issues.
In the 1960 film, Elmer Gantry, we see a man that has picked up on the perks of being a televangelist and decides it sounds like a pretty good gig. Gantry’s intentions are also corrupted by his infatuation for Sister Sharon Falconer. Gantry’s intentions were not as they appeared to the others who were more interested in telling the people about Jesus. This is still seen today. And while it was possible for good to come out of such scenarios, one has to wonder how an individual lives with themselves knowing that they have deceived everyone around them. It comes down to an ethical question. Is it okay to lie to a group of people about your intentions as long as the message you preach is good. And the answer is no. Those who deliver these messages under false pretenses need to take a deep look and listen to their own words that they preach to the public.
On the flip side is it okay to deliver a message that has good intentions but is untruthful about the messenger. We see this in the case of Fake Sharon. Here we see that someone is using a fake twitter to at first be funny and satirical about Christianity. Then the twitter account began getting into real messages and having its own voice. I believe that this is a case in which it is okay because Boyd the owner of the twitter account did not create the fake identity with bad intensions. And later he told who he was and why he created Fake Sharon. Because Fake Sharon began as a satirical twitter account and Boyd was in no way trying to be deceptive it is perfectly fine.
Media & Religion 