If I go, I know I will laugh. I will laugh at things that are meant to be funny but which are actually dead serious. Only later will I realize what I’ve done. The genre of film will reduce my defenses and allow me to laugh at things that may be blasphemous or vulgar or otherwise unbiblical.

This is an excellent point Tim. It always bugs me when Hollywood does a Bible movie because they are never completely true to the Word.

Josh”…the word of God is not bound.”—2 Timothy 2:9

I have to admit that I watched and enjoyed “Bruce Almighty.” I wish I had some way to excuse myself, but I don’t. Now, of course, I feel incredibly guilty, but I know it was a sin that has been covered by His blood.

Today I see the Holiness of God as far more beautiful and precious than I once did. I cannot see this new movie either and I’m glad you wrote something about it Tim.

Thanks-

Thanks for saying this, Steve. I have not watched Bruce Almighty for exactly the same reason, but you have articulated it beautifully.

I completely agree.

As someone who used to be enslaved to pornography, I don’t watch too many movies because the skin is just too tempting. In the last 2+ years I’ve watched Lord of the Rings movies, Spider Man Movies, Harry Potter Movies, and I do recall seeing Bruce Almighty when we still had TV in our house.

I suspect that some of you have already written me off as a heretic because I own both the books and DVDs for Harry Potter. I like to watch well-made stories about redemption.

Bruce Almighty was funny in a Jim Carrey kind of way. He did his normal slapstick stuff and, if you enjoy that at all, you would enjoy the movie. The real theme of the movie is that we don’t know better than God. God gave Bruce power, but He didn’t give him omniscience or wisdom. Bruce was so selfish that he couldn’t understand the repercussions of his decisions. He makes a mistake to alienate his girlfriend and finds that he cannot force her to love him. I don’t think it’s an accident that her name is “Grace” and that he kept saying how badly he needed “Grace”.

The climax of the movie comes when Bruce is completely broken, realizes that he doesn’t have the answers, and submits completely to the Lordship of God. The problem, of course, is that there is no mention of Jesus.

I saw this movie when I was in my heretic-hunting days and was looking for doctrinal error around every corner. Nevertheless, I found things to laugh at (perhaps I had to ignore Ephesians 5:4). Looking back, I see this movie as something that can be used to start a conversation about the gospel. I would never suggest that someone watch it as a replacement of a gospel presentation, but if someone had seen it I think it could be used as a vehicle for discussion.

I think it’s ridiculous for the church to partner with the release of Evan Almighty. However, I do think that we’d be fools not to understand what is actually in the movie so we can discuss it. I suspect that it will be a lot less poisonous to the soul than the commercials one would see during the course of an NFL football game.

I’m surprised a legalism debate hasn’t sprung up from this yet.

“I was surprised, and shocked even, to hear how many Christians watched, enjoyed, and recommended it. A couple of times I got close to clicking the “Buy” button on “Video on Demand” but just couldn’t pull the trigger.”

I’m basically the same as you. I really have no desire to watch it, and yet when some Christians mention how it was good to watch, I think well maybe I’ll pick it up, but I never have, and probably never will.

This new one, Evan, I’ll probably never see this one either.I do believe Christian’s will have different convictions here. This is a gray area I would think. But it’s also good to have convictions, and to share them.Thanks for sharing your heart.

When I saw the previews for the movie several months ago, my first thought was, “The flood was God’s judgment on the world for sin. How do you make a comedy out of that? ”

I know Bill Cosby had his famous comic routine on Noah and the ark years ago. I listened and laughed but also felt uncomfortable, because I knew he was making light of something very serious.

I feel the same way when I hear jokes about hell. Even if they are funny (and some are), they are also inappropriate.

The President of Youth Specialties (a subdivision of Zondervan) has publically endorsed this movie:

http://www.ysmarko.com/?p=1687

I don’t so much find repulsive the concept of the film as I do the gullibility of Christians on display here. Anti-God films abound everywhere, after all, but this film (or more exactly, its marketing) unabashedly targets pastors, leaders, and anyone of Christian influence for endorsements. The press junket will wine and dine these Christian leaders in exchange for good word of mouth. Hello, there is a reason why you are being given free tickets, there is a reason why your whole church/publishing staff is given free tickets, and it is not because of the generosity of rich Hollywood execs, or their desire to edify the nation. You are given these free tickets because of greed, because of the bottom-line, because of the certainty that you will be taken, hook, line and sinker. They will coddle you for this film, then slap you in the face with their very next Da Vinci Code-like movie. Just watch.

We gullible, we Christians.

“Are Christians today so enamoured and easily bought on anything that might have even a minute reference to scripture no matter how twisted or blasphemed it is that they would promote this trash?”

Answer: Yes

I’m disappointed, Tim. I’ve been a reader/subscriber for a while, and I would typically resonate with your commentary. However, for the case in point, you are being rather prejudice. That is, you are pre-judging this film. I am sure it would disappoint you if someone had written a review for a book which they had not read.

If you cannot watch this film through a content-critical lens without the fear of laughing at things you think may be blasphemous, then maybe you should simply refrain from comment altogether.

I have seen the film. I watched Bruce Almighty as well (although I’m not here attempting to defend the latter). I would come more from the Driscoll line of thought with relation to culture and its media. As Ed Stetzer put it, “preaching against culture is like preaching against their house. It’s just the place they live.” I want to be conversant with the culture in relation to the media. When your non-Christian neighbor asks for your opinion about the content of the film, you’d better be well-informed.

I would take my kids to watch this film, it is clean and humorous. I don’t believe there are any intentions to be blasphemous, however, if you wanted to frame things from a particular perspective, you could likely walk away believing that. There is a moral to the film, and the historicity of the actual flood is not questioned.

I am encouraged that Hollywood is putting stock in a film that has no serious curse words or gratuitous sex. Furthermore, this film has a distinct, explicit moral that is repeated throughout and emphasized in the closing scenes.

This comedy will certainly be written off by many secularists, however, it is now the Christians that rise up against it as well. We would be hard-pressed to see any redemption in Hollywood or our culture if we shun efforts toward more redemptive films.

Spiritual discernment should be approached through well-informed, educated decisions. This form of prejudice and speculation should have no part in a Christian’s life.

Amen, Tim. Thanks for speaking out.

Well said Nathan (Comment 21) I concur completely. I too am usually in full agreement with Tim, but disappointed in him here. Tim, this feels like a harsh judgement of something that (in the grand scheme) is fairly benign…….I think this space could be better filled by espousing the virtues of some good films…..but this isn’t my space.

I’m troubled by Samantha’s comment (5) - feeling she was in sin for seeing “Bruce Almighty”?……I hope that’s not what she gleened from Tim’s post, because I don’t think Tim said or implied that anyone who watches these films is in sin.

I’m one of the few Christians I know who disliked both “Bruce Almighty” and “Liar Liar”……..simply because in both cases, I’m just not a Jim Carey fan. I see no harm to believers in these films, nor do I see blasphemy……and even if there was, I don’t know that watching non-Christians blaspheme on screen is any different than watching non-Christians do anything else sinful on screen.

I do agree with those here who have said that wading through “Bruce Almighty” is a chore, and not worth the effort to get to the redemptive aspects.

Personally, I’d much prefer seeing the church get behind even a “hard-R” rated, but deeply redemptive films like “The Shawshank Redemption”….as opposed to supporting mindless fluff like the “Almighty” movies.

“It’s obviously fairly vulgar and theologically flawed in some ways, but…”

I found this comment to be rather telling and indicative of what may be a reduced level of discernment among Christians today.

Nathan & NHE: I don’t think Tim was passing judgement on anyone who goes to watch the film, he was just giving his own reasons for not seeing it himself. I happen to agree with him completely. I saw the trailers for it in our local theater and they made me quite uncomfortable in the flippant way they seemed to treat matters that we should be holding in great awe.

What also gets me is that the premiere, apparently, is going to involve a number of Christian bands. I have heard the grand opening promoted on a nationally syndicated Christian youth show called the Sound of Light, which uses the acronym SOL, itself something that gives me great pause.

I fear the broader Christian community is slipping into a position of pandering to the culture in the hope of getting its attention. Frankly, a watered-down message is not what the culture needs to hear, and those attracted to compromise will not be happy to hear the truth.

Take Care

What is “redemptive” about this film? Do you actually think Hollywood is thinking twice about “redemption”? They are prostituting a Scriptural account for their own end. They knew they wouldn’t lure the professing Christians end with alot of cursing and sex. So they tone it down. However, they knew they would run all of the secularist off if they didn’t make fun of the whole thing while doing it. Can’t you see they are blaspheming the God you profess? Who cares about “redeeming” Hollywood? Christ redeems people, not organizations.

I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said stupid. I should have said, “sad” or “disappointing”….truly, I should not have used that word. I’m sorry. (Honestly)

Thanks for your apology - that says alot. I have actually had to email Tim and ask him to delete a comment I thought was inappropriate.

Will you clarify what you are disagreeing with? Thanks.

The above comment is mine. I guess I typed your name :)

NHE - Your missing the forest for the trees. We are not dealing with some macho-redneck (I’m from the Alabama, I can say that :) who can “take” stuff. We are dealing with God. God is the supreme Ruler and Creator of all the Universe. For someone who is living in open treason against Him to take His Name on their lips without trembling is bold blasphemy. How much more those who prostitute His Name and His Word for their own ends?

Samantha - the comment I was referring to (which I asked Tim to delete) was around 5 months ago.

OH. I see. It’s still there. Sorry.

I’m referring to this: “We would be hard-pressed to see any redemption in Hollywood or our culture if we shun efforts toward more redemptive films.”

“Were you awake when you wrote this?”

To clarify and reiterate, I HAVE seen this film. So, for me, it is not pre-judging. I would also differ that you do have to see the film, or its script to be educated about its content.

Was this such a slow day that you needed to comment on this to begin with? I would suggest just deleting this post altogether.

I wish Christian culture would take much less polemical stances on things of this nature. Rather than seek to find what is wrong, can we not recognize the redeeming qualities in such productions?

To NHE: thanks for your support. I echo your sentiments around “Shawshank.” I would also hope that we can recognize that “Shawshank” would have been an inaccurate film if it weren’t rated R.

To MV (aka Michael from comment #34): There is severe depravity in the world (and in my life), portraying and viewing such things cannot blanketly be considered wrong (e.g. “taking the Lord’s name in vain”). Even the Bible illustrates sin in context. We have to recognize that in some cases, we are being less honest if we try to mask the severity of the depravity.

NHE - I’m not a Theonomist - I doubt you have read enough to know what they are saying if you think I adhere to this system. Since I can’t reply to that, I will only expound what I am saying.

The fact that a non-believer can take the name of God on their lips in a flippant way without trembling is further is evidence they have “became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart (has been) darkened”. Since “they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind.” They know better. They are “haters of God…and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.” So of course they don’t tremble. Of course they harden themselves against the God they live in open treason against and speak of Him with scoffing. But do not forget that the reason they have ceased to tremble is because the judgment of God has already begun with them. He is giving them over. And, on the last day when He chases them to Hell, the Name they blasphemed will be ringing in their ears

Nathan - Your comment is not coherent. Also, I am not Michael - that was a fairly big accusation. I do agree with what he is saying.

I have the same feelings about watching Joel Osteen!

Thanks for posting this, Tim - thought provoking as always.

I know Christians want to find common ground and topics of conversation, but too often there seems to be an actual alliance between Christians and enterprises that are really headed in an opposite direction.

I’ll give it some more thought - thanks for giving me something to think about, and pointing me to the Lord.