The Blue Planet and Planet Earth are among the finest nature documentaries you could ever hope to see. Produced by the BBC and narrated by David Attenborough, the first looks to the world’s oceans and the second primarily to its land masses.

The Blue Planet (first broadcast in 2001) is comprised of eight 50-minute episodes. As Attenborough explains in the opening moments, “Our planet is a blue planet: over seventy percent of it is covered by the sea. The Pacific Ocean alone covers half the globe. You can fly across it non-stop for twelve hours and still see nothing more than a speck of land. This series will reveal the complete natural history of our ocean planet, from its familiar shores to the mysteries of its deepest seas.” The first episode is something of a summary and each of the other seven looks to a specific aspect of the planet’s water—from the strange life that lurks in its deepest depths to the life that crawls from water to land with each receding tide.

There are several extras on the DVDs and they are of varying quality (though none rises to the standards of the actual episodes). Several of them are of feature length—50 minutes or so. The most interesting of the extras are probably the short “how it was made” clips which explain how the filmmakers managed to capture some of the incredible shots, many of which recorded behavior that has never before been captured by cameras.

Planet Earth (first broadcast in 2006) is comprised of eleven episodes and follows a similar format. Says Attenborough, “A hundred years ago, there were one and a half billion people on Earth. Now, over six billion crowd our fragile planet. But even so, there are still places barely touched by humanity. This series will take you to the last wildernesses and show you the planet and its wildlife as you have never seen them before.” The first episode journeys from the top of the world to the bottom and stops many places in between. Further episodes narrow in on specific features or terrain. As with The Blue Planet each episode is around 50 minutes in length and is followed by a 10 minute “Planet Earth Diary” which follows the filmmakers as they record the incredible shots.

The series is supplemented by three episodes which together are known as Planet Earth: The Future. This is a mixture of helpful environmental whistle-blowing and silly near-panic about overpopulation and global warming. While enjoyable as bonus features, they are not of the quality of the featured presentation.

Whether these are films you’d like to enjoy with your whole family will depend on how comfortable you are with seeing lots and lots of animals eating other animals and lots and lots of animalian hanky panky. If your children have grown up on a farm, there will be nothing new here; if they’ve grown up in suburbs you may have some explaining to do from time-to-time. And, of course, there is the unspoken assumption throughout that Darwinian evolution best explains the origins of all of this planet’s life.

Both series are excellent and often breathtaking. I watched them with my wife and we were both left gasping at times. The quality of these productions is unparalleled. I do not know what more to say—I have never seen anything like these. Where the filmmakers may have seen and announced the triumph of evolution, we saw the hand of a Creator who lovingly and painstakingly built this world with an abundance and a stunning variety of life. I could not watch without voicing praise to the Creator whose handiwork is so evident in all of creation. This series is an incredible testimony to His power.

While the series are sold separately, I chose to purchase them together in the “Special Collector’s Edition.” Those with top-notch home theaters may want to purchase Planet Earth in HD-DVD or Blu Ray. If you are going to purchase only one of the series, I’d recommend Planet Earth. But either or both will make excellent additions to your collection. You’ll watch them time and again.

The War

The War is a new documentary series by acclaimed producer Ken Burns (best known for his series on the Civil War). Something of a unique take on a history of World War 2, the series tells the war through the eyes of four towns from across America. It deals both with the home front—the war years as they were experienced through the lives of the people who remained behind, and it deals with the war itself—the war as it was fought by men from those towns. The series is masterfully made.

Some people have argued that there is a little too much repetition in the footage used and others have said that there is perhaps a little too much emphasis in the films on the role of various minority groups. This is not to say that minorities were not involved or important in the war, but it seems clear that controversy surrounding the role of Hispanics led to what some feel is perhaps an inordinate amount of time being dedicated to particular groups. Personally I felt the balance was quite good and the focus on these groups has been very interesting to me precisely because they are too often ignored (though admittedly the footage appended to the first episode seems a mite forced). For example, it was very interesting hearing about the Japanese Americans who on one hand fought bravely on the European front while on the other hand their families were forced to remain behind barbed wire in internment camps. What a strange paradox.

Regardless of your feelings on those areas, the series is really worth your while. Even my wife, who is certainly no Word War 2 enthusiast, enjoyed the series since it emphasizes not just the war, but the stories of both groups and individuals. The series may well appeal to just about anyone. I definitely recommend it.

It is available at Amazon.

Still Standing

Still Standing is the most recent production from Franklin Springs Family Media. It tells the story of Stonewall Jackson, not primarily through his experience as a soldier, but through the legacy of his faith. With much of the story being told by historians, it describes him not just a military genius (which is certainly his legacy in history) but as a made of resolute Christian character. It takes the viewer from his orphaned childhood, through the Sunday school class he taught for African Americans, and into the Civil War where he played a pivotal role in the initial successes of the Confederacy. Shot in a variety of relevant historical locales, the production gives the viewer a sense of where Jackson lived and what his life might have been like. It certainly provides a challenge to understand the faith that made Jackson who he was.

It is also available at Amazon.

Inherit the Land

Inherit the Land is described as being “Adventures in the Agrarian Journey.” “This new DVD will cast a vision for your family by providing an introductory look at the blessings found when families work in an agrarian lifestyle. We've traveled across the US and captured stories of families experiencing the joy of working in God's creation.” The DVD introduces several families and the agrarian lifestyle they’ve chosen. On that level it is an interesting production and is well-made. On another level—the level in which it seems to subtly prescribe this as a superior lifestyle to middle-class suburbia (i.e. the typical Christian experience today), I found it disappointing. It seems to fall into several of the traps that may (sometimes) befall those who seek out such a lifestyle. It seems to teach that what is old is innately better than what is new and that there was a time in the past, perhaps 150 years ago, we ought to recover—a time when it was far easier to be a Christian. That is a fallacy, though a popular one, I’m sure. I am glad to see some Christian families choosing an agrarian lifestyle, but if all Christians were to follow suit, our witness to the world would be devastated. Many of us have no desire to do that and feel no pull from a biblically-informed conscience to do such a thing. Though the presentation is quite good, the message behind the presentation was, in my opinion, a wee bit disappointing. Still, it is an interesting enough production and one I enjoyed watching.

It is available at Franklin Springs.

Modern Parables: Living in the Kingdom of God is an original Bible study curriculum designed for people who like movies and is just the first in a planned series of film-driven studies on the parables of Jesus. The films are geared towards use for youth groups, small groups, evangelism or even home schooling curriculum. Volume 1 features six of Jesus’ parables, told anew through film and set in a contemporary context.

The 12-lesson study combines cinema and theology in short dramatic films that exegete (or explain) Jesus' parables. In other words, just watching the films helps teach the historical, grammatical, contextual and interpretive elements in the parables.

Modern Parables lets people grasp the parables at an immediate, gut level. This emotional immediacy enables them to engage the Bible in a powerful and compelling new way.

Each parable is covered in two lessons. The first lesson is geared towards understanding the parable. Viewers watch the dramatization, ask questions about it, teach and then discuss the parable. In the second lesson viewers watch the application video, ask questions about the application video and then review the film and discuss the parable. Each of the application videos features a different pastor (some of whom you may recognize) simply providing basic teaching about the parable and then bringing a few words of application.

Here are the six parables covered in this volume along with a brief description and a trailer for each one.

Hidden Treasure

The parable of the Hidden Treasure is told through the story of Jeff Smith who was having a really bad day trying to sell a horrendous piece of property until he found oil oozing out of the ground. The comedy of the set, this quick-moving and funny piece asks what we would be willing to sell in order to gain great treasure. It is “a light, screwball comedy filmed in the style of Frank Capra. We tried to find funny, heartwarming characters who represented middle America, then built a story around them.” The application video is provided by Dan Doriani of Central Presbyterian Church in St. Louis (You may know Doriani for his commentary on James, part of the Reformed Expository Commentary set).

Samaritan

The story of the Good Samaritan is told in the context of an old man who is assaulted and left for dead (though the assault takes place before the story begins). A group of church kids, a deacon who is also a doctor, and a youth pastor all pass him by. It is an Arab man, eyed suspiciously by everyone else, who eventually comes to the old man’s rescue. This video was awarded as the Best Narrative at the San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival. According to the creators, it is a “tribute to the Swedish film director Ingmar Bergman. We kept the camera still and tried to frame shots simply and with sensitivity to mise en scene. Our score uses a chamber ensemble for a more classical, austere sound.” The application video features George Grant who pastors Parish Presbyterian Church in Franklin, Tennessee. You may remember Dr. Grant for his contributions to the Amazing Grace: The History and Theology of Calvinsim DVD.

The Shrewd Manager

The Shrewd Manager deals with one of Jesus’ strangest parables, and one that is most difficult to understand. In this adaptation, a farmer plays the role of the shrewd manager, finding a way to make all the neighbors love him before being fired from his job. The movie relies on exaggerated rural accents, old school folk music, and a little bit of humor. Calling this an ironic comedy, the filmmaker says, “The Shrewd Manager tips its hat to Woody Allen with its long takes, simple zooms, and dry humor. We shot the film in Adairville, Kentucky and used a number of townspeople for extras.” Frank Lewis of First Baptist Church in Nashville, Tennessee handles the application, explaining and applying the parable.

The Widow and the Judge

The Widow and the Judge tells the well-known story of a widow who kept coming to an unjust, uncaring judge begging for justice to be served. Eventually, though he cares nothing for the woman, the judge hears her case even if only to be rid of her. The filmmaker says it is “based on the style of the film To Kill a Mockingbird directed by Robert Mulligan. Set in a small Southern town and presented in black and white, it attempts to paint a gentle portrait of an old widow. The film also bears the slight influence of Frederico Fellini's masterful 8 1/2.” The application is handled by Gene Mims of Judson Baptist Church in Nashville, Tennessee.

The Sower

The Sower turns to a different genre of film—the documentary. This one is “shot in the documentary tradition starting with Robert Flaherty and Dziga Vertov, and continuing to present. Although the documentary has seen many forms throughout its history, we have attempted a simple, self-narrated exploration of a farmer and his field.” In this film, an elderly farmer simply explains what he has learned through a long career of sowing and harvesting wheat. He leads the viewer through his fields, showing wheat that has fallen in rocky soil, wheat that has fallen among the weeds, and wheat that has sprung up to produce a great harvest. Jeff Schulte of ChangePoint in Anchorage, Alaska shares some points of application.

Prodigal Sons

The final film of the set is easily the best-known of Jesus’ parables. Prodigal Sons tastefully and stirringly tells the story of two sons, one of whom takes his father’s wealth and runs away, and the other who continues to honor his father, though more in word than in deed. The younger son blows his wealth on wine, women and song, and soon finds himself working in a morgue. Meanwhile, the older son remains with his father, turning his back on his profligate brother. This film “has been influenced by the work of the great Orson Welles. With its non-linear structure, its constantly moving cameras, its oblique angles, its sequence shots, and its direct narration, the film seeks to pay tribute to one of America's greatest directors.” It has a powerful, powerful ending. Scotty Smith of Christ Community Church in Franklin, Tennessee provides the application and builds upon the teaching of Tim Keller, that this parable points to two different kinds of prodigal sons, the relativist and the moralist.

The films are entirely suitable for family viewing and, in fact, once we watched the first, my children pretty well demanded that we watch the rest. So we watched all six of them in an evening and spent right up until bed time discussing what the parables mean and asking why Jesus would share those stories. As the films began to play my children would suddenly grasp the story, remembering it from the Bible, and would find themselves absorbed in them. The only thing parents may want to watch out for with the children is the word “whores” shouted near the conclusion of the Prodigal Sons film (as in “he spent all his money on cars and whores…”). This word is, of course, implied in the story so does not seem out of place.

Of course this films are not intended primarily for children. Though I have not been able to use these materials in a Bible study setting, I suspect they would prove exceedingly useful for that purpose. Both a Teacher’s Guide and a Student Book are available. The DVD box set includes the DVDs, an Audio Teacher Prep CD, a Teacher’s Guide, and Student Book. The DVDs also feature director’s commentary which I found very interesting.

I think some of these stories impacted me on a level that the original stories have not for some time. It sounds terrible to write this, but somehow, through repeated retelling and study, so many of the parables have lost some of their punch. But to see them in a new context challenged me anew to grasp their significance. And, I thought, this must have been how Jesus’ disciples felt as they heard the stories for the first time. I may not understand what it was like to hear a story in which a Pharisee passed by a bleeding, injured man, only to have a Samaritan stop to help him, but I can feel some of that impact in watching a deacon and a youth pastor walk on by only to have an Arab taxi driver comfort the man and care for his needs. And maybe I’ve never really paused to consider what it would be like to find the hidden treasure and to sell everything I own to get it—my computer, my car, my television and my wife’s china. These films caused me to pause and to think about such things. And for that I am grateful. While I would not wish to make it sound like there is anything wrong with the biblical accounts, I do think a fresh retelling of the stories can be very beneficial.

I’m grateful for this series of films, a series which I learned about only recently. I am thrilled to know that it is only the first in what is intended to be a set. I’m going to watch these films often and am certain I’ll enjoy watching them again with my children. I hope I will other opportunities to use them. And I’ll wait impatiently for Volume II.

Buy It & Learn More

If you’d like to learn more about the films, you can visit modernparables.com. From there you can buy the videos and other material. Under the “Try” button you can try out two of the lessons and under the “Explore” button you’ll find an interesting “making of” section. There is lots of material to find. Amazon shoppers may wish to order from Amazon.

The Torchlighters video series is a series of animated DVD's dedicated to “Highlighting the honor, integrity and life-changing experiences of those well-known and little-known Christian men, women and children who in response to God's call, dedicated their lives to a life of whole-hearted commitment and passionate service to Jesus.” The series is targeted primarily at children between the ages of eight and twelve. It is a production of Christian History Institute along with International Films and Voice of the Martyrs. Previous entries in this series include brief biographical films of Jim Elliot, John Bunyan and William Tyndale. The fourth installment is The Eric Liddell Story.

I have watched all of these films with the family and we’ve enjoyed them. Like the others in the series, The Eric Liddell Story has moments that frightened the children—primarily when the Japanese Air Force was bombing China and the life of the story’s hero was in danger. But the film is definitely family fare. The quality of the animation has not really increased and it is a long way from the kind of animation you might see in the big-budget films on the silver screen. Still, my children didn’t seem to notice and they enjoyed learning more about Liddell. The film took them from his childhood in China, to his rise as one of the world’s fastest men, to his Olympic triumph and to his missionary service in China. It closes with his internment in a Japanese camp and stops short of his death there of a brain tumor. The story was narrated by a Chinese character representing one of the men who was saved through the ministry of Liddell.

Like all of the Torchlighters titles, this one is a 30-minute feature and also includes a previously-recorded documentary on the subject’s life. Like the others, it is a worthy addition to a family or church DVD collection. Future installments in the series promise to deal with the lives of Gladys Aylward and Richard Wurmbrand. And I look forward to watching those ones as well.

The video is available through Vision Video.

I’ve always had a bit of a weakness for folk music (as my CD/MP3 collection can attest). So when I heard of the latest DVD from Franklin Springs Family Media, Charlie Zahm: An Evening of Classic Melodies, I knew I couldn’t pass it up. Zahm is a talented musician and an exceptional vocalist with an absolutely unforgettable baritone.

This DVD is simply a recording of a concert he recorded in February of 2007 in the Milburn Stone Theater in North East, Maryland. Charlie handles most of the singing (with his wife supporting him at times) and leads on the guitar, penny whistle or bodhran. Playing behind him in this production are a fiddle, a guitar, a set of largely acoustic drums and an upright bass. Thus he has all the makings of a folk or celtic band.

Zahm plays a variety of Irish, Scottish, Canadian and American tunes including:

• Westering Home/Maid of Fyvie
• Poor Wayfaring Stranger
• All Through the Night
• Follow Me up to Carlow
• Loch Lomond
• Summer Rains
• Out on the Mira
• Mairi's Wedding/Mason's Apron
• Farewell to Nova Scotia
• Geordie
• Planxty Fanny Power/O'Carolon's Concerto
• Be Thou My Vision
• Minstrel Boy
• Sweet Virginia
• General Taylor
• Lighthouse on the Shore
• Scotland the Brave

The DVD clocks in at 98 minutes including a couple of features on Zahm. The concert itself is probably about an hour and a twenty minutes in length. Be sure to catch the “Making of a Song” feature where the band tries a new song (which is the Queensland variation of the tune for “Waltzing Matilda.” Sadly, that song did not make it into the concert.).

As a fan of folk music, I really enjoyed this production. I have watched it a couple of times and listened to it many more times than that. I’m glad to recommend it to you.

The DVD is available from Franklin Springs Family Media.

It has been almost sixty-three years since the British, American and Canadian armies stormed the beaches of Normandy, but the D-Day invasion and the weeks that followed continue to fascinate us. The events have provided fodder for countless books, movies, and video games. As time passes, fewer and fewer of the veterans of that day survive to give their first-hand testimonies. I am grateful that many people are now speaking to these men and recording their memories before they are lost to history.

Overlord: A Mighty Host is an hour-long documentary that was first shown on television and has recently become available on DVD. It provides reflections from veterans of D-Day with an emphasis on their religious beliefs. Because it is produced by the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, one might think that this would focus on Christian testimonies. Unfortunately, it focuses on testimonies from all faiths (Protestant, Catholic, Greek Orthodox and Jewish) and much of the talk about God is generic, treating Him as “the man upstairs” who honors the terror-stricken faith of those who have rarely acknowledged Him before or since.

Despite treating God as a somewhat generic deity, the documentary is still well-done and very moving as it traces the actions of a small group of heroes. It always stirs the emotions to hear these men, now old and fragile, who were once so young and healthy and who were willing to trade their lives for those of others. Whether from the mouths of Christians or non-, testimonies about the past are worth recording and worth listening to.

The DVD includes quite a long list of extra scenes that did not make the final cut. Some of these, interestingly enough, contain information that speaks of God in a less-generic way. It is a shame that some of these were left out of the film.

Overlord: A Mighty Host is a deeply moving film, but still somewhat disappointing because of the generic God these men speak about. While I am still glad to recommend this one, those looking for testimony that is distinctly Christian might be better served by a film such as The League of Grateful Sons.

The Eden String Quartet is a quartet composed of four members of the Miller family of Oakland, Illinois and a new DVD by Franklin Springs Media tells their story. Krista Miller and Megan Miller Goff play the violin, Therese Miller the viola and Leah Miller the cello. Having played for many years and having received training from highly qualified instructors, they play exceptionally well. The DVD combines documentary segments with a live concert.

Songs the quartet plays include classical compositions by Mozart, Bach, Pachelbel and Vivaldi as well as a selection of hymns such as “Amazing Grace,” “Come Thou Fount,” “Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise” and “Before the Throne of God Above” (which, in my opinion, is done beautifully and which sounds simply stunning when played by a string quartet).

As with previous Franklin Springs Media productions, this one is of professional quality and is exceptionally well made. The audio and video quality are both top-notch. And, like other Franklin Springs productions, this one celebrates a godly family and, not surprisingly, one that chooses to homeschool their children and is eager to defend their decision to the cameras! The Miller family does seem to exemplify many godly qualities and has raised their children to honor the Lord and to love their fellow man. I have little doubt that this DVD can serve as encouragement to others as they witness the faithfulness of this remarkable family.

It should be noted that while the DVD claims to include extras, the only true extra or bonus feature is a slideshow of photographs taken during production of the film. The other features, though helpful, are simply the ability to have all the documentary segments play without the music segments or all the music segments without the documentary.

You can read more about the DVD or watch a trailer here, read more about the quartet here and keep up with the family through their blog here.

You may also be interested in these other Franklin Springs Media productions I have reviewed: The Peasall Sister - Family Harmony and A Journey Home.

The Torchlighters video series is a series of animated DVD’s dedicated to “Highlighting the honor, integrity and life-changing experiences of those well-known and little-known Christian men, women and children who in response to God’s call, dedicated their lives to a life of whole-hearted commitment and passionate service to Jesus.” It is a production of Christian History Institute along with International Films and Voice of the Martyrs. The first in this series was The Jim Elliot Story (my review) and this was followed by The William Tyndale Story (my review).

The third installment of the series is The John Bunyan Story and it traces the life of this great servant of the Lord who is best know, of course, for writing The Pilgrim’s Progress. “John Bunyan’s life was filled with challenges and victories. No matter what his circumstances, this ‘torchlighter’ followed God to the fullest. Like the main character in his book, Bunyan used all his gifts and resources to press on through thick and thin. His message still rings true today.” The film focuses on Bunyan’s youth, presenting him as a naughty, sinful child, and then fast forwards to his arrest and imprisonment during which he wrote The Pilgrim’s Progress.

The series is targeted primarily at children between the ages of eight and twelve. While this film has a few scary moments, it is somewhat less intense than the previous two films where the main characters were actually killed. There is nothing too graphic in this episode beyond an encounter between Apollyon and Christian in a brief animated excerpt from Bunyan’s greatest book. My children, having seen the first two installments in the series, were convinced that Bunyan would die and were grateful that he lived to a good age and died a natural death.

Included with the film is a study guide suitable for children that includes a leader’s guide and reproducible student worksheets. There is also a 40-minute documentary on Bunyan’s life that is suitable for both children or adults (though it is intended primarily for adults). A John Bunyan board game is available for free at the Torchlighters web site. These add significant value to what is already a strong presentation. They will encourage your children to become Torchlighters: “One who commits to serving God and passing on the light of the Gospel, even when the going gets tough…”

We watched this film as a family and enjoyed it together. It is well worth watching and discussing together. We are looking forward to the fourth episode, due next year, which will focus on one of my heroes, Eric Liddell.

To learn more about the series, visit the Torchlighters site. You can view trailers for the series or the individual films here. And finally, the video can be purchased from Vision Video.

Many years ago, when I was in my mid-teen years, I made the decision to stop listening to mainstream rock music and to turn instead to Christian music. Until that time I had been listening to whatever was on the radio. I had quite a few tapes and had once had a whole collection of those old vinyl 45’s. While I was usually not interested in music that was blatantly anti-God, I did listen to some that would surely have made my parents cringe had they heard it. But when I was fourteen or fifteen, my conscience began to accuse me about this music and I remember what was a near-religious experience for me, where I biked down to a local waterfall and, with no one else present, tossed some tapes over the edge in what was really a ceremony whereby I repented of that music. In the subsequent years, I bought Christian music and have since had little interest in mainstream music. Every now and then a song or a band catches my attention, but since I have so little willful exposure to it, this is quite rare. At the same time, I have kept abreast of what is happening in the music industry. Music saturates our culture, and it is difficult not to know what songs and artists are popular, for they are played on television, in commercials and are piped through malls, airports and any other public location. Needless to say, where the music of the 80’s and 90’s was bad, the music of our day is even worse. There has been a continual slide whereby the mainstream songs of our day are far worse than what was acceptable even ten or twenty years ago.

Many years ago, soon after I repented of my old music, I heard of a video called Hells Bells. Unfortunately, try as I might, I was never able to watch this video. I recently discovered that a sequel to this production was available and was able to secure a copy and study it this weekend. It is over six hours long, so this was no small undertaking. The DVD is produced by the same group that made Amazing Grace: The History and Theology of Calvinism which I reviewed here, and it is likewise hosted by Eric Holmberg. As with Amazing Grace, it is well-written, well-produced and theologically-sound. What I found especially impressive, is that while it is passionate about the subject matter, it avoids becoming what I feared it might - an obnoxious, uninformed tirade against the evils of anyone who likes to listen to music with a beat. It is alarming without begin alarmist.

It is important to note that because of the subject matter, this presentation contains disturbing material of a sexual and occultic nature and is inappropriate for younger viewers. At the beginning of the video, Holmberg warns that if you have no interest in or access to this type of music, you should probably not continue watching. But the bulk of the material, while it represents the worst of what the rock culture has to offer, is drawn largely from material that you might see on MTV or hear on your morning commute while listening to the radio. There are many places where details are blurred, film is censored and words are blanked out, but the heart of the horror remains in place.

While not explicitly stated, it seems that the presentation is targeted primarily at unbelievers, but secondarily at believers who have been drawn into this rock-n-roll culture. I would suggest that parents of teenaged children would do well to watch it as well. It kicks off with an introduction that provides the foundations for cultural analysis. Among the topics discussed is the philosophy of “judge not,” which dictates that we are wrong to question what others do, for morality is a personal matter. This is examined in light of what Jesus really meant when he warned against judgment. Having been assured that it is not only our right but even our responsibility to examine and judge something so revered as music, the presentation turns to this topic for the next six hours. Particular topics that the presentation covers in-depth are:

• An Examination of the Power of Music
• Music’s Spiritual Connection
• The Occult History of Rock
• Rebellion, Nihilism and Death
• Satanic Sex and Rock-n-Roll
• Rock’s Ultimate Rebellion
• Music and Life at the Cross-Roads

Following these sections is a time of challenge and response, and finally some personal testimonies of God’s grace and goodness in the lives of a few individuals. The clear purpose of the producers is to contrast Biblical morality and order, with the rock culture’s immorality and chaos. Constant contrasts are made between the words of the Bible and the words of artists and listeners of rock music, between the heart of God and the blackened hearts of the rockers. We learn that the heart of rock-n-roll is rebellion, the sin that is at the heart of every sin, for Satan sinned by rebelling against God and the led humans in the same rebellion. When we sin against God, we make idols of ourselves, displaying the “me-ism” that is at the heart of rebellion. In one particularly noteworthy moment, the host asks many different teens to name three songs that promote sexual purity before marriage. Soon he was asking them for two, and then for one. No one could name a single song. While this is interesting, what is even more important is to ask ourselves why this question seems so absurd. It is absurd to ask about a rock song promoting purity or love for parents because such sentiments are antithetical to the very heart of rock music.

Another interesting observation was that the people at the heart of the music seem to understand what rock music is all about far more clearly than the kids who merely drink it all in. I am reminded of the latest series of American Idol where Gene Simmons (of KISS fame) was a guest judge. When confronted with a talented contestant who was a youth pastor, Simmons said to him, “I think you’re a country artist, and Ill tell you why. If you sing pop lyrics, youre going to have a problem with your ministry. Because rock and roll by definition — and popular music — is about sexuality. The rules are different for country. You can sing Christian oriented lyrics and be acceptable, and you can sell millions of records.” Time and again we see that the people who make and produce this music understand that it is, at heart, Satanic and in direct opposition to God. I was left wondering why it is that others cannot see this. And I came to realize that we cannot examine rock music without beginning with the foundation of the rebellion that is at its core.

One of the sections I found most shocking and convicting was the one dealing with the blasphemy that takes place when artists act out their rebellion and hatred towards God, and then thank him for their success or wear a cross around their neck. The video shows a montage of artists thanking God for their success (Backstreet Boys, N*Sync, Destiny’s Child (who were dressed in very-nearly nothing), Sisqo (who subsequently thanked a thong for its part in his success)) and praying before their shows (Limp Bizkit, Christina Aguilera (immediately before performing the song “Dirty” which is true to its name)). I was forced to wrestle with the anger that must burn in God as he looks at these people acting out their hatred towards Him, and then ascribing this “success” to Him - to a God who is infinitely holy and infinitely pure, incapable of committing or condoning sin.

A further strength of the presentation is that its relevance is enhanced by the fact that it is only one year old. Watching the original Hells Bells may be interesting, but when the criticism goes no further than Van Halen and Lynrd Skynrd, it is easy to write it off as a dinosaur that has no bearing on our day. And while people who listen to this type of music may be able to avoid any association with the ultra-hard-core Satanic death-metal bands, the focus on the big names means that there will be some connection to each viewer. In this edition, there are literally hundreds of different artists that receive at least a passing mention, many of whom are still on the charts: Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears, Dave Mattews Band, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Blink 180, Sarah McLachlan, MxPx, KISS, Incubus, (to name just a few) and any number of rappers and hip hop artists whose names meant very little to me.

If there is a place this presentation falters, I would suggest it is in the area of “what next.” Having proven that much of the popular music of our day is absolutely unsuitable for consumption, the producers do not suggest next steps. I was left with questions such as: Can rock music be redeemed? Is it evil to its core, or is Christian rock music a suitable alternative? At the heart of these questions, is the deeper question of what makes evil music evil - the words, the music or the intent of the person who made it. I am sure it is for the best that Holmberg did not tell us to burn our CD collections and turn exclusively to classical music, but some guidance in moving forward would have been helpful, especially for those who were convicted of their need to remove themselves from this rock culture.

Conclusions

A consideration for me after watching this video was, How much is too much? How graphic is too graphic? I was forced to examine what I feel is given in a spirit of information, and what is just “too much.” I concluded that generally the producers did a good job of knowing where to draw the line. By the very nature of the content, this video had to be graphic, and even shocking. For example, it is one thing to state that today’s popular songs laud or laugh about every type of sin and debauchery - rape, bestiality, masturbation, homosexuality and every other type of deviant sex, but it becomes a reality in our minds when we see that the artists singing about these topics are considered “family-friendly” and may be playing in your son or daughter’s stereo at this very moment. I remember many years ago my friends and I would sing Cyndi Lauper’s song “She Bop” never knowing that it was a song about masturbation. Similarly, young children today are singing songs about topics that are far beyond their years, for Britney sings a song about masturbation and N*Sync sings one about cybersex. Many other artists sing about topics far worse. Some information will only reach us when it shocks us.

In summary, I found this presentation both convicting and biblical. The producers went to great lengths to be accurate and to do thorough analysis on the heart of music, rather than merely attacking the peripheral issues. The presentation continually turns to Scripture and ends with a theologically-sound time of response where people are invited to repent of their sin and turn to the Lord. Despite being graphic and discussing very dark subject matter, and with the same caveats as given by Holmberg at the beginning of the series, I recommend this presentation for both teens and parents. I am sure that this video can and will be used to reach many as God uses it to convict them of the evil heart of popular music.

Who could have thought that a presentation of Calvinism lasting nearly four and a half hours could keep me at rapt attention? Actually, I suppose most people who know me wouldn’t be too terribly surprised. Amazing Grace - The History And Theology of Calvinism is an examination of the doctrines of grace, produced by The Apologetics Group. It is hosted by Eric Holmberg and is a collage of interviews, historical readings, Scripture and drama. It examines “life’s greatest mystery, that man’s question for meaning and redemption is in the end the story of the Lord ‘seeking and saving that which was lost.’”

The presentation is divided into three parts. The first provides the historical context to Calvinism, beginning with the dispute between Pelagius and Augustine. It continues to a discussion of semi-pelagianism, focusing particularly on the dispute between Luther and Erasmus. The section concludes with a brief examination of what came to be known as the five points of Calvinism.

The second part examines the Biblical basis to the doctrines of grace as summarized in the acronym TULIP. Each is examined in the light of the Arminian controversy, in the light of the Scripture, and in light of the impact a proper understanding of this doctrine has on the Christian walk. It concludes with an examination of how Arminian doctrine has damaged the testimony and work of the church.

The third and final section speaks about the necessity of evangelism and provides pointers on evangelizing in a Biblical way. It answers the question of how God’s sovereignty and human responsibilty interact in the preaching of the Gospel and the conversion of souls.

The participants who were interviewed extensively are R.C. Sproul, R.C. Sproul Jr, James Kennedy, Walter Chantry, Thomas Nettles, Walter Bowie, Roger Schultz, Joe Morecraft III, Kenneth Talbot, George Grant, Thomas Ascol and Stephen Mansfield. While all of them have much wisdom to impart, I was drawn especially to R.C. Sproul, who always looks like there is nothing he is more excited about than speaking of the Lord’s gracious act of redemption. He leans into the camera, with a smile on his face, just bursting with enthusiasm as he tells of the works of the Lord and the doctrines of His grace. I also very much appreciated the inclusion of Walter Bowie, pastor of Koinonia Baptist Church in Jackson, Mississippi. So often it seems (in these parts, at least) that Calvinism is the refuge of the bland, middle-aged, amateur theologian. Yet Bowie, who is African American, lent some wonderful diversity and plenty of godly wisdom to the presentation.

Prior to seeing the DVD I was concerned about the quality, almost expecting it to be poor. Thankfully, I was wrong. Apart from a couple of very minor audio issues (for example, at one point during an outdoor interview wind blows across the microphone) the quality is top-notch. This presentation is well-produced, thoroughly researched and, most importantly, built firmly on the foundation of Scripture. While it deals with theology, it is practical throughout and is sure to help believers, young and old, Calvinist and Arminian, understand just how amazing God’s grace really is. I highly and unreservedly recommend it.

The DVD is only available for purchase online. You can find it at outlets such as Monergism Books.