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my kids like to call Fox News "Faux News", so I guess it follows that this would be "Faux Faith".

Your analysis is right on. It's all about the bucks. Sadly, there will be many led astray, even among the elect (if not elected!)

nota

Nicely done, Gordon; your tenets shine...

::APPLAUD::

I went and saw Thr3e about a month ago, and was thunderstruck. I kind of expected it to suck, so I initially chalked it up to my own prejudices about "Christian" entertainment...but even my husband, who tends to be more forgiving, had a hard time not walking out of the theater.

The movie would have been greatly improved by the addition of Tom Servo, Mike Nelson, and Crow.

Of course, this Sin Eater business at least makes Thr3e look like an honest effort...

"Love the idea of God with all your heart, soul, mind, body, life, work, and strength."

That's about right...

Amen, Preach. And does "Thr3e" look like a captcha, or is it just me?

Have you seen the movie "The Book of Life?" It's an independent comedy by Hal Hartley. If you can find it, get it, because it's hysterical and dead-on, when it comes to forgiveness, grace, and redemption. (Jesus comes back to 1999 Manhattan, and St. Mary Magdalene is his administrative assistant.)

Your beef with evangelical media is similar to my beef with EWTN. They're out to sell their brand of Catholicism as the One True Way that's "faithful to the Magesterium," where much of the stuff they put forth is actually pious custom, not infallible dogma. Nevermind that the version of Catholicism that they're selling has nothing to do with the faith as it's actually practiced. Nothing about humanity is neat and tidy, and that especially goes for something based upon Roman law, where law is an ideal, not an absolute. Yet they produce a sanitized, genteel, "timeless" version of something that never existed. And you really don't want to get me going about their politics.

http://bigumuse.blogspot.com

Preacher,
As a movie buff, are there any movies that are religious/spiritual in nature that you enjoy personally and would reccomend?

Your list of suggestions is striking and beautiful and I expect Jesus would recognize everything on it.

And the last line of this post made me laugh out loud. Lord, Gordon, I'm so glad you're out there.

***
"Why write unless you praise the sacred places?" -- Richard Howard

First of all, I would also highly recommend Hal Hartley's The Book of Life. Among other reasons - PJ Harvey plays Mary Magdelene!

I started noticing an increasing amount of these kinds of movies on Netflix several months ago. The good news is that as of a month or two ago they now have their own category.

And I truly appreciate your distinction of their market of "uneducated Christianity". And thanks for not being one of them.

~hangedwoman from LiveJournal

Wow, good ending. My son is shocked (shocked!) at your language--he's 14--but I'm printing off your list of suggestions for discussions at youth group on Sunday....

I'm glad you addressed this. I work in a library, and seeing some of the pap that we are forced to buy because it's "Christian literature" really gripes my soul. Luckily, so far we haven't had too many requests for "Christian films." Gack.

Haven't been here in awhile, but here goes. It certainly seems the Fox Faith is trying to push everything imaginable out there without attempting to produce a quality product with a good story. On the other hand I did enjoy "One Night With the King" even though it took some liberties with the Book of Ester. I don't believe "The Last Sin Eater" is a Fox Faith film. I could be wrong, but but I read the book on the urging of my wife and found it to be a good story. The Navity was a lovely story, but again some liberties where taken. Actually Preacher I'd love to see your version in print with the artist from many of your drawings on the site doing the artwork. Wishful thinking right. I'm getting away from the original topic though, as I often do. My basic point is I enjoy films about faith, the struggles of faith, what miracles of life faith can bring about. Not all are worthy, then again there are alot of films not worth a look. I would be interested in the opinion of folks regarding "Amazing Grace". Defintely not a Fox Faith film, but Walden media. Can I hear a slight cheer for the "Chronicles of Narnia"? (jumping down from my soap box)

Good form my friend, thanks for taking a stance.

Reagan
goodpancreas.com

Gordon,

I love the last paragraph. I'd like to have it written in calligraphy and hanging in my home or office so I could read it every day to remind myself what being in relationship with God is really all about.

I especially like, "You won't be able to do either of these, but trying will be very good for you."

D. Young

P. S. It really wouldn't have to be written in calligraphy, but wouldn't it be pretty that way?

Even the devil can quote Bible verse, so why not Fox? lol Yeah, some of that "Christian" "art" is pretty stinky, alright. While we're on the subject, what about the Christian music machine?

Mich

Preacher,
I work with youth and the adults who work with them. I'm going to share your suggestions (with attribution) with as many of them as I can. You've done a wonderful job of doing something we usually mess up. Translating the concepts of faith into "real" language. Absolutely brilliant.

Peace
Jay

Ya know Gordon, I received one of those Fox Film promotional packs about four months ago, but I think I pitched it when I read "Fox" - I'm just not a trusting guy.

Your last paragraph is on the money. I have an old sermon in the stash titled "Simple Not Easy". The sermon's point is that if we understand those two greatest commandments, we have 98% (perhaps 100%?) of Christianity whipped; intellectually at least. Of course, like you more eloquently said, the doing is impossible but it's in the trying that we find the Kingdom.

AMEN.

AMEN.

AMEN, AMEN, AMEN!

The post is great. I'm most grateful for your adding "spiritual suctitude" to my vocabulary.

Peace,
Milton

I don't have anything profound to say, but I enjoyed reading your writing today. Thank you. I, too, think disdainful thoughts about folks like Fox Faith, and appreciate your humorous words.

Peace,
Xander

Wait, what if we throw in free satellite service for your church?!

(no, really: http://foxfaithchurches.com/directTv )

That's right, ladies and gentlemen, for just the small price of your soul (we prefer to call it partnering with us), you, too, can be the recipient of a free dish.

Thank you, Jesus, for this wonderful gift of wealth you have so generously bestowed upon us, and thank you for giving us the wisdom to spend it wisely. It's working so far....

oh, wait, my bad... it's not working at all...

Amen!

Excellent on solitude. Thank you!

Yee-haw! You go, preacher! Those Fox Faith promo packets, with their preview DVDs and all, somehow make it to my little country church as well. A rural church in California! Megachurches abound in the cities down the road and throughout the state, yet they still send them to this rickety old church built 125 years ago, where some 40 worshipers gather each Sunday. Amazing ... and all I do is throw it in the trash, or, possibly, give it to my kids to play with.

I very rarely delurk here, but your thesis sounds so on target I had to thank you for speaking truth to power, to use a worn-out cliche.

Your list of suggestions about calling balls and strikes on the real and the not-so-real is so good, I'm tatooing them on my butt.

Long ago Malcolm Muggeridge made a case for claiming the media cannot (because of the nature of the business) contain the essence of the gospel. Watch religious TV and seldom do you get a whiff of the real, only the not-so-real. The radical nature of faith makes it resistant to capsulating into an attractive message. There's too much messiness. Too much sacrifice. Too much of almost every success value we're attracted to.

There's precious little in movies, television or other forms of mass media that lives up to the faith suggestions you offer. There's no glam to the little, the least, the last and the lost as Robert Capon describes it.

Amen.

Except one little thing.

Something about "Love the idea of God..." isn't sitting right with me. Not completely sure why.

Gee, Gordon, next time tell us what you REALLY think, it was kinda hard to tell with your benignly vanilla remarks....

So much air blown up your skirt on this one, I don't think I'll add to it (though I thoroughly enjoyed the rhythm and writing--and content--of your rant)(oops! more air;) ). Instead, a few thoughts in the form of questions.

What if one soul was moved to begin a journey of faith after seeing one of these films...would they have kingdom value then? I ask that because there are sooooooo many evangelistic methods I detest (I don't remember Jesus using a "method"), but what if God takes misguided motive and uses it for someone's good, His glory, and the advance of the Gospel?

Why "love the idea of God" instead of "love God"? Seriously, there IS a distinction and I'm honestly curious why you said one and not the other....

Hmmmm, while I was writing, Spidey and I had a blog "jinx". He or she owes me a Coke ;).

Thank you for writing this: "To be fair, the market is not so much conservative Christianity as it is uneducated Christianity. There are many brilliant, conservative Christians with both brains and good taste. FoxFaith isn't interested in these people. FoxFaith is looking for the Christian masses who will flock to any movie, provided the dialogue is filled with their favorite theological and political buzz-words."

Paul

Heh.. I remember watching Fox when it was little, and still trying to grow up and be a network.. all those awesome shows like the Tracey Ullman Show and Titus and the first season or two of In Living color. I haven't watched TV regularly in many years, so I have no idea when Fox jumped the shark and stopped being fun to watch.

Thank you. Love your honesty!and I so need to hear this stuff.
AMEN

"And may Fox Faith and everything like it go straight to hell."

Now THERE'S a last line worthy of an AMEN from the congregation!

I don't have a problem with secular studios making Christian movies. I don't have a problem with secular studios doing it only because they think there's a target audience out there. I don't even have a problem with their target audience being Uneducated Christianity.

My problem is with the product itself. Go ahead, make your money, but for God's sake (quite literally) don't do it with a cheesy, inferior, or shoddy product...because then that's how Christianity itself comes off as looking.

Fox Faith is the very personification of the reason I tend to avoid "Christian fiction," "Christian movies," and "Christian pop music." Granted, there's diamonds in the rough to be found, but generally speaking there's so much more Truth and Gospel to be found in the "secular" stuff than in so much of the Christian glurge that gets foisted on us.

Thanks for your site and for your writing, Gordon. Keep the faith.

http://lutheranhusker.blogspot.com

Babette's Feast...excellent movie!!!!

... "can go straight to hell"????

I guess I'm missing the part about loving others as Christ loves them. Seems pretty ignorant for all you "educated" Christians to be trashing films you've never even seen. Last time I checked, Christ was a storyteller and there were a lot more people, Christian and non-Christian alike, buying movie tickets than attending little, insulated Covenant churches on the prarie. Enjoy your platitudes while the media conversation continues without you.

Mmmmmm...this essay was like a big bowl of Blue Bell Hill Country Peach Ice Cream. So yummy going down you just have to eat another bowl. Thanks, you were bang on.

I showed my wife who teaches broadcast/journalism at a local high school the "media packet" for "The Last Sin Eater" that came our little congregation. She just laughed and said hers was bigger. I think she meant the media packet she got.

I've heard very good things about Amazing Grace.

And have suggested to my small group that we go see it sometime in the next couple weeks.

Still, I hesitated before suggesting it. Now, I'm suggesting that we go out some Saturday in much the same way as we might go bowling to have some fun and enjoy each other's company -- a far cry from building a sermon series around it. But I am so distressed by this marketing-to-churches thing by FoxFaith and their ilk that I find myself swinging the pendulum way far in the opposite direction.

Yea, that's the spirit! It makes me feel a little less bad about things I have recently "passionately" criticized. I think it is really bad to be so careful to not step on any toes, that we don't say what we mean or believe.

every searcher's guidebook to Christianity should include this post ~ at least, from your 8 "suggestions" to the end. This is spot on, Gordon.

AMEN!

RLP,
Good golly lad, I look at all the ruckus your finely written work stirs up and you most definitely have the discerning gift of "hot spot" pickingness. Keep it up. It's such a good thing you do in His service.

Babette's Feast - a personal favorite of mine as well.
Peace,
Presbyterian Gal

i don't know if any of you have heard the news. apparently the tomb of Jesus has been discovered along with the other family members. it's a controversial piece of course. the documentary will premiere on Discovery Channel on 4th March. read all about it at www.discovery.com/tomb

At least you didn't the boxing glove sent to pastors to promote Rocky Balboa

ok, the go to hell part might be a little strong, but everything is dead on, especially your list of things to search for. Religion is worthy of all our hard fought efforts, not just showing up at a theatre and expecting to get applicable, biblical theology...thanks for not gathering up the youth and throwing them on a bus toward the theatre...

I like you. This is my first visit. I'll come back.
Thanks for goodthinking. It makes me have goodthink too.

I loved your comments. I'm a huge fan of movies but find many of the 'Christian' movies very difficult to take. I'd add to the list of good movies Monsignor Quixote. It is a very faithful rendition of Graham Greene's novel. Add to that The Big Kahuna with a warning that folks might find the language rough. There are some brilliant scenes about 'selling Jesus' - it is one of my favourite Kevin Spacey film. Jesus of Montreal and Dead Man Walking would be on my list too. Amen to the recommendation of Babette's Feast and Tender Mercies.

I don't know if my comment will go on because somehow they always seem to disappear - must be something I do.
Anyway, I really liked this post, and the comments too (gotta come back and re-read some of this). I want to pick up one thing... There was some reference to Malcolm Muggeridge's comment that the media cannot contain the essence of the gospel. I think they can, if they speak the truth. I feel frustrated with gospel = short Q&A on Bible. It means "good news!" I also extend it to mean "the truth" that we have learned about God. So, if the media speaks truth then they can bring us to God. Perhaps the reason I personally find FoxFaith so very very offensive (fortunately the final judgement on their actions is up to God) is that the same chain peddles lies, rumour, gossip as News, and deliberately uses manipulative marketing techniques to target small (and not very rich) churches. To the person who argued someone could come to God through one of their films. I would argue that God can use all human experience to his glory and revelation, e.g.: war, but I would not recommend it as the most holy method of conversion.
Lastly, I come from a different country and I am honestly shocked with the mixing of the sacred and the profane that occurs in the US - even considering my own country is mostly secular and disrespectful of religion, they would never do that. I think it's good that US christians speak out - not least to ensure that a one-sided picture is not all that is presented.
Thanks RLP - I really liked it (I'm a regular reader).

Hello there, RLP -- A friend from my home church just quoted your current/recent blog to me, and so I have read the whole thread just now ... and will be adding your blog to my "list of favorites" soonest. Thanks!
By the way, could/would you put all those "great movie" suggestions into one list please? That would make it very easy to print out and take with, for borrowing at the public libraries we all (probably) regularly use to good/frugal effect.
-- Dot (in central Wisconsin)
PS: I agree that Babette's Feast is a great (and gospel-filled) movie!

I'm really enjoying reading this conversation. I added some film titles last night but now am registered so won't be anonymous any longer!
I'd add to my earlier post The Straight Story. It is a beautiful film about reconciliation and repentance. It is based on the true story of Alvin Straight who traveled hundreds of miles on John Deere tractor to reconcile with his brother (he had lost his driver's licence because of his age). And on the reconciliation theme there is also Pieces of April about a young woman who invites her estranged family to come to her apartment for Thanksgiving dinner. Her oven konks out so she has to get the help of all her neighbours to cook the turkey so it is also a neat film about community.

OH MAN...I had NO idea about this division. THIS CRACKS ME UP! Though I've got to ask, since when is a movie about a serial killer family friendly? I mean really, folks.
--shari

Not very thrilled with the Christian "pop culture", but at the same time I now try not to make a big deal when I see some big Blockbuster hit making Jesus and the Christian life made into media-hype. I mean, this religion went through roughly 2000 years of constant battles, martyrdom, conflicts with doctrines, and bias from outsiders and from within. It's still here after all of that and as I see, flourishing. I'm not going to let cruddy 30 minute sitcoms of the "Christian fad-like theme" disillusion my faith into ruin. When the Passion of the Christ and the DaVinci code came out, everyone (including me) got into a heated argument for a week or so. You read about how insulting they were, you heard how inspiring they were, but the thing about this "pop culture" is: it is always a person's opinion on the way they perceive religion. I think sometimes it can be dangerous for others if they don't already have a stable perception of their beliefs. Well, I heard a person say: instead of making such a hype on all of this and getting angry and blaming each other, why can't we talk about what Jesus really preached about instead of pointing fingers. Religion is all about monopoly now (somewhat, I suppose). It truly is a mess. What I say: if you can just simply say it's TV, never trust it and it is only good for entertainment and money, you could be saving yourself from it, but for others who don't know that, it isn't always the case of them knowing.

PS, I don't hate these people, some things I do watch and I can feel a little safe watching them, but a handful just don't suit me. You always have to be on your toes with things all the time.

In terms of "religious" movies, one of my top movies of all time is Kevin Smith's Dogma. It offended the Catholic League, but he's definitely got faith and it affirms mine every time I see it. It reminds me of God's sense of humor and joy in healing.

- Shannon

I like this post. It speaks about something that I, too, have felt about "Christian" movies. However, something about your post makes me feel uncomfortable. I don't like the idea of worshipping an idea. I think I know what you mean. But still.

http://sacredfount.blogspot.com/

James

I love this post. I'd like to know how many dozen times a day you get told that someone wants a pastor just like you, or if they knew a pastor like you, they'd actually start going to church (again).

I read your blog because you're the only person associated with any kind of organized religion who seems to make any sense to me since I started questioning my Catholic roots. Entries like this make me feel like I haven't strayed as much as I'd thought.

Hey Preacher,

Another of my favorite blogs, Kung Fu Monkey, takes a similar tact with regards to Libertas, a similar company to Fox Faith that produced Path to 9/11. The end of the piece* underlines your point well, from a screenwriter's standpoint:
[...]we all do the money chase, we all have a viewpoint, we all have stories we want to tell. But as soon as your focus is on your agenda over your second act, you screwed up. The project will suffer, and the audience will be able to tell something's gone off in the fridge.

Highly recommended.

* http://kfmonkey.blogspot.com/2006/09/path-to-911.html

RLP,

I agree with your entire piece, but I want to make one counter argument here. The Last Sin-Eater is a pretty good book. It is at least as good as John Grisham or Janet Evanovich. Both of which are personal guilty pleasures. Walden Media is doing a good job with Christian themes as well.

Scott

I would like to be removed from the Foxfaith(less) mailing list. I would even like to see a movement in that direction . . . Perhaps a protest from the advocates for authentic Christianity. Any suggestions on how we might go about it? When you look closely at Foxfaith you see that it is just pandering to the Christian right and trying to cash in on a piece of their financial action. The whole Fox thing is sick profiteering.

Dude. How badly does this suck? Does it ever cross our minds that saying goddamn is less taking God's name in vain then stuff like this? And Testa-Mints.

Forget the fact that movies should be considered art and don't have to have Bible references to be good art. I'm sad that most art that has anything explicitly to do with Jesus or God just plain sucks. (Have you seen "One Night with the King," the movie about Esther? HORRIBLE!)

Thanks for getting me riled up. My wife is gonna love our dinner conversation tonight.

Tim

Amen! Amen! Amen!

Alexis,
London

http://gracecatholic.blogspot.com

I ran across your site while looking for resources and now you've got me hooked! I read it to my husband who married this lady preacher after many years of being a C & E Churchman and a liberal at that. He is still struggling with being a "minister's wife" and feels that sometimes I am trying to make a religious fanatic out of him. As I read the blog to him he kept saying "Yes, Yes, That's what I've been trying to say." I think you've hooked him too.
Thank you!!

RevBetsy

I ran across it looking up foxFaith. Yes, they found the tiny Denmark Congo Church too. Fortunately for us, Alene at the Post Office has a recycling bin right there and in it went. Foxfaith, imagine that. It's hard to keep taking these people seriously. God knows they don't take the christian faith as anything serious or sacred. As if "Father Jonathan" weren't obnoxious enough.

A Out take On Christian Movies

Fire can't put fire out and yet us Christians think it to be a substance worth while to play with. We are suppose to live a life so wise and cautious that the world is left empty in their accusations. Unfortunately, we have been branded in the mind of the unsaved with being a people of fire rather than a people of refreshing water. We're to put out fires... not start them.

If anyone thinks Christian movies suck... there nothing wrong with that, that's your opinion, you are entitled to it. It's when one decides to go past their sphere of friendships and involve the "Us" kind of people who didn't ask them for their opinion. It's then, in my opinion... that that's what sucks. Rather than exceeding past friendships and imposing a complaint at the "International Christian Movies Suck Conference" (which seems to never have a ending), do something about it. Until then it’s just talk... back talk on the Christians.

I realize that in order to fix the problem, we do need to know and identify what the problem is. The miracle only takes place when we incorporate the solution to the problem, thus the problem then ceases to exist but that would big time suck for some, (that is the Christian movies becoming exceptionally great) because they would have nothing to talk nasty about. And because I've never seen awards given out to those who stood up and noticed the problems, I've come to agree with ethics and logic, that those types of people aren't ever going to be on my pay role.

The awards that are affirmed with standing ovations and applauds are for the ones who invent, who realign the vertebrae, who do a mechanical wonder on our engines. They are for the ones who scientifically provide the vaccine for the dying patient... We pay these people to fix things not to reminisce on the problem.

I don't want others to tell me about how Christian movies suck with their low budget money that we think should of been spent on a happy meal, super sized. Some Christians could fund a descent Christian movie with the amount they spend on their telus cell bills, dialoguing trash about their Christian brother and sister in the Lord. I'm just interested to know whether or not these Christians who bash Christian movies, get in contact with the film producers and in love, share with them a strategy to improve? Psalm 101 talks about putting to silence him who slanders his neighbour in secret, so tell the producers... not "Us".

You see, I'm not impressed with anyone who talks and talks about the long grass. It's only when one fertilizes, waters and cuts the grass that I $Pay attention to it‘s beauty... Yes, there are Christian movies I would not be proud of as a Christian to show you, neither would I recommend them. The same goes for secular movies though, because there's some that my Spirit or just plain flesh can’t handle watching. So rather than telling you to stay away from, and inform you of all the Christian movies that suck and didn‘t make my top five enjoyed, I’d rather list the ones I recommend and am proud of as a Christian.

Here are some Christian movies I enjoyed…

-One Night With The King- -Extreme Days- -Thr3e- -The Visitation- -The Omega Code- -Facing The Giants- -Jeremiah- -Mercy Streets-
-Love Comes Softly- -Loves Enduring Promise- -Loves long Journey- -Passion Of Christ- -Amazing Grace- -Hangman’s Curse -Time Chasers-

For more recommendations for movies to go Foxfaith.com

Your Brother in Christ, Shawn W P