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Dr. John Morris with Joshua Phillips
Posted by Doug Phillips on February 28, 2006 | Permalink
Greg Wheatley of MBN’s PrimeTime America will be interviewing me at 4:30 p.m. (CST) today to discuss the legacy of Dr. Henry Morris, who passed into eternity late Saturday night. PrimeTime America is syndicated on 250 stations nationwide from WMBI, Moody’s flagship station in Chicago.
To listen live during the interview, go to www.mbn.org, and click the “Listen Now Live” icon.
Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. (1 Corinthians 1:25)
For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, [even] his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse. (Romans 1:20)
A faithful teacher who served on the faculties of three major universities and went on to found the Institute for Creation Research, a graduate school, a research organization, and the Christian Heritage College (currently San Diego Christian College), Dr. Morris spent his life engaged in “the pulling down of strongholds; casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (II Corinthians 10:4,5).
Late Saturday night, at the age of eighty-seven, Dr. Morris was ushered into the presence of the Lord Jesus.
The world will never be the same again.
The Long War Against God
Though evolutionary theory long predated Charles Darwin, the scientific and theological revolution he conceived with the publication of The Origins of the Species by Means of Natural Selection, Or the Preservation of Favored Races in the Struggle for Life in the nineteenth century gave birth to the unspeakable horrors in the twentieth century.
The Theory of Evolution served as the philosophical justification for eugenics, abortion, Nazism, and Marxism. Its influence on American culture has been far-reaching, driving much of the modern understanding of psychology, education theory, law, economics, and bio-ethics. Few if any academic disciplines have been left untouched by the pernicious influence of the evolutionary worldview. But the most significant impact of the Theory of Evolution was on the Church itself.
Early in the battle, Christians conceded significant ground. Scriptural compromises, concern about academic respectability, and general ignorance of the philosophical nature of the battle left significant casualties. In the end, many Christians either adopted a dichotomous view of science and faith, or they abandoned long-held assumptions about the integrity of Holy Scripture. The widespread indoctrination in evolutionary theory of Christian children through the government school systems only further entrenched the problem.
Henry Morris: Hero of the Church
Against this tide of skepticism, rationalism, and pseudo-scientism, the creation movement would emerge, forcing the antithesis between the religion of Christ and the religion of evolution. The recognized founder and leader of this movement was Dr. Henry Morris.
The origins of the Creation movement can be traced to the publication of his first major work, The Genesis Flood, which he co-authored with Dr. John Whitcomb in 1961. The impact of The Genesis Flood has been far-reaching. The book accomplished two important goals: First, it demonstrated that any attempt to diminish the biblical account of a global flood does so at the expense of sound hermeneutics and biblical orthodoxy. In so doing, it refuted various evolutionary compromise theories like the local flood model, the tranquil flood model, and the Gap theory, all of which incorporated uniformitarian, evolutionary assumptions. Second, the book presented a working and intelligent model of biblical catastrophism that demonstrates how flood model geology provides biblically sound answers regarding the age of the earth.His Life Message
His life message was this: Believe God’s Word! It is reliable. It was given to us by the Creator of the universe, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is completely accurate as to everything it says, and there is no tension between biblical orthodoxy and scientific truth. God created the world in six twenty-four-hour days, just as the Scripture states. Then sin brought death into the world. Next, the world was destroyed by a global flood of Noah’s day. The Bible gives us the grid for interpreting scientific fact, not the unproven assumptions of Big Bang cosmology or evolutionary materialism in any form. Between these two positions, there can be no compromise. When applied to the facts as we find them, the biblical account of origins provides the only intelligent and truthful foundation for interpretation. All other approaches are incoherent.
Over the course of his public ministry, Dr. Morris communicated an unflinching confidence in God’s Word, an unassailable commitment to the harmony between science and Divine Revelation, and a firm recognition of the presuppositional nature of thought. Though he was a master at presenting the scientific evidences for creation, he became well known for insisting that neither evolution nor creation could be proven by an appeal to brute facts. Instead, Dr. Morris insisted that the religious presuppositions of the scientist (whether Christian or atheist) define their grid of analysis and their interpretation of the data.
Faithful to the End
One of the most prolific Christian writers of the twentieth century, he is best known for The Bible and Modern Science, The Genesis Record, The Biblical Basis for Modern Science, The Long War Against God, and the enormously helpful annotated Bible, The Defender’s Bible.
Henry Morris did not believe in retirement. Dr. Morris modeled what Kipling described as an essential element of manhood: “filling the unforgiving minute with sixty seconds worth of distance run.” The author of more than sixty books and many thousands of articles, Dr. Morris spent the last decade of his life with the recognition that God had allotted him only a brief remaining season to leave a written legacy of devotion to Jesus Christ for the benefit of future generations.
And thank the Lord that He did! His recent writings reflect the mature insights of a seasoned Christian warrior who has spent a lifetime immersed in the Word and on the front lines of the defining battle of his generation. One of the last books that he finished was For Time and Eternity which reflected the direction of his heart toward the glories of Heaven. To the very end, Dr. Morris was daily busy writing.
He Will Be Remembered as One of the Greatest Warriors
The twentieth century will be remembered for some truly remarkable defenders of the faith. I think of the still highly productive R.C. Sproul, of the now-deceased Cornelius Van Til, and of three of Van Til’s most notable students, Francis Schaeffer, R.J. Rushdoony, and Greg Bahnsen. But in terms of having an immediate, practical, culture-transforming apologetic ministry where the battle raged most ferociously, an argument can be made that Dr. Henry Morris was the Christian man of the century.
He Feared No ManHenry Morris did not fear man, and he did not concern himself with the approval of his peers. He demonstrated that the righteous are as bold as a lion and he exposed the wisdom of the proverb, “the fear of man bringeth a snare” (Prov. 29:25). Dr. Morris received many barbs from his enemies. (He was repeatedly the butt of sarcasm from some of the great deceivers of this generation — men like Carl Sagan and Stephen J. Gould.) But like Nehemiah before the scoffers of his day, Dr. Morris pressed on with indefatigable resolve.
Regretfully, Dr. Morris was dismissed and misrepresented by some professing Christian scientists with ministries of their own. Rather than engaging in the merits of the debate, some of these ministries resorted to fear tactics whereby they would paint for their audience a phony picture of creationists as non-academic science hacks. Through all of this, Dr. Henry Morris remained a gentleman and a scholar, never responding in-kind, no matter how vitriolic or ungentlemanly the tactic of his opponent. He was always the best man in the room. Those who dialogued with Dr. Morris on these battles heard him pray for his enemies and speak of them with charity and hope.
In short, Dr. Henry Morris was not merely a great leader, he was a true Christian.
This image taken during the taping of the After Eden project. From left to right in a semicircle: Dr. Russel Humphreys; Dr. John Whitcomb; Dr. John Morris; Dr. Henry Morris, Doug Phillips
A Personal Retrospective
Then something happened.
God worked in my life through the boldness of several men to bring me the words of life that would ultimately lead to my salvation. One of them was my father who announced: “The Bible is true in every detail. God created the world in six twenty-four-hour days, exactly as it says in the book of Genesis.” Another man (who would become my pastor and mentor) challenged me by opening Scripture and handing me a book entitled The Genesis Flood. By the age of thirteen, I had learned to love the Lord of Creation. Since that time, I have viewed Dr. Henry Morris as a mentor and spiritual father.
For more than a decade, in hundreds of forums across the nation, I have shared with Christian audiences the debt of gratitude I feel toward Dr. Henry Morris. He was one of the seven most influential men in my life and played a significant role in my own conversion, spiritual development, and life vision. He personally showed me love and respect. He believed in me — as demonstrated by several key opportunities he extended to me over the last ten years.
Dr. Henry Morris: A Founder of the Home School Movement?
My thesis was simple: Henry Morris is one of less than a handful of men most responsible for the modern home education movement and the rise of Christian schools.
I still hold to this thesis.
Though he did not begin with the intent of launching a revolution in education, the works of Dr. Morris brought many Christians to the realization that it was wrong to send children to religious institutions that taught children that they evolved from monkeys. Today, there are millions of children being home educated and many others in Christian schools. Every Christian school and home school in America owes Dr. Henry Morris and ICR a debt of gratitude.
Some years later, I was appointed Adjunct Professor of Apologetics for ICR. After the departure of Ken Ham to begin his outstanding ministry, Answers In Genesis, I joined Dr. John Morris for Back to Genesis conferences held periodically around the country. During this time (in 2003), I experienced one of the greatest highlights of my life as a Christian apologist and minister of the Gospel when ICR invited me to spend a week in a studio with Dr. Henry Morris, Dr. John Morris, Dr. John Whitcomb, and Dr. Russell Humphreys, taping a series on the issue of creation compromise and the question of death before Adam.
The two octogenarian heroes (Morris and Whitcomb) were sharp as a tack. Though more than forty years had passed since they co-authored The Genesis Flood, the clarity of their thinking and the power of their collaborative effort was inspiring. At the time, most of us suspected that this would be the last time these great men would co-labor together on this earth.
Farewell to a Shepherd of Children
For years now, Dr. Morris has been turning his thoughts and his writings to the beauty of the Lord Jesus and the promise of Heaven. I am so thankful that he is absent from his mortal body, but present with the Lord Jesus Christ. My love and compassion is with his children, especially my dear friend Dr. John Morris who has so faithfully honored his father as president of ICR.
In the final analysis, I think of Dr. Morris as one of the great shepherds of twentieth-century Christians. He taught us to have a child-like faith in Christ and His Word. He modeled for us the humble, charitable demeanor of a Christian warrior. He inspired us to dedicate our lives to the glorious study of the God of Creation.
Dr. Morris gave hope to tens of thousands of Christian children who are no longer just searching for answers in a sea of evolutionary confusion. Because of Dr. Henry Morris, many caught the “creation bug.” Many have grown to share this passion for creation to their children and grandchildren. More importantly, they have fallen in love with the God of Creation. Today, they are digging up dinosaurs for the glory of God, producing radio shows that proclaim the God of creation, conducting scientific experiments in the name of Jesus, engaging the false prophets of evolution, and passionately defending the Word of God against evolutionary compromise.
I was one of those children.
Posted by Doug Phillips on February 27, 2006 | Permalink
“Suppose a nation in some distant region should take the Bible for their only lawbook, and every member should regulate his conduct by the precepts there exhibited! ... What a Utopia; what a Paradise would this region be!” —President John Adams, February 22, 1756, diary, quoted in The World Treasury of Religous Quotations, edited and compiled by Ralph L. Woods (New York, New York: Garland Books, 1966), 76
Of this article, one reader wrote:
Jesus Christ said, “If you continue in my word, you shall truly be my disciples, and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (The Gospel of John 8:31-32 RSV). If it isn’t the Truth, it won’t set you free. This is one of the most challenging yet ‘freeing’ pieces of journalism I have read in a long time. Thank God for modern-day heroes who are willing to take an uncompromising stand for righteousness, truth, and justice! And please convey our sincere thanks to Wesley Strackbein for this compelling record of the courage and conviction.... —Marlo & Roger Sherman; Boardmembers Christian Home Educators of West Virginia
Posted by Doug Phillips on February 24, 2006 | Permalink
I am still mightily impressed by my own dear mother who attended her twenty-fifth college reunion carrying my younger brother Samuel in her womb. But I have to admit that Mrs. Janise Wulf of California has definitely got the attention of the national press. She gave birth this week to a healthy 6 lbs. 9 oz. boy. Mrs. Wulf was sixty-two years old, though a mere babe next to Adriana Iliesco of Romania who last year was sixty-six when she gave birth to her healthy child. Guinness claims that she is the oldest woman on record to give birth, but this statement is easily disproved by reading Genesis 21.
For clarification purposes: To the extent that individuals are extending the years of fertility through artificial insemination techniques that involve the murder of children by disposing of fertilized eggs, all such techniques must be viewed as grievous and contrary to the Word of God.
A Vision Forum booth at the National Religious Broadcasters Convention
We have set two important visions before the Lord. The first is to have churches and organizations across America sponsor special showings of The League of Grateful Sons this Memorial Day as a means of discipling the nation in the Fifth Commandment and honoring our World War II-generation fathers. The second prayerful vision for the next few months has been to see the Gospel, the foundational message of Genesis, and the biblical hope for joyful Christian family life spread throughout our nation and overseas as more stations and networks carry the Vision Forum Jonathan Park creation radio adventure drama.
We thank the Lord that God is already answering prayers and opening doors. I recently spoke just before John Piper at a conference of pastors and was thrilled to have nearly one hundred church leaders sign up, expressing interest in showing the film for Memorial Day. Also, God appears to be opening the door for broadcasting the film on national cable television as well. Regarding Jonathan Park: There appears to be a steady show of interest on the part of new stations to carry the drama. Perhaps you would consider praying for our Memorial Day vision, and contacting the Christian radio station manager in your community requesting that he put Jonathan Park on the air. In the meantime, don’t forget to visit www.johnathanpark.com.
Providence Mather tests his technique. Not tested of yet is the impact of surfing on diapers.
On this day sixty-one years ago, the United States Marines from 3rd Platoon, E Company, 2nd Battalion, 28th Regiment, 5th Marine Division raised the flag on Mt. Suribachi, Iwo Jima. Joe Rosenthal’s iconic picture, providentially snapped at just the right millisecond, gave hope to millions. It is still the most famous image in history. Less famous, but equally telling are the series of shots taken on Suribachi that day by Marine photographer James Lowery.
Last year, I interviewed dozens of former Marines and Navy Corpsmen, men now in their eighties, who watched the first and second flag-raising on Suribachi. (Their compelling story is documented in the Vision Forum film, The League of Grateful Sons.) Sixty years had passed for these men when I interviewed them, but the emotions of that moment still evoked tears. Each of them told a different story of what the event meant to them. But there was one common denominator — hope!
The sight of the flag marked an emotional turn in the bloodiest battle in Marine Corps history. For a few moments, the horror of war stopped and tens of thousands of men on land and sea shouted and cheered. The same wind that blew Old Glory on Suribachi was carrying a spirit of hope throughout the ranks. Surely, victory was near.
Thus it is with all timely flag raisings. In times past, flags were referred to as “standards.” Maintaining a standard in battle meant everything.
Of course, not all battles are fought with guns. Often, the greatest battles are fought for the hearts and souls of men. The family is the first field of battle in the war for souls. Parents have a mission to fight for the souls of their children. All true fathers crave the the souls of their children for the Lord, and will relentlessly fight toward that end. For this reason, every father who raises a holy standard in his home is a source of hope to the bride and children the Lord has given to him.
George Washington (whose birthday was yesterday) understood the necessity of raising standards, even when it is unpopular to do so. His words indicate that he had a mature understanding of the sovereignty of God. Regarding the raising of standards, he wrote:
If to please the people we offer what we ourselves disapprove, how can we afterward defend our work? Let us raise a standard to which the wise and honest can repair. The event is in the hand of God.
Posted by Doug Phillips on February 23, 2006 | Permalink
On this day in 1836, the siege of the Alamo began in San Antonio.
Today, we fight for a cause even greater than that of Texas independence from tyranny. We fight in the battle of our lives. We fight for the Lord Jesus Christ, His lordship, and His law in the hearts of men and over our nation.
Yes, we do care about righteousness in a nation. The Bible tells us to care. And the defining battle of our generation has personal and national implications. It is the battle over whether men will submit to the Lord (and, consequently, to His created law order), or whether they will idolatrously substitute and worship their own antinomian vision of reality. The present-day manifestation of the great war for the Lordship of Jesus Christ is most clearly seen in the battle for the meaning, preservation, and promotion of the Christian family.
We are presiding over a litany of historic firsts in the annals of Christendom. Our widespread ignorance of history and the progressive desensitization of our consciences to the paganism of our culture has blinded us to the battle lines.
These “firsts” have been incubating for more than half a century, but most are being hatched before our eyes: They include the widespread toleration of homosexuality by the professing Christian community; the mass exodus of mothers from the home and into the workforce; the propagation of the family-destroying doctrine of evolution with our children; the mass rejection of babies as a blessing and the prevention of children through artificial technologies as a norm for professing Christian families; the neutering of our sons and daughters through dress, lifestyle, and roles such that the spirit of cultural androgeny is alive and well; a higher than 50% divorce rate among professing Christians; and the horrific acceptance of the “abomination” of women being sent to war. Behind all of this is an atrocious ignorance of Holy Scripture and a rejection of sound doctrine for “itching ears” theology.
Does God care about discipling nations and teaching them the love of His Son and the beauty of His righteous law order? The Great Commission commands us to “make disciples of nations” and to “teach them all things whatsoever I have commanded.” “All things” is Genesis to Revelation.
The Great Commission is not part of the palsied, weak, blasphemous “gospel” message so popular today, but part and parcel to a victorious, life-changing, nation-transforming Gospel vision. This vision is not realized by political or military top-down takeover of culture, but is advanced from the bottom up as men submit their hearts to the Lord Jesus Christ and honor His lordship in every area of life.
With this in mind, let us not only remember the glorious Alamo, but a far greater wall-protecting battle of Nehemiah’s day:
And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, [which is] great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses. (Nehemiah 4:14)
Ninety pound mom fights seven-hundred-pound polar bear for the life of her children. Bear loses!
The year 1778 marked the first European contact of record with the Hawaiian island chain. Captain James Cook led the expedition. It was also the first European observation of the ancient sport of surfing.
Cook was a remarkable man. He twice circumnavigated the globe and even charted key portions of Antarctica, but his dream of finding an efficient route from England to Asia without rounding the Cape of Good Hope was never realized. The discovery of the Hawaiian (“Sandwich”) Islands was on his third great voyage. It would be his last.
But a diversion the most common is upon the Water, where there is a very great Sea, and surf breaking on the Shore. The Men sometimes 20 or 30 go without the Swell of the Surf, & lay themselves flat upon an oval piece of plan about their Size and breadth, they keep their legs close on top of it, & their Arms are us’d to guide the plank, thye wait the time of the greatest Swell that sets on Shore, & altogether push forward with their Arms to keep on its top, it sends them in with a most astonishing Velocity, & the great art is to guide the plan so as always to keep it in a proper direction on the top of the Swell, & as it alters its direct. If the Swell drives him close to the rocks before he is overtaken by its break, he is much prais’d. On first seeing this very dangerous diversion I did not conceive it possible but that some of them must be dashed to mummy against the sharp rocks, but jus before they reach the shore, if they are very near, they quit their plank, & dive under till the Surf is broke, when the piece of plank is sent many yards by the force of the Surf from the beach. The greatest number are generally overtaken by the break of the swell, the force of which they avoid, diving and swimming under the water out of its impulse. By such like excercises, these men may be said to be almost amphibious. The Women could swim off to the Ship, & continue half a day in the Water, & afterwards return. The above diversion is only intended as an amusement, not a tryal of skill, & in a gentle swell that sets on must I conceive be very pleasant, at least they seem to feel a great pleasure in the motion which this Exercise gives.
If you look carefully to the right of the image, you can see a ninety-percent-submerged photographer shooting a boogie boarder as he descends the wave.
Some time ago, the residents of Oahu began sizing their waves by the back rather than the face, a standard which left much smaller height measurements. The idea here was to quell the budding reputation for the size of North Shore waves and to discourage mainlanders from making the surf pilgrimage to the island.
Many of the pro and semi-pro surfers I watched wore helmets, a recent development in surfing gear necessitated by the size of the North Shore waves and the power of the waves to smash surfboards and humans. I stopped counting broken surfboards at the fifth destruction.
God bless the surf champs at the Bonzai Pipeline. But the most amazing surf story of which I know occurred this year when I watched a mother of seven children ride a wave (in a bathing dress) more than two hundred yards. That was impressive. I am not saying who... but she looked a lot like the woman to the left.
Posted by Doug Phillips on February 22, 2006 | Permalink
”...there were never such devoted sisters.”
Last month, I watched these home school girls set new records in daughterly devotion to a Daddy’s vision and sisterly teamwork. God bless the Logan girls.
Extraordinary times require extraordinary men. George Washington was a giant of a man, uniquely crafted by the Lord and providentially raised up for a defining moment in our history. He was God’s tool to bring military victory to the cause of independence, to oversee the crafting of our Constitution, and to shape and define the meaning and nature of the American Presidency. As we progress into the twenty-first century, the future of Americans again seems uncertain. The urgency of the hour is for unflinching, stalwart men, who boldly proclaim the law of God, to stand with might in the very gates of the land, fighting in the defining battles of our generation. This year, on the 274th anniversary of our first Commander in Chief’s birth, Vision Forum inaugurates our “George Washington Man of the Year Award” — to recognize and honor those individuals who demonstrate, through their public courage, the stalwart spirit and mature leadership of the General himself. Tomorrow, Vision Forum will announce through our e-mail newsletter the 2006 George Washington Man of the Year Award (if you aren’t on our list, you can sign up here).
Posted by Doug Phillips on February 21, 2006 | Permalink
Vision Forum: You have lost another customer. I am grateful for the materials I received from Vision Forum (Thanksgiving Primer and Treasures of the Snow — I’ve been looking for the video for years). I am sorry that this mistake was made by Every Tribe Media, but I don’t think making them an enemy over this is the approach that best glorifies God.... Please remove me from your mailing list. I was afraid that I was going to receive these kind of e-mails from you, particularly on this subject.... My first thought when I heard the criticisms was to think about how the apostle Paul would have responded. His concern was that Christ be preached — even if it was out of evil motive. (Of course, in this case, the wrong motive would be on the part of the actor — not the filmmaker.) Philippians 1:15-18. Please also remove me from the list.... —Renee S.
There are so many angles to this issue, but let me mention just one: Currently, children who watch the film and who are appropriately impressed with the outstanding acting job of Chad Allen in his starring role as a Christian martyr can learn more about Mr. Allen by doing a simple Google search with the actor’s name and the movie title. What they will find includes Mr. Allen’s Web site that features homo-erotic material and homosexual proselytizing. We believe this is defiling, wicked, and in opposition to the Gospel. The unwise decision on the part of our friends at ETE opened the door for this problem. On the other hand, we are grateful that ETE has finally removed from the End of the Spear Web site their comments about Mr. Allen’s theatrical productions which analogize our Lord Jesus Christ and the disciples to the sexually deviant behavior of which Mr. Allen is a practitioner and advocate.
Like you, we thank God whenever the Gospel is preached. In our view, however, the fact that God may use unrepentant, active rapists, murderers, Buddhists, Nazis, adulterers, or homosexuals to preach the Gospel does not mean that we should knowingly be yoked with them in the work of the Lord. Finally, I want to assure you that none of us view Every Tribe Entertainment as an enemy. We view them as friends who have created a very public controversy through unwise decisions, and have made some very regrettable statements about this controversy to the press. It was our view that their public actions and public statements, especially those boldly defending their choices, required a public response because of the ongoing harm and the confusion that was being caused. Of course, we respect your desire to be off our list and will remove you immediately. Warm Regards in Christ.
More than a half a million individuals received the 2006 Vision Forum catalog, but only fifty-eight made it to the finish line by solving our catalog mystery. Congratulations to each one of you Sherlocks out there! Keep your eyes and ears sharp for bigger and more rewarding mysteries to be solved in the year ahead.
For encouraging (and sometimes controversial) news, commentary, and Vision Forum specials, click here to sign up for our e-mail newsletter.
(Justice and Liberty — friends, by the grace of God)
If you have not yet read the enormously encouraging and practical book Making Brothers and Sisters Best Friends, today is the day to do so. This painfully honest, hilarious book offers a creative look at how to build relationships between siblings. The goal is not just for brothers and sisters to get along, but to be best friends.
The Vision Forum 2006 Father and Daughter Retreat at Callaway Gardens in Georgia, is just over a month away. Hope to see you there!
Posted by Doug Phillips on February 20, 2006 | Permalink
Thank the Lord for the Christian Sabbath, for the meeting of the church, and for the sweetness of fellowship with the saints. Thanks also to our Lord for a generation of boys who will someday lead the local church.
Posted by Doug Phillips on February 19, 2006 | Permalink
May the Lord have mercy on us. Where are the voices for biblical sanity?
After Christianity Today gave the vile homosexual “love story” Brokeback Mountain three out of four stars on their review chart, readers responded with dark confusion, including the following comment from this man, whose theology — similar to Chad Allen’s (the homosexual activist star of End of the Spear) — is taking captive the Christian sub culture:
As a gay Christian who has lived the story of Brokeback Mountain and survived to come to understand, appreciate, and embrace his God-given sexuality, I was so impressed with your open-minded review. Your discussion starters are so thoughtful and intelligent, and I hope Christian viewers will consider these questions with the open heart and open mind that Christ would expect. Your thoughtful review was a beautiful example of true Christian values in stark contrast to the nasty, political, power grabbing, divisive style of Christianity that is so prevalent today. —M. Sutherland
The world is swimming in hogwash over the release of Brokeback Mountain. Critics are falling over themselves to laud compounded praise over this story of two ranch handlers who can’t keep their hands off each other. What is disturbing — beyond the celebration of sodomy — is the idea that “love” redefines all God-created categories of the Biblical social order. God created man and woman and ordained their consecrated union as the covenantal unit upon which civilization find its fulcrum. Yet, Joe Bob and Jethro can two-step over divine order “cuz they love each other.”It’s Romeo and Juliet from the pit of Gomorrah — forbidden love that leads to self-destruction. And, again, it is the oppressive authority of Christian culture and the Christian family that forbids “lovers” from fulfilling their persecuted desire and drives them to self-destruction. The victim is now the sinner, and God and His order are the tyrannical perpetrators. Is Brokeback Mountain a great movie? I’ll never know. Is it superbly acted? Who cares?
Posted by Doug Phillips on February 18, 2006 | Permalink
I am so grateful for the amazing team of men and women who make Vision Forum’s Jonathan Park radio adventure drama a reality. Especially noteworthy as the genius behind our series, Mr. Pat Roy wears many hats, including writer and producer. Thanks to Pat, the show just keeps getting better and better. My children wait with baited breath for each new episode and listen to them over and over again on CD.
God willing, Vision Forum will be producing twenty-four new episodes this year. For those of you who enjoyed the secret codes and mysteries built into the Vision Forum catalog this year, I invite you to pay very careful attention to future episodes of Jonathan Park. We have some notable surprises in store for our listeners that will creatively push the envelope of conventional radio adventure drama in a direction beyond what you might imagine.
In the meantime, I would like to officially welcome both the nation of Sudan and our own nation’s top Christian radio station to the Jonathan Park family. Thanks to the work of my missionary brother Brad Phillips (president of the Persecution Project), impoverished Sudanese Christians will be able to tune in through the network of radio stations he has established.
Jonathan Park has also just been added to the Saturday morning line-up on radio station KWAVE (KWVE-FM). KWAVE was named the #1 Christian radio station by the National Religious Broadcasters and reaches about 140,000 listeners in southern California. Their signal is heard in Los Angeles, Orange County, Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Diego. While the station has played Jonathan Park for a few months each summer, we are grateful that they are now adding it to their year-round weekly schedule. If you live in southern California, we invite you to tune into KWAVE at 107.9FM on Saturday mornings at 10:00 a.m. (Pacific Time). If you live outside the area, you can tune in at www.kwve.com.
Make sure to visit www.jonathanpark.com for exciting news, adventures, and downloadable curriculum that trace the themes presented in each broadcast.
Posted by Doug Phillips on February 17, 2006 | Permalink
This year, Vision Forum is pleased to present what we believe is one of the most helpful, easy to use, and comprehensive Bible study tools available to the Christian community to date. Entitled Balancing the Sword, it is the result of ten years of work and investigation and careful scholarship. Not only the Phillips family, but the families at Vision Forum, are using this tool in our own home dicsipleship.
The heart of this Bible study tool is a two-volume, question and answer manual that goes chapter-by-chapter through all sixty-six books of Holy Writ. Each of the probing fill-in-the-blank questions encourages interaction with the text and includes multiple cross-references to deepen your study with connected passages. Ample space is provided in each volume for precise, objective responses and your own meditations associated with each question. Rather than appealing to your opinion, Balancing the Sword drives the reader to the authority of the Scriptures and what is actually contained in the text. In total, there are an astounding 7,116 questions — literally one every 2.7 verses. With questions to help facilitate engaging discussions and an answer key that supplies you with immediate references to check your response, Balancing the Sword will increase your understanding and aid your retention of the Scriptures. This comprehensive study tool also features hundreds of charts, maps, and carefully selected images of biblical events.
Here are a few of the comments that have been received from satisfied readers:
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I cannot tell you how impressed I am with the Balancing the Sword text.... It is incredibly well written ... comprehensive and yet prepared in such a way as it would be possible for all ages to answer the questions. I also liked the Scripture references that you have for all the different questions. I cannot wait to work our way through it! ... So much of the books of the Old Testament I have trouble getting through, especially the books of history! I am sure this will help. —Susan from North Redington Beach, FL I look forward to starting the reading of God’s word again with your plan. I am planning on using it with my family to start my 6 kids and wife all on the same page. God Bless you and your company. —Douglas from Wantage, NJ Thanks for your study. We bought it from Vision Forum and enjoying it immensely!—Kurt from West Lafayette, IN I just received your books and I want you to know that I am very impressed. I look forward to reading them daily. —Danita in Haiti I printed a schedule, and I plan on starting it Monday to the benefit of my soul and my family’s. Thanks for the program. —Jeff in Greer, SC Hi! Our family purchased both volumes of Balancing the Sword a few months ago from Vision Forum. We love the material.... [O]ur 2 oldest boys, 13 and 11, will be going through one volume each as part of their daily school. Thank you for your years of hard work — what a blessing it is! —Lori We do live in Alaska! We are in the rural interior of Northern Alaska, Tok Junction. It is inbetween Fairabanks and Anchorage, AK. It is currently -40 below zero here ... a bit chilly ... so lots of time for Bible studies.... We are looking at purchasing 6 sets ... my husband feels they would be a wonderful heritage we could pass onto our current 6 children. I am sure you would agree. Again, thank you for your time and assistance. —Mrs. J. from Tok, AK Dear Friend, We are so excited to have this material! We homeschool our four children. We want to use your material for our 16 year old son.... Thank you so much for your time and may the LORD bless you. —Mrs. Christy from Three Rivers, MI Me and my family love Balancing the Sword. God Bless. —J.D. from Blanco, TX Hi — thank you SO MUCH for your materials ... they arrived in the mail today and we are really impressed and excited.... Thanks again. God bless you! —Rob and Shari from Maine I received Balancing the Sword, Vols. 1, 2, and the CD for Christmas. I am enjoying what I see. —Kate from Yorktown, VA I have now used BTS for almost a month and absolutely love it. Knowing that I am going to answer questions after reading encourages me to focus and pay more attention. The software allowed me to design a reading program that helps me get through those sections that have previously bogged me down. —Kerri from Graham, TX We were perusing the books and once again, I am quite impressed! It is quite evident that you have put a great deal of work, time, and love into this literary work. I know that he [my son in the military] is going to enjoy these study guides and will spend much time reading them. —Karen from San Antonio, TX
I look forward to starting the reading of God’s word again with your plan. I am planning on using it with my family to start my 6 kids and wife all on the same page. God Bless you and your company. —Douglas from Wantage, NJ
Thanks for your study. We bought it from Vision Forum and enjoying it immensely!—Kurt from West Lafayette, IN
I just received your books and I want you to know that I am very impressed. I look forward to reading them daily. —Danita in Haiti
I printed a schedule, and I plan on starting it Monday to the benefit of my soul and my family’s. Thanks for the program. —Jeff in Greer, SC
Hi! Our family purchased both volumes of Balancing the Sword a few months ago from Vision Forum. We love the material.... [O]ur 2 oldest boys, 13 and 11, will be going through one volume each as part of their daily school. Thank you for your years of hard work — what a blessing it is! —Lori
We do live in Alaska! We are in the rural interior of Northern Alaska, Tok Junction. It is inbetween Fairabanks and Anchorage, AK. It is currently -40 below zero here ... a bit chilly ... so lots of time for Bible studies.... We are looking at purchasing 6 sets ... my husband feels they would be a wonderful heritage we could pass onto our current 6 children. I am sure you would agree. Again, thank you for your time and assistance. —Mrs. J. from Tok, AK
Dear Friend, We are so excited to have this material! We homeschool our four children. We want to use your material for our 16 year old son.... Thank you so much for your time and may the LORD bless you. —Mrs. Christy from Three Rivers, MI
Me and my family love Balancing the Sword. God Bless. —J.D. from Blanco, TX
Hi — thank you SO MUCH for your materials ... they arrived in the mail today and we are really impressed and excited.... Thanks again. God bless you! —Rob and Shari from Maine
I received Balancing the Sword, Vols. 1, 2, and the CD for Christmas. I am enjoying what I see. —Kate from Yorktown, VA
I have now used BTS for almost a month and absolutely love it. Knowing that I am going to answer questions after reading encourages me to focus and pay more attention. The software allowed me to design a reading program that helps me get through those sections that have previously bogged me down. —Kerri from Graham, TX
We were perusing the books and once again, I am quite impressed! It is quite evident that you have put a great deal of work, time, and love into this literary work. I know that he [my son in the military] is going to enjoy these study guides and will spend much time reading them. —Karen from San Antonio, TX
In the raging battle for the defense of the family and the law of God against the rising tide of sodomite rights, it is crucial that Christians think with biblical integrity and strategic precision. This article provides one perspective on the some of the current skirmishes within the Christian community on this issue.
Posted by Doug Phillips on February 14, 2006 | Permalink
Part IV of the Vision Forum Inquiry into the ‘End of the Spear’ Controversy
The single most disappointing development of the last decade in the rising independent Christian film movement was the decision on the part of Every Tribe Entertainment to knowingly and deliberately retain a practicing sodomite and radical homosexual rights activist in the role of Christian martyr Nate Saint for the film End of the Spear after they had been notified of his behavior and were given the opportunity to release him from the project.
Much has been made by fine men like Randy Alcorn of the false witness against ETE by pastors who misjudged the motivations of ETE and misstated that ETE knew about Chad Allen’s militant anti-Christian platform before they hired him. I applaud Randy for his desire to prevent the spread of factually inaccurate information, as well as false judging.
This being said, it is my view that neither the motivations, nor the precise timing of ETE’s knowledge of Chad Allen’s homosexuality is the issue. The issue is ETE’s objectively unbiblical behavior. ETE had a clear opportunity to do what was right by releasing Chad Allen from the project or even canceling the project for the honor of the Lord Jesus Christ. Not only did they knowingly and wholeheartedly embrace this homosexual activist as their lead actor, but they are now telling the world that their decision was loving, correct, and biblical. For this reason, I believe we can objectively describe their actions as reprehensible.
In my view, the wrongness of this behavior includes (1) knowingly and willingly closely yoking in a Gospel effort with a man in a state of moral reprobation and at war with the Gospel, contrary to the Bible’s prohibition against such; (2) communicating to the world a pragmatic “ends justifies the means” philosophy of cultural evangelism and filmmaking; (3) presenting a patently unbiblical “dream theology” view of decision making and the will of God as justification of such behavior; and (4) advancing the homosexual agenda through the promotion of pro-homosexual material on their Web site and giving a national platform to an unrepentant sodomite activist, Hell-bent on a public crusade against Jesus Christ and the Christian family.
(As an aside: I am more than baffled at the response to the requirement that Chad Allen set before them that if the film was successful they would agree not to “bash gays.” Surely, no one suggests that we should “bash” sodomites, but is this the sort of dialogue and treaty we want to enter with those involved in morally criminal behavior?)
Nor should we imagine that it is acceptable for Christian filmmakers to cast, as lead actors, those who are notorious for their hostility to the Gospel, their public advocacy of universalism, their unrepentant and ongoing practice (and proselytization) of moral perversion, and their militant advocacy of homosexual rights. The Bible forbids such yoking. These are the facts in the End of the Spear/Chad Allen fiasco.
Making matters worse, Every Tribe Entertainment continues to promote (by direct reference through the official End of the Spear Web site) morally depraved, anti-Christian, explicit homosexual films and theatrical works by Allen. One of the referenced projects (Save Me) mocks Christians for opposing homosexuality. Another is a theatrical performance by Allen entitled Corpus Christie, in which a young sodomite boy and his twelve friends are analogized to Christ and the disciples. Of the blasphemous Corpus Christie, the End of the Spear Web site states that Chad Allen “struck gold.”
My heart breaks for the untold thousands of young men and women who, having trusted the filmmaker, will be so impressed with the remarkable acting of their new hero Chad Allen, that they go to his Web site to see the banners and story of The End of the Spear right alongside explicitly pro-homosexual material including at least one repugnant homo-erotic photograph of a partially clad Chad Allen with another man.
Have we been so desensitized to the sin of homosexuality that it is necessary to remind ourselves that homosexuality is not only a moral crime against God and man, but that God decreed sodomy a crime punishable by death under the Mosaic law? Or that, for two millennia of Western legal tradition, sodomy has been a criminal offense? Have we forgotten that this practice is a perversion so heinous in the eyes of the Lord that its practitioners are described as being given over to the final stages of reprobation (Romans 1)? Have we forgotten that homosexuality kills? It kills untold thousands of people through the spread of diseases like AIDS. It kills families by defying God’s created order for men and women. The toleration of this sin-plague by any society is tantamount to cultural suicide, because it brings with it the promise of national judgment. Have we forgotten that it is one thing to love and win the homosexual from his sin, but it is another to validate, equip, encourage, and elevate to positions of leadership in Gospel productions, those who are under the righteous judgment of the Lord? The producers of Every Tribe Entertainment appear to have confused this matter.
It grieves me deeply that the legacy of noble men such as Nate Saint and Jim Elliot has been sullied by the abundance of pro-perversion publicity, which the homosexual community has received in the national media at the release of this film. At a time when so many are battling for the sanctity of the home and the preservation of the Christian family, it is tragic that Christians would empower homosexual activists to gain a public forum (Larry King, et al.) whereby they can capitalize on the toleration of key homosexual activist-actors by Christian filmmakers. Every Tribe Entertainment has sent a message to the world: Christians have no problem subsidizing and promoting militant homosexuals for lead roles in our Gospel projects! To my view, this message is reprehensible.
Finally, it is my sincere desire that independent Christian filmmakers will look to Every Tribe Entertainment as an example of what not to do. More important than the cinematic artistry and emotional power of this one film, is the catastrophic message these filmmakers are sending to the Christian community and the nation. Our standard in evaluating these methodologies behind these films is not The Lord of the Rings or Chariots of Fire (both of which were secular productions from beginning to end that cast homosexuals in lead roles). Our standard remains the Bible. It is by this standard alone that Christian filmmakers must be evaluated. By this standard, we must learn from the mistakes of this film company and aspire to make godly films in a godly way. We must recognize that our Lord is just as concerned with the means as He is with the ends.
Posted by Doug Phillips on February 9, 2006 | Permalink
Part III of the Vision Forum Inquiry into the ‘End of the Spear’ Controversy
... We did not know Chad was gay when we offered him the roles of Nate and Steve Saint. We learned just before he accepted the roles, and then faced the decision of whether we should love him and include him in the journey.... (Quoted from the Bearing Fruit Communications and Every Tribe Entertainment e-mail of Feb. 8, 2006)
Allen didn’t meet Steve Saint until about three months after he was hired, when shooting began in January 2004 in Panama. When they finally met, Allen says he told Saint, “If you don’t want me to do this movie, because I respect you and your family so much and I respect this story so much, I will walk away from this contract or no contract, even if that means I’m liable for breaking the contract.” (Quoted from Christianity.com, “Christian Studio Explains Hiring of Gay Actor” by Mark Moring, Posted Jan. 26, 2006)
... But Saint had already decided to keep Allen on board. He said he had been praying about it, and that God clearly revealed the answer in a dream. In the dream, Saint says he was “being chased by a mob of Christians who were angry with me for having desecrated ‘their story.’ The answer to their hostility was easy: Just ask Chad to remove himself. But as quickly as this thought came to me, I found myself standing before God. His look was not as compassionate as I had expected. God said, ‘Steve, you of all people should know that I love all of my children. With regard to Chad Allen, I went to great lengths to orchestrate an opportunity for him to see what it would be like for him to walk the trail that I marked for him. Why did you mess with my plans for him?’” (Quoted on Christianity.com, “Christian Studio Explains Hiring of Gay Actor” by Mark Moring, Posted Jan. 26, 2006)
The executives at Every Tribe stood by Mr. Allen. Jim Hanon, the director, said he was by far the best actor for the role. “If we make films according to what the Bible says is true, it’s incumbent upon us to live that,” he said. “We disagree with Chad about homosexuality, but we love him and worked with him, and we feel that’s a Biblical position.” (Quoted from The New York Times, “Evangelical Filmmakers Criticized for Hiring Gay Actor,” Feb. 2, 2006)
Mart Green, president of Every Tribe Entertainment and founder of the Mardel Christian and Educational Supply chain, called Chad Allen, the star of End of the Spear, “the best actor available to tell our story of faith and forgiveness in the best way possible.” Green said he learned Allen was gay after the actor had been hired. “Our position is we’re making quality films that tell faith-based stories, so we hire the best,” according to Green. “Chad was so exceptional that he was the only actor we hired who we didn’t hire a backup for.” (Christian Retailing, Oct. 17, 2005)
Producer Mart Green shared, “I would not have hired Chad had I known everything about him. But God had to work around me.” (Quoted from the Bearing Fruit Communications and Every Tribe Entertainment e-mail of Feb. 8, 2006)
After someone told me that Chad appeared on the cover of the gay and lesbian magazine The Advocate, we just felt, “Hey, he’s still the best actor.” If anything, he was more concerned when he found that we found out — not that he has been hiding his sexuality. He said, “If this movie does well, will you bash gays?” We said, “Chad, we don’t endorse your lifestyle, but we love who you are.” (Mart Green, quoted from Christian Retailing, October 17, 2005)
Part II of the Vision Forum Inquiry into the ‘End of the Spear’ Controversy
Christians are to love unrepentant homosexual activists, pedophiles, bestials, rapists, and other moral criminals, not by (1) minimizing the significance of their sin and giving them a false sense of spirituality by using them as partners in Gospel communication activities; or (2) giving them a national platform to proselytize others concerning the legitimacy of their sin, thus furthering the pollution of the land, dishonoring the Lord Jesus Christ, and imperiling our children; or (3) teaching that as long as they are good artists and can help Christians get a job done, Christians will not only disregard their perverse moral behavior when making hiring decisions, but will actually view it as a spiritual good to hire immoral men for key positions.
Instead, truly loving Christians will reach out with compassion to the unrepentant sodomite activist by:
[1] “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them” (Rom. 1:18-32).
But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. (Eph. 5:3-6)
But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is no respect of persons with God. (Rom. 2:5-11)
But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly. (Gen. 13:13)
Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven; 25 And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground. (Gen. 19:24-25)
Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. (James 4:4)
Please carefully read the following excerpts from the son-in-law of one of the murdered missionaries portrayed in the film End of the Spear. He clearly points out that the decision to keep a sodomite activist in the lead role was unbiblical, done with inappropriate non-disclosure, and based on an ends-justifies-the-means philosophy. He further laments the lack of courage on the part of Christians to speak out against that which is clearly wrong. Finally, he explains why he will not encourage anyone to buy the DVD and rejects this film as part of the true heritage of his family. I want to say to all of my readers that I wholeheartedly agree with this heroic commentary. It is a breath of sanity amidst a sea of obfuscation and impoverished theology.
Below is an excerpt from the article by Dan Kachikis as it appeared in the February 8 edition of Christianity Today. (Please take the time to read the entire article on ChristianityToday.com.)
I have been waiting for a national Christian leader to comment on “End of the Spear” and the casting of Chad Allen in the lead role. Their voices are strangely silent. After all of their build up, that we finally have a movie of our own, they seem to be frozen in indecision or mired in accepting silly arguments for Chad’s inclusion. My deceased wife, Beth Youderian, was Roger Youderian’s daughter. Roger was one of those men who died on “Palm Beach” in 1956, at the end of a spear. Beth and I were strong supporters of the work Mart and Steve have been doing. Beth would have been appalled at this decision and I feel betrayed. I’m sure Chad is a nice guy, but he wasn’t the man for this role. Making the “story the star” and using the best secular means to tell it, sounds like “the end justifies the means.” Would the Christian community be ok with doing the “Billy Graham Story” with an atheist pedophile because he had the best audition? Would Franklin Graham, James Dobson, Falwell and the rest, sit silent and just say that it’s the story that’s important? And why not have secular professionals perform your church music if it enhances the worship of God? If we cannot respond to this firmly, but in love, this is a sad day for the Christian church in the US. This film and it’s making have become a parable for the weakness of the American church. How dare we wonder why our divorce and “lives adrift” counts look just like the secular world. We talk one thing, and live something else.... My mother-in-law, Roger’s wife, was in Panama for part of the filming and was never told. She didn’t find out until 3 days after the film’s release. Apparently everyone else in Panama knew, including the other wives. I can only conclude that this was kept from her because my brother-in-law, Roger’s son, has not been a fan of this project. Had they asked both of them, they would have said no. Had I known, I would have said no, for myself and for Beth. Will blessing come from the movie? Yes. God’s plans are bigger than we are. When a pastor living in adultery preaches, do people trust Christ? Yes. Does “fruit” or God’s blessing always justify us? No. So now we have our Christian movie. But I will never buy the DVD, encourage anyone to watch it or consider it a part of my kids heritage. It is for me a symbol of a confused North American church. Many Christian groups will see it. Some will glory in the testimony, others will wish they had found out first that someone who doesn’t represent what they want their kids to be, plays the most important part in it. Maybe in four or five more weeks, after the film has made most if its revenue, someone will broaden the “sorry if you feel hurt” line to “we’re sorry we made such a selfish, spiritually blind decision.” ... But until then, maybe we can make Hollywood sit up and take notice. We’ll show ‘em what good Christian entertainment is all about. We’ll make ‘em notice us Christians. Oh, I think they already have, as we stand here with egg dripping down our faces. We showed ‘em.
I’m sure Chad is a nice guy, but he wasn’t the man for this role. Making the “story the star” and using the best secular means to tell it, sounds like “the end justifies the means.” Would the Christian community be ok with doing the “Billy Graham Story” with an atheist pedophile because he had the best audition? Would Franklin Graham, James Dobson, Falwell and the rest, sit silent and just say that it’s the story that’s important? And why not have secular professionals perform your church music if it enhances the worship of God? If we cannot respond to this firmly, but in love, this is a sad day for the Christian church in the US. This film and it’s making have become a parable for the weakness of the American church. How dare we wonder why our divorce and “lives adrift” counts look just like the secular world. We talk one thing, and live something else....
My mother-in-law, Roger’s wife, was in Panama for part of the filming and was never told. She didn’t find out until 3 days after the film’s release. Apparently everyone else in Panama knew, including the other wives. I can only conclude that this was kept from her because my brother-in-law, Roger’s son, has not been a fan of this project. Had they asked both of them, they would have said no. Had I known, I would have said no, for myself and for Beth.
Will blessing come from the movie? Yes. God’s plans are bigger than we are. When a pastor living in adultery preaches, do people trust Christ? Yes. Does “fruit” or God’s blessing always justify us? No. So now we have our Christian movie. But I will never buy the DVD, encourage anyone to watch it or consider it a part of my kids heritage.
It is for me a symbol of a confused North American church. Many Christian groups will see it. Some will glory in the testimony, others will wish they had found out first that someone who doesn’t represent what they want their kids to be, plays the most important part in it. Maybe in four or five more weeks, after the film has made most if its revenue, someone will broaden the “sorry if you feel hurt” line to “we’re sorry we made such a selfish, spiritually blind decision.”
...
But until then, maybe we can make Hollywood sit up and take notice. We’ll show ‘em what good Christian entertainment is all about. We’ll make ‘em notice us Christians. Oh, I think they already have, as we stand here with egg dripping down our faces. We showed ‘em.
Posted by Doug Phillips on February 8, 2006 | Permalink
In my blog entry above, “Breaking News: ‘I Feel Betrayed,’” the son-in-law of one of the missionaries murdered on the beach explains both his disapproval of the ethics of Every Tribe Entertainment, as well as the fact that his family was not consulted or appraised of the decision to hire a homosexual activist for the lead role. Below is a judiciously worded comment from Elisabeth Elliot affirming her own non-involvement in the process and the fact that their family has not seen the film.
We have received some questions concerning the new film End of the Spear. This is not a film based on Through Gates of Splendor, Elisabeth’s book about the five missionaries. As of now, we have not seen the film and we were not involved in its production. (Lars and Elizabeth from www.elisabethelliot.org)
Part 1 of Vision Forum’s Inquiry into the ‘Edge of the Spear’ Controversy
There is a school of thought which teaches that to love rebellious children, you withhold punishment, tolerate their behavior, and seek to reason them into faithfulness. The Bible describes this not as love, but as hatred.[1] It warns us that the way to deliver the soul of the child from Hell is through loving non-toleration of sin and the application of biblical discipline.
Similarly, there is a school of thought that teaches that the best way to love unrepentant sodomite activists is to hire them to be Gospel communicators, to yoke with them in Gospel productions, and to give them a national platform to advance their agenda of death and desolation to the Gospel itself. This approach has not only been modeled by the leaders at Every Tribe Entertainment, but it has been communicated by numerous writers in defense of the decision to keep homosexual-activist Chad Allen as lead actor in the Gospel film End of the Spear, notwithstanding the fact that Every Tribe Entertainment has made it clear in public interviews that they were given the option of releasing him from the project.
In my opinion, these actions and communications reflect theology by emotion, rather than theology by Scripture.
The first problem seems to be that Christians have been desensitized to the utter wickedness of the sin of homosexuality.[2] (Can anyone seriously imagine discussions about showing love to an unrepentant, active Klansman, Nazi, or racial bigot cast in the role of playing Martin Luther King, by allowing one of them to play King in a biographical film about his life?) Our love affair with pro-homosexual Hollywood, our entertainment choices, and our unwillingness to stand against the immoral political decisions of our leaders and judges who have brought homosexuality out of the closet and paraded it before our children, has desensitized us to the nature of the sins.
Furthermore, the rising influence of pornography, adultery, and divorce within the church, rather than spurring repentance and revival, has culminated in the widespread acceptance of a sort of relativism concerning moral crimes. (For example, during an interview on KSLR radio in San Antonio, Steve Saint made the point that if he was to come down hard on Chad Allen, a similar response would have to be taken toward one of the other actors on the film set who met and engaged in adultery with a Panamanian woman during the filming of End of the Spear.)
It should be remembered that homosexuality is a moral crime for which the Lord required his people to subject offenders to capital punishment.[3] We should be reminded that, though the punishments have differed from century to century, it has been the unanimous opinion of Western law for nearly two millennia that sodomy is a moral perversion and a punishable crime. Furthermore, homosexuality is not just another sin. It is a special type of sin of which God describes the practitioners as being in the final stages of reprobation and under the severe judgment of God.[4] Finally, the Bible warns us and patterns for us the reality that toleration of such behavior in society invokes national judgment.[5]
How then do we love the unrepentant homosexual activist? Stay tuned to my next blog.
[1] “He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes” (Prov. 13:24).
Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him. (Prov. 22:15)
The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame. (Prov. 29:15)
[2] “Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.... Ye shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations; neither any of your own nation, nor any stranger that sojourneth among you: (For all these abominations have the men of the land done, which were before you, and the land is defiled;) That the land spue not you out also, when ye defile it, as it spued out the nations that were before you. For whosoever shall commit any of these abominations, even the souls that commit them shall be cut off from among their people. Therefore shall ye keep mine ordinance, that ye commit not any one of these abominable customs, which were committed before you, and that ye defile not yourselves therein: I am the LORD your God” (Lev. 18:22-30).
If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them. (Lev. 20:13)
[3] “Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.... Ye shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations; neither any of your own nation, nor any stranger that sojourneth among you: (For all these abominations have the men of the land done, which were before you, and the land is defiled;) That the land spue not you out also, when ye defile it, as it spued out the nations that were before you. For whosoever shall commit any of these abominations, even the souls that commit them shall be cut off from among their people. Therefore shall ye keep mine ordinance, that ye commit not any one of these abominable customs, which were committed before you, and that ye defile not yourselves therein: I am the LORD your God” (Lev. 18:22-30).
[4] “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them” (Rom. 1:18-32).
[5] “Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil” (Eccl. 8:11).
Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD: and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance. (Ps. 33:12)
Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Judah, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have despised the law of the LORD, and have not kept his commandments, and their lies caused them to err, after the which their fathers have walked: But I will send a fire upon Judah, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem. (Amos 2:4-5)
For thus saith the LORD unto the house of Israel, Seek ye me, and ye shall live: But seek not Bethel, nor enter into Gilgal, and pass not to Beer-sheba: for Gilgal shall surely go into captivity, and Bethel shall come to nought. Seek the LORD, and ye shall live; lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph, and devour it, and there be none to quench it in Bethel. Ye who turn judgment to wormwood (curse, cursed or poisoness), and leave off righteousness in the earth, (Amos 5:4-7)
Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live: and so the LORD, the God of hosts, shall be with you, as ye have spoken. Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the LORD God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph. (Amos 5:14-15)
I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies. Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept them: neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts. Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols. But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream. (Amos 5:21-24)
....for ye have turned judgment into gall (poison), and the fruit of righteousness into hemlock (curse, cursed or poisoness).... (Amos 6:12)
Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek (to search out by implication through prayer and worship; to strive after), the word of the LORD, and shall not find it. In that day shall the fair virgins and young men faint for thirst. (Amos 8:11-13)
Filmmakers submitting works for the San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival and the $10,000 Jubilee Award sign the following waiver:
Filmmaker acknowledges the importance of bringing glory and honor to the Lord Jesus Christ and keeping His law at every step of the film production process (e.g., script-writing, casting, direction, production, marketing, etc.). With this in mind, the filmmaker warrants that, to the best of his knowledge, primary actors and senior associates of the film submitted are persons of good moral character. He further warrants that, to the best of his knowledge, he is not knowingly casting or hiring individuals for key acting roles or as senior staff who could reasonably be expected to compromise the message and worldview of the film through their interactions with the press or comments in the media.
Effective January 27, 2006, Western Union will discontinue all Telegram and Commercial Messaging services. We regret any inconvenience this may cause you, and we thank you for your loyal patronage.
Most of us paid little attention as the telegraph died a slow death over the last thirty years. We were too busy playing pong, experimenting with Casio digital watches, and ultimately hooking up to the World Wide Web to notice that the messaging service of our grandfathers’ and great-grandfathers’ generation was fading into obscurity.
From its revolutionary birth before the great War Between the States, to its heyday during the World War II generation, the Western Union telegram has been the method of choice to communicate short, meaningful thoughts to others on significant occasions. Telegrams were used to announce the first flight in 1903, the sinking of the Titanic, and the start of World War I. During the 1920s, it was cheaper to send a telegram than to place a long-distance call. Part of the nostalgia concerning the telegraph is associated with the innovative and concise nature of the message which relied on abbreviated phrases to reduce cost, including the word “stop” which replaced periods.
In the final analysis, the iconic message service that glamorized Hollywood in the 1930s and notified mothers and wives of the loss of loved ones during wartime (you can see a reenactment of one such delivery in the Vision Forum Film The League of Grateful Sons) ultimately succumbed to the utility of the highly efficient (though equally unromantic) e-mail as the electronic message of choice. Last year, in the twilight of its life, only twenty thousand Western Union telegrams were sent.
Once upon a time, the telegram was the usurper, displacing the heroic Pony Express. Now it is the telegram’s turn to disappear into the pages of history. As we bid goodbye forever to the brainchild of Samuel Morse and we continue to explore a new epoch in the history of human communications, we may once again ask the question that he raised to partner Alfred Vail in the first telegram from Washington to Baltimore on May 26, 1844:
“WHAT HATH GOD WROUGHT?”
Posted by Doug Phillips on February 6, 2006 | Permalink
For those of you who have requested our position on the End of The Spear controversy, I will be posting a detailed analysis on Monday. (Updated: Tuesday)
Posted by Doug Phillips on February 4, 2006 | Permalink
“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.” (From the October 28, 1949 entry (above) in Jim Elliot’s journal.)
Posted by Doug Phillips on February 3, 2006
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