Comments on: Review: End of the Spear http://www.internetmonk.com ...dispatches from the post-evangelical wilderness Fri, 09 Jan 2009 10:44:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: mikbry24 http://www.internetmonk.com/review-end-of-the-spear#comment-5271 mikbry24 Mon, 30 Jan 2006 19:39:38 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/review-end-of-the-spear/#comment-5271 I agree that the movie is definitely worth a viewing. I do feel as though the Gospel could certainly have been more prominent as it is the Gospel that really "makes" this story. However I did thoroughly enjoy the movie. You can view my review at http://themindofmike.com Mike I agree that the movie is definitely worth a viewing. I do feel as though the Gospel could certainly have been more prominent as it is the Gospel that really “makes” this story. However I did thoroughly enjoy the movie. You can view my review at http://themindofmike.com

Mike

]]> By: ricksamuel http://www.internetmonk.com/review-end-of-the-spear#comment-5231 ricksamuel Tue, 24 Jan 2006 03:50:02 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/review-end-of-the-spear/#comment-5231 Hello Michael, I saw the film and was impressed with several great moments in the film: especially with Nate's position: that he would not defend himself, but would instead portray himself as the Friend of sinners - Who was speared but did not spear in return. I was disappointed though when later I found out that Chad Allen was gay; I was disturbed when I found out that he was a gay activist. I had to wonder, was Chad Allen the best possible actor to portray Nate Saint? This would be like Madonna playing the virgin Mary. We might be in danger of muddying the waters instead of clearly presenting our beliefs in the Savior. True, homosexuality is only one sin out of many. But imagine if a gifted actor has a sin-problem with drunkenness - let us call his name Rummy. Let us say that Rummy is actively promoting drunkenness (as Chad actively promotes the gay life-style). Let us say Rummy is creating movies promoting drunkenness (as Chad is making gay movies). Imagine Rummy has starred in a play as a drunk Jesus character (similarly, Chad has starred in a play as a gay "Joshua" who as the Son of God had 12 disciples, etc.) Say Rummy is going on TV debating the rights of drunks (as Chad did for gays on the Larry King show). Chad Allen sees this movie as a chance to bring agreement between Christians and gays – let us say Rummy saw the same for drunks. Michael, would you not pause a bit? Would you not want to confront the man’s teaching? It is one thing for a Christian to have a lapse of faith and sin – it is another to teach it is OK to sin because God all tolerant and loving. It was a good film in itself. But I believe the movie producers should have sought a different actor - at least one that is not actively teaching an anti-Biblical lifestyle. Hello Michael,

I saw the film and was impressed with several great moments in the film: especially with Nate’s position: that he would not defend himself, but would instead portray himself as the Friend of sinners - Who was speared but did not spear in return. I was disappointed though when later I found out that Chad Allen was gay; I was disturbed when I found out that he was a gay activist.

I had to wonder, was Chad Allen the best possible actor to portray Nate Saint? This would be like Madonna playing the virgin Mary. We might be in danger of muddying the waters instead of clearly presenting our beliefs in the Savior.

True, homosexuality is only one sin out of many. But imagine if a gifted actor has a sin-problem with drunkenness - let us call his name Rummy. Let us say that Rummy is actively promoting drunkenness (as Chad actively promotes the gay life-style). Let us say Rummy is creating movies promoting drunkenness (as Chad is making gay movies). Imagine Rummy has starred in a play as a drunk Jesus character (similarly, Chad has starred in a play as a gay “Joshua” who as the Son of God had 12 disciples, etc.) Say Rummy is going on TV debating the rights of drunks (as Chad did for gays on the Larry King show). Chad Allen sees this movie as a chance to bring agreement between Christians and gays – let us say Rummy saw the same for drunks. Michael, would you not pause a bit? Would you not want to confront the man’s teaching? It is one thing for a Christian to have a lapse of faith and sin – it is another to teach it is OK to sin because God all tolerant and loving.

It was a good film in itself. But I believe the movie producers should have sought a different actor - at least one that is not actively teaching an anti-Biblical lifestyle.

]]> By: Doug http://www.internetmonk.com/review-end-of-the-spear#comment-5203 Doug Sat, 21 Jan 2006 14:14:47 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/review-end-of-the-spear/#comment-5203 <i>This is a film that speaks deeply to a world of terrorists, warmongers, gang-bangers and all those who trust in revenge and violence to make a way in the world. This film shows another way. The way of one who was speared and did not spear back; it shows the trail of a God who left his carvings upon the hearts of violent men, changing them to persons who could love, forgive and be family.</i> Just to clarify - this is not a blanket endorsement of pacifism, is it? Refusing to defend one's own person against persecution is one thing - refusing to stop those who seek to violently destroy your nation and society is another. I have great respect for the Ecuador Five. They did what I could never do. But if believing that we can, ethically, use violent force to circumvent and stop terrorism makes me a warmonger, I happily plead guilty as charged, with no remorse. This is a film that speaks deeply to a world of terrorists, warmongers, gang-bangers and all those who trust in revenge and violence to make a way in the world. This film shows another way. The way of one who was speared and did not spear back; it shows the trail of a God who left his carvings upon the hearts of violent men, changing them to persons who could love, forgive and be family.

Just to clarify - this is not a blanket endorsement of pacifism, is it? Refusing to defend one’s own person against persecution is one thing - refusing to stop those who seek to violently destroy your nation and society is another.

I have great respect for the Ecuador Five. They did what I could never do. But if believing that we can, ethically, use violent force to circumvent and stop terrorism makes me a warmonger, I happily plead guilty as charged, with no remorse.

]]> By: tomcal49 http://www.internetmonk.com/review-end-of-the-spear#comment-5199 tomcal49 Sat, 21 Jan 2006 04:02:35 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/review-end-of-the-spear/#comment-5199 Michael, I am happy to read a rational review of this movie, and a hearty recommendation to see it. I have been dismayed to read other reviews by Christians that focused on Mr. Allen's sex life, ETE's abandonment of the culture war against homosexuals and the necessarily "a priori" result that the Gospel is not presented in this movie. I am most encouraged that you clearly communicate that you see the Gospel presented in this movie as the movie presents the lives and motivations of these men ad their families. The Gospelis most effectively communicated by actions, by lives lived in the presence of and given to the Lord. Thank you for your review and I also thank ETE, Steve Saint and Chad Allen for this visible presentation of witness. Michael, I am happy to read a rational review of this movie, and a hearty recommendation to see it. I have been dismayed to read other reviews by Christians that focused on Mr. Allen’s sex life, ETE’s abandonment of the culture war against homosexuals and the necessarily “a priori” result that the Gospel is not presented in this movie.
I am most encouraged that you clearly communicate that you see the Gospel presented in this movie as the movie presents the lives and motivations of these men ad their families.
The Gospelis most effectively communicated by actions, by lives lived in the presence of and given to the Lord.
Thank you for your review and I also thank ETE, Steve Saint and Chad Allen for this visible presentation of witness.

]]> By: SteveS http://www.internetmonk.com/review-end-of-the-spear#comment-5198 SteveS Sat, 21 Jan 2006 03:15:14 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/review-end-of-the-spear/#comment-5198 Michael, I could not agree more!! We just got back a short bit ago from seeing the movie here in Boone on opening night, and I wept through much of it. It was incredibly powerful. I agree with you that the cries for boycotting this movie are so severely misplaced as to be reason for tears themselves. I had an almost identical thought to what Denise said about how it made her feel to know people were calling for a boycott of this movie. Great review, and you hit it right on the head this time!! Glad to finally agree with you on something! ;) steve :) Michael, I could not agree more!! We just got back a short bit ago from seeing the movie here in Boone on opening night, and I wept through much of it. It was incredibly powerful. I agree with you that the cries for boycotting this movie are so severely misplaced as to be reason for tears themselves. I had an almost identical thought to what Denise said about how it made her feel to know people were calling for a boycott of this movie.

Great review, and you hit it right on the head this time!!

Glad to finally agree with you on something! ;)
steve :)

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