“You are entitled to your own opinion but not your own facts” one politician famously said to another. In a nutshell that’s how I feel about the recently released movie “Son of God.”  I think I understand what the producers Roma Downey and Mark Burnett were trying to accomplish.  I think there is a lot here to be commended, but I am very uncomfortable with the way they went about it and the final product.

      Having seen the movie I am of the opinion that the producers want us to see Jesus in a specific light.  They say they want us to see Jesus as the Son of God but that message easily gets lost. The message that comes through is that Jesus is a politically correct (for our day) counselor and a therapeutic healer (He is also very good looking, compare to Isaiah 53:2). Narratives from the Gospels are selectively chosen to prove their point. Then the producers actually change some of the narratives to make the image of Christ displayed on screen fit their preconceived notion of Him.

         In doing this, Downey and Burnett and their team are not interpreting the Gospels, they are manipulating the Gospels. To take artistic license with a book or screen play everyone agrees is to be expected. To change or alter “The Book” to paint a picture of Jesus that you or I have conjured up is not something we can let go as harmless. It can actually be quite harmful especially to someone in search of truth.  It is always a little dangerous to portray Jesus in any light other than what is clearly revealed in the Scriptures.

 Here are a few illustrations of what I am trying to communicate:

      In a scene early in the movie Jesus and Peter are seen in a boat by themselves. Jesus tells Peter to pull his net up and there is a huge load of fish that almost breaks the net, Cool, right?  Not really. In the gospel account in Luke (Luke 5:1-10) we see this event portrayed quite differently. It’s not Jesus and Peter alone but many others are there and  are involved.  Jesus is not counseling Peter privately but proving Himself to be the Son of God in front of Peter and the rest of the disciples. The moment is humiliating for Peter and those with Him.  Jesus also calls Peter to follow Him to be a fisher of men. At no point did he say follow me and we will change the world as the film depicts. These distinctions are worth noting and one would think, worthy of being accurately captured in the film.

       Later, Jesus is called to the tomb of His friend Lazarus who is dead. In the film He goes into the tomb. He puts his hand on Lazarus’ head, runs his fingers through his hair and raises him from the dead by talking gently in his ear.  Super, right? Not really. Read the account in John 11:1-44. You will find that Jesus wept over the pain of Lazarus’s sisters, Mary and Martha. In addition, He never went into the tomb. He stood outside the tomb and the text clearly says “When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” (John 11:43). Lazarus then comes out bound in grave clothes. What a cinematic moment this would have made!  Downey and Burnett, however, totally make up a version that fits their image of the therapeutic Jesus.

    Throughout the film the disciples are accompanied by a lone woman, Mary Magdalene. There is no Scriptural support for a single woman hanging around with Jesus and the disciples. Truth be told, this would be totally taboo in the culture of that time. We do learn that a group of women including Mary Magdalene follow Jesus (Luke 8:1-3), but they were not part of His chosen group of disciples. The producers want us to see Jesus as having men and women disciples. They don’t want Jesus to be offensive because he only called men apostles. It seems that their desire for political correctness causes them to manipulate the story. Now that’s offensive.

      Anyone who reads the Bible’s account of the life of Christ will see Jesus teaching a lot. For the life of me I don’t understand why there is not an extended sequence of the Sermon on the Mount in the film. It is universally agreed that it is the most influential sermon in history. It gets a minor part in the film. Again, I think the producers didn’t want to make Jesus look like a preacher or teacher but a man of the people, someone who taught as He went. Surely he did that, but He also sat people down and taught them (Matthew 5-7 and Luke 9:11-17). 

           I could probably spend another two or three pages giving further examples, but I’ll stop here. I don’t want to pick on Rona and Mark and their team. They probably have great intentions. In fact I really wanted to love the movie. I encouraged people to go see it and provided free tickets to over 1000 people to attend. I wanted it to be a great tool to share our faith in this increasingly cynical world. I was sorely disappointed.  All the hype was just that, hype.

      In reality the movie was, in my opinion, just okay. It wasn’t powerful because it didn’t clearly reflect who Jesus really is. Someone teaching a series or leading a Bible study using it would have to spend a good portion of their time correcting the inaccuracies. If the movie has any staying power, individuals for a generation will believe the movie’s portrayal of Jesus over the Scriptural account of Him. It’s not just a matter of interpretation it is a matter of distortion.

      Over the past six months I have immersed myself in the Gospels. I try and read at least one gospel a week if not more. I try to read my gospel of the week over a couple of days, making time to read large portions. The results in my life have been amazing. My love for Christ has grown so much. I have seen Him in a new light. I have had to change my view of Him to match the Scriptures. I have had to make changes in my life to come in line with His exhortations and example. 

      If you’ve seen the movie, that’s super. Now, read the Book for the real scoop on Jesus. If you haven’t seen the movie you might want to save your money. Use the 2 hours and 20 minutes you might have spent in the movie “Son of God” reading the Gospel of John which reveals Him as such. You can probably finish it in that amount of time. If it would make you feel better eat some popcorn as you read.  Seeing the Son of God at the theater $12.00 — seeing the Son of God in the pages of Scripture……. Priceless!

 

Blessings,

Pastor Dave Watson                  

 

 

   

Should We Just “Make the Yoke”? ( From http://www.NYCShepherd.com)

In the press and on the internet columnist Kirsten Powers and others are encouraging Christians to just “bake the cake” for the wedding of a gay couple rather than stand up for their religious convictions. (http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2014/02/18/gays-lesbians-kansas-bill-religious-freedom-christians-column/5588643/ and http://rachelheldevans.com/blog/jesus-religious-freedom-gay-lesbian-discrimination) In light of this discussion, I would like to take us on a bit of a journey. Let’s call it a journey of conscience. Please think back with me.

The year is 1859. The Supreme Court of the United States in the Dread Scott decision has declared Negros to be non-persons without constitutional rights. You have immigrated from England where William Wilberforce’s crusade against slavery has made slavery illegal for 30 years by now. As a Christian, you find slavery and its treatment of other human beings morally wrong.

You live in Richmond, Virginia with your family and extended family, your trade is that of a blacksmith. A local plantation owner named John Smith comes to you with a special request. He wants you to make him an oxen yoke. However, he wants it made in a special way. He wants it to be adapted so that it will fit two people to do the pulling instead of two oxen.

You know that John Smith is going to use this for his slaves. In making this you know you will be participating in something that is immoral, though completely legal. Your conscience tells you to turn him away. He is angry with you when you do so. There are other blacksmiths who he can do business with but he wants you. He threatens to bring you before the town council and to stop people from going to your business, to effectively shut you down and take away your ability to make a living.

Is your conscience, stemming from your religious heritage, wrong? Should you ignore it or follow your convictions? Should you stand up for your beliefs or just make the yoke?

In this scenario we should be uncomfortable with the possibility of this individual being forced to violate their conscience. In a free society, businessmen/women should have the right to object to participating in scenarios that go against their religious beliefs. Freedom of religion and conscience are at the heart of our value system.

In a similar manner, we should be uncomfortable with the possibility of an evangelical Christian or Catholic business person being forced to violate his or her conscience by participating in a same sex wedding. To this point in our nation, we have always placed a high premium on freedom of conscience. We have made provision for individuals to conscientiously object to such things as military service (Quakers), certain medical treatments (Jehovah Witness’), certain school programs (parents with objections) and even participation in Social Security (the Amish).

Is it too much to expect that individuals be permitted to continue to exercise their right to religious freedom? Does not our freedom of religion ensure us all the right to follow our consciences under God? Does this not include our right of refusal to be involved in matters that we deem to be morally objectionable?

An individual’s conscience should be respected. A person who deems it morally objectionable to participate in a gay wedding should not be forced to do so. In addition, they should not be labeled homophobic or bigoted for following their religious convictions. They are simply people of conscience. We still allow people to follow their conscience in this country don’t we?

If the gay couple has the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, does not the Evangelical Christian or the Catholic still have that same right? For conscience sake, let us all stand up for our religious liberty without wavering before we lost it and the freedom of conscience that comes with it.

This Saturday, February 8th from 10:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M.  Calvary Chapel will be having  a Community Day at the Common’s Café in the Teleport  off of South Ave. Calvary Chapel’s Radio program “God in Our City” will be the focus.  The program is heard every Saturday from 11:00 A.M. – 11:30 A.M. on 570 WMCA, New York’s Christian Talk and is hosted by Pastor Dave Watson. The weekly interview show highlights “What the Great God of the universe is doing in our city”. Since going on the air last January the show has spotlighted New York City Pastors, politicians, educators and lay people who are making a difference for the kingdom of God. The event is a fundraiser for the radio program and all the products from the meals purchased will go to the Church which sponsors “God in Our City”. The event will include book give ways and a free cd of the program’s first year of interviews to everyone in attendance. For more information or directions please call the Church office at 718-720-5390 or the Common’s Café at 347-466- 4207 or visit www.commonscafesi.com

Please don’t miss our interview this weekend on God in our City with Dr. Alveda King, niece of Dr. Martin Luther King. We are on AM 570 New York’s Christian talk on Saturday at 11:000 A.M.

Check out her blog here – http://www.priestsforlife.org/africanamerican/blog/index.php

Check out her ministry here – http://www.alvedakingministries.com/

This Week’s Theme – Jesus Christ, the Eternal Son of God

 

 This Week’s Verse to Remember – John 1:1-2 – In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.

                   

Today’s Devotional Reading and assignment

 

Please read the following and record the “I AM” statement of Jesus

 

1. John 6:35 – _______________________

 

2. John 8:12 – _______________________

 

3. John 10:9 – _______________________

 

4. John 10:11 -_______________________

 

5. John 11:25 – _______________________

 

6. John 14:6 – ________________________

 

7. John 15:1 – _________________________

 

Please compare Exodus 3:14 and John 8:58 – What is Jesus saying?

 

 

Please also read John 20:30-31.

 

Quote of the Day – ‘This book (John) presents the most powerful case in the Bible for the deity of the incarnate Son of God. “A man called Jesus” (9:11) is also “Christ, the Son of the living God (6:69).” The deity of Christ can be seen in His seven “I Am” statements.’ Dr. Bruce Wilkinson and Dr. Kenneth Boa in Talk Thru the Bible

This Week’s Theme – Jesus Christ, the Eternal Son of God

 

 This Week’s Verse to Remember – John 1:1-2 – In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.

 

Today’s Devotional Reading and Assignment

 

Please read John 1:14-18

 

What happened to the Word?

 

 

 

What did we see?

 

 

 

What have we received?

 

 

How do we know what the Father is like?

 

 

Please also read John 17:5 and 1 Timothy 3:16

 

Quote of the Day – “This reality is surely the most profound ever because it indicates that the Infinite became finite; the Eternal was conformed to time; the Invisible became visible; the supernatural One reduced Himself to the natural. In the incarnation, however, the Word did not cease to be God but became God in human flesh, i.e., undiminished deity in human form as a man^” – Dr. John McArthur in The McArthur Study Bible

Tonight – Friday, December 20^th

7:30 P.M. – DIVAS (For young women) and CHAMPIONS (For young men) Christmas Party

8:00 P.M. – “In His Presence” – Prayer Service

Tomorrow – Saturday, December 21^st  

11:00 A.M. – Radio Program – “God in Our City” – This week’s guest is Pastor David Epstein from Calvary Baptist Church in Manhattan. Listen at WMCA 570 AM or at www.wmca.com

Sunday, December 22^nd

9:00 A.M. – Christmas Celebration – Message – Unwrapping Christmas – Pt. 4

10:15 A.M. – Carli and Liz’s Connection Café

11:15 AM – Christmas Celebration – Message – Unwrapping Christmas – Pt. 4

1:30 P.M. – Caroling at St. Cosmas and St. Daimion Adult Home (Let us know if you are interested in coming by emailing us at calvarychapelsi@aol.com)

This Week’s Theme – Jesus Christ, the Son of Man and the Savior of Mankind

 

 This Week’s Verse to Remember – 1 Timothy 1:15 – “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.”

 

Today’s Devotional Reading and Assignment

 

Please read Luke 2:15-20

 

What did the shepherds find?

 

 

 

What did they do with the information?

 

 

 

When they returned what were they doing?

 

 

Please also read Acts 4:20

 

Quote of the Day – “The first human ambassadors of the Gospel were humble shepherds who hastened to see the Baby and then told everybody what they had seen and heard…. The shepherds, like the angels before them, glorified and praised God (v. 20). – Dr. Warren Wiersbe in Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines of the New Testament

This Week’s Theme – Jesus Christ, the Son of Man and the Savior of Mankind

 

 This Week’s Verse to Remember – 1 Timothy 1:15 – “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.”

 

Today’s Devotional Reading and assignment

 

Please read Luke 2:8-14

 

 

What was the declaration of the angel to the shepherds?

 

 

 

 

What happens after this declaration?

 

 

 

 

Please also read Hebrew 1:6 and Romans 5:1

 

 

 

Quote of the Day – ‘The miracle of Christmas is not on 34^th Street; its in Bethlehem. He says “I offer you forgiveness for your past, peace of mind in the present and a solid future in eternity”. Those are the gifts. You say “How do I find those gifts?” They are all wrapped up in Christ.’  – Dr. Rick Warren in The Heart of Christmas .