Completely Misleading Message

Just finished watching this movie and I can understand some of your frustration. While it may be true that God has and continues to work supernaturally in the lives of believers (no, not all of them all the time), it is too bad that someone isn't making films about those real life stories. However, as another respondent has observed, these are just movies. For many people, myself included, I believe they can be uplifting and encouraging, despite just being fictions.

Although I do disagree with you in that I believe that as a Christian, I am called to live my life in dependence on God and not my own abilities (regardless of how pleasing the outcomes may be to me), I do agree with you that God isn't here to serve me (us) and to make everything work out the way I (we) want (reminds me of the line in BRUCE ALMIGHTY where God asks Bruce, "Since when does anyone have a clue about what they want?"). I believe that when God does supernaturally intervene in the lives of believers, it is for His benefit, not ours. Our blessing is simply to provide opportunity for us to draw the attention of others to Him.

I think part of the problem with us human beings may be our natural tendency to avoid any and all discomfort whenever possible. I recently watched the colorized version of "Things To Come" and there was a line in there that may be worth considering: "There's nothing wrong in suffering, if you suffer for a purpose". Perhaps as exposure to germs and childhood sickness build immunity in the adult, suffering, pain, and disappointment may be the necessary ingredients to strengthen character and impart wisdom.

I think a large part of that may also have to do with revealing our faith in God that He will ultimately work things out for our good. I mean, what faith does it really take to trust in God when everything is always "working out" the way I want it?

Anyway, I know that it can be very hard to maintain faith in the light of overwhelming disappointments. I don't have any answers for that, but if you seriously are interested in giving the subject some thought, you might want to read Philip Yancy's book, "Disappointment With God." In that book, he takes an honest look at the subject while carefully avoiding the pious platitudes that one often encounters when that subject comes up.

Stephen,

You complain about the message that Sherwood gives through its movies but at the same time make statements like "I don't care if I spoiled it for anyone," "these movies piss me off," "how hilarious they are from their lack of quality," and "I can laugh at and criticize." Do you not see the failure in the theology you are presenting? Yes, the "health and wealth" Gospel is wrong but I don't think that is really what Sherwood was shooting for. Even if it was then at least they are making an attempt to provide God-glorifying entertainment. How about we show some support and disciple them where they go wrong rather than just try and tear them down.

I don't want to sound like I'm just trying to berate you, I truly hope and pray that you will accept Christ no matter what it is that is happening to shake your faith. Look to the Psalms, David went through some pretty tough stuff himself. Perhaps you and your roommates could begin to look to Christian films for the positive messages that can be found in them.

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up" 1 Thessalonians 5:11a

I understand how you can see the "instant gratification" as misleading in these movies, but they can only be so long. The point is that God will bless you for your faith and trust. It may not be right away or in physical values, but maybe in love and family, etc. Bad things do happen to Christians. In 2002, my dad, who was the pastor of our church and worked very hard for the Lord, had a malignant tumor on his spine removed and came out of the surgery paralyzed. He stayed very sick and in pain. He still got out there doing God's work and telling people about Jesus, and he had better results! People wouldn't walk away from a man in a wheelchair trying to tell them how to get to Heaven like they would an able-bodied person. He inspired so many people. He passed away last year from an accident in his wheelchair, but I am still growing from learning from him and my pain from that and other personal tragedies. God allows things to happen to grow you, but he rewards your faithfulness to Him and trusting in Him.

Also, Job stayed strong in his faith and God told him just how big of a God He is. In the end, God blessed Job with twice as much. He gave him twice as many of all his flocks, land, and the same number of kids ('cause the others that died were still his, in other words he still doubled that.) Read the whole story... don't stop after Job loses everything.

The criticism these movies have received from other Christians (And let us not go against biblical teaching and question Stephenmarshter's salvation in debating with him!) continues to amaze me.

Personally, I think many people are missing the point. I'll concede that Facing the Giants was pushing the pocket just a tad with the back-up kicker kicking a field goal 12 or 15 yards longer than any he had kicked before. Yet how many big-budget Hollywood films strain credibility just as much? (And I believe the film was based on a real-life state champion team, ala Hoosiers.) The Flywheel scenario seemed much more realistic to me. A dealer takes in a part-time temporary minimum-wage intern, who happens to be a camera-hiding investigative reporter plant. May not happen every day, but it doesn't seem far-fetched. The kind of publicity he received from that would be priceless. I can buy that happening.

The bigger question raised here -- and in posts on the Facing the Giants page --is "Is Sherwood Baptist promoting a "Name It, Claim It" or other Utopian theology in their films? To me the answer is clearly "No!" The poster correctly points out that many devout Christians suffer. People in MY church have cancer and other disasters, as I'm sure they do in all churches. Would a Christianized version of the Farrah Fawcett death documentary be more honest and inspiring to audidences? With a loved one at the end saying "Well at least she's not suffering anymore. She's with the Lord." The End, fade to black? That would sure pump ME up and reassure me! (And while we're trying to avoid hinting that God ever blesses his followers, maybe then have a hospital rep step into the room and inform the family that the dearly departed's bills are being turned over to a collection agency!) And I'll bet that if it were followed by a Randy Alcorn-like scene of the person dancing joyfully with the Lord and loved ones in Heaven, a whole new batch of criticism would be unloaded on the films.

Others may disagree, but to me the real message of these films is merely "Keep the faith, persevere, turn everything over to God, lean on His strength and see if He doesn't eventually bestow a blessing." Anyone who is led to believe that a Christian will get rich or dominate his/her field if they merely have faith is, in my mind, reading a message into these films thsat is simply not there.

I really don't have much interest in watching the movie since I'm not that fond of Hallmarky Christian movies, I admit. But I will say that it sounds like this movie needs to be taken in context before it is judged one way or the other.

Whether they succeed or not, the directors are probably not trying to argue that relying on God will always result in material wealth. From what I can tell, it seems to be arguing more than sometimes the reason things are going so damn badly is because we're NOT following Him the way we should. The story of Job in the Bible is a pretty good example of that. The guy suffered more than anyone on that list you mentioned, easily. He didn't lose one relative. He lost every single one of his children. He lost his wife, his dignity, his health, and his money.

After Job confesses his doubts and relies more fully on God, everything is restored to him, and then some. But Job's story is not trying to argue that relying on God will result in material wealth. The message is deeper than that. Symbolic, you could say. Or you could just take it out of context and say that God lies to us and played favorites with Job...

And anyway, what sorts of stories do we truly love? We want the extraordinary tales. This goes for secular movies as well. Do we want the story about Average Joe living an average life? No. But when Joe makes mistakes, experiences a crisis, figures himself out, and triumphs in some amazing way, we don't mock the movie just because it's not realistic. We enjoy the drama and the triumph vicariously and call it a good movie.

I don't know if Flywheel's a good movie. But the fact that it ends with things going well for the main character (whether it's because of his faith or not) is kind of a silly reason to mock it. I'm sure there are better things to mock about it, if you must mock it. Just try to understand what it's probably trying to do and then judge it on whether or not it succeeds. A good argument needs to be based on facts, not bias.

If you want a fabulous film with an amazing message, watch Saints and Soldiers. It's a low budget award winner about WWII soldiers and it has a subtle, but beautiful religious message without the neat and tidy ending that you don't like. It's got action, humor, drama, and catharsis. Give it a try.

One last thing. While there are some aggressive, snobby responses here that are entirely uncalled for, I don't think that watching Christian movies with the sole purpose of mocking them is going to be at all helpful to your struggling faith or people's opinion of you in general. If you want respect, start off by showing it. Just a suggestion.

[deleted]

I must say that you rock Stephen. I can tell that there is not a hatred of Christianity in your message but a zealous dislike of both bad film making and bad messages.
Now, I happened upon Flywheel by chance. I don't have cable but instead this amazing rabbit ears and UHF antenna that gives me HD channels and all the glorious Christian channels and as I write Flywheel is still on.

This film is an homage to 1980s community access short films. I was shocked to see in one of the other responses that someone was "amazed" to learn that the film was written, produced and directed by the guy with the oh-so-nicely shaped Van Dyke beard mustache. I could tell that was the case in 3 seconds. I especially liked the 80s homage in the inspiring synthesizer music in the scene where 30 people show up to buy cash for clunker cars.

It was also amusing to see that the only "star" in this film was the news reporter woman...and her next movie was a movie about voodoo with DMX.

Stephen, I am a Christian. I don't always have things easy, but that doesn't mean I am not blessed. Christians are not supposed to view blessings through the eyes of the world or judge success and what's important by the world's standards. I'm not saying that I'm perfect at this, but I try to be that way. Also, even when I go through trials, God is with me. He sent his son to die for sins. Anyone who believes Jesus is God's son and confesses, truly repents, and puts him on in baptism, receives the blessing of eternal life. You also have to keep living in God and Christ to keep receiving this blessing. That involves loving others and obeying God.