Are we fundamentalist enough?
20 May 2008
Paul writes… Beware fundamentalist, intolerant, determined christians are conspiring against us with “unprecedented political access!” Against the backdrop of the Human Fertilisation and Embryo Bill going through Parliament this was the message of a Channel 4 documentary last night. The upshot message of “In God’s name,” filmed by David Modell seemed to me that we should be afraid… very afraid!
Oh and for once that “we” is us in the UK, rather than our American cousins!
Now watching the film last night I found it disturbing at times with some of the views expressed on a range of flash point topics such as: sexuality, Islam, science, and abortion. It was car crash tele at its best, after all the free use of the word fundamentalist and the candid views expressed made me predujiced to begin with. Is there a more emotively negative word in our post 9/11 age than “fundamentalist?”
However sometimes the views of film maker, David, boarded on a hysterical reaction, e.g. filming one of the characters trying some (pretty unsuccessful and potentially demoralising) street witnessing he commented how “scary he found dedication like this” and speculated how that dedication could make a significant impact nationally (the impression i felt was that this impact would be bad rather than good).
Clearly the people involved in the film were selected for their views, it was not going to be balanced tele and it was easy to write them off as “weird,” “exteme,” and how glad i wasn’t like them. Of course it’s easy to see the fear that drives such views, the panic that we need clear biblical water between us and society, our duty to be on the front line telling everyone what is wrong and that one weakness in our faith would bring the whole edifice crumbling down.
On 26 May we have a special guest author, Craig Hovey, contributing to a week we have themed as “a faith to live for, a faith to die for” which sounds pretty fundamentalist – is there anything that is worth dying for anymore? I’m much more likely to say i’m dying for sex, dying for a new tv, dying for a holiday, or even dying for a wee! Seldom unless i’m being ultra holy will you hear me talking about dying to myself, or for others or even for my the God I profess to follow – that’s far too inconvenient!
So David Modell and Craigh Hovey have challenged me though to ask myself – am I fundamentalist enough? Not a fundamentalist of fear, reactionary justifying anger, or apathy/self indulgence but of sacrificial, self giving love? If someone stuck a camera in my face how would i want my life filmed in response to such emotive issues? How would you?
What is a better way forward to live out our faith in response to issues like sexuality? other religions? salvation/hell? and abortion? Not too mention our own self obsessed consumeristic quest for peronal happiness often at the expense of others and our planet?
If you are a 21st century christian fundamentalist modelling yourself of a 1st century jewish radical what do you look like? act like? be like?
Paul Mayers
9 comments
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Comment by Ralph
12.16 pm on 21 May 2008
Well put. I attend and work for the church that was depicted as a bunch of loons. David Modell lied about his intentions for the documentary (he said he wanted to film a church that is engaging in and doing community work) and filmed our church for nearly a year. The best he came up with was creationism being taught. IT’S A CHRISTIAN SCHOOL……WHAT DO YOU THINK THEY TEACH. It always felt like he wanted to film the ‘crazies’ as opposed to ‘normal’ people. As for John, who appears in the mocumentary, he is an amazing guy. Passionate yes, he makes mistakes, but 100% sincere who has changed loads since the filming was done last year. It is my ultimate prayer that God be honoured and that our live be examples of His love in us.
Comment by Paul
4.26 pm on 21 May 2008
Thanks Ralph, well said yourself :)
Comment by Laura Anne
10.39 pm on 22 May 2008
Amen brothers!!!
I’ve been struggling with this very thing. Part of me wishes I had a TV as missed many of the documentaries. And I’m still seething from how Christians were portrayed with the HFE bill debate…
Also, the media reports on the youth street pastors project we’ve started in our church went much down the same lines as this documentary…makes me so angry.
Then again, we’re also called to be counter-cultural, and we’re told to expect persecution…
Food for thought, and look forward to the discussions next week.
Comment by Paul
2.35 pm on 23 May 2008
Thanks Laura Anne :)
I think we have to be careful why we are getting persecuted – is it cos we’re being insentively offensive or is it cos we are genuinely doing something radically differently valued orientated.
The Phelps family are a classic example who take persecution as a sign that they are doing God’s work whereas to everyone else picketing dead soldiers funerals is grossely offensive.
On the other hand turning down that promotion, £, glory cos you feel and tell everyone God wants you to stay where you are might well open you up to ridicule…
Comment by Helen
5.38 pm on 23 May 2008
I think we have to be careful why we are getting persecuted – is it cos we’re being insentively offensive or is it cos we are genuinely doing something radically differently valued orientated.
But Paul, it’s much simpler to assume you’ve done nothing wrong and that the persecution is simply a satanic backlash against the truth!
Comment by Paul
6.40 pm on 23 May 2008
lol, are you persecuting me helen ;)
Comment by Helen
8.23 pm on 23 May 2008
Probably :)
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