Recently I ran across a film produced by teaching pastor Francis Chan of Cornerstone Community Church in Simi Valley, California. Chan has developed a fifteen minute basic presentation of Jesus' message for newbies in a conversational style.
In the film, entitled "Stop and Think", he carries his surfboard toward the beach and talks to the camera. He does not reference scripture by chapter and verse, although he paraphrases quite a bit. He talks about God's laws and how we all fall woefully short. He talks about God's pain upon seeing His Son mercilessly crucified. He talks about God looking to humanity searching for a bride for His Son. And Chan is getting the smackdown for it.
There are a host of bloggers who are frying him for his weak presentation of the gospel. They're accusing him of watering it down, not telling the whole story of propitiation and substitution. They're blasting him for neglecting to mention the exclusivity of the Gospel as opposed to other world religions.
I have never heard of Chan before this morning, but it was a quite moment in our house so I watched the whole film. I think it's ok. Actually, it's beautifully shot against the California coastline. I do think it's a little weird that he carries his surfboard for fifteen minutes and takes forever to get close to the water....but other than that, I think the guy has produced a helpful tool. Not the whole shebang, but a great tool. I cannot fathom why people are putting so much energy into bashing this guy.
Did I mention the film was only fifteen minutes long? Or that Chan thinks of this more as a starting point than a full theological presentation of the Gospel? Or that the critics are just blogging?
I think I'm going to refer to it as 'just blogging' from now on...because until you're creating something better, all you can do is blog.
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6 comments:
I appreciate your thoughts on this. I imagine it won't be long until we get a forward from someone with other views.
It is interesting that the critics are 'just blogging' - the others are actually out there doin' the stuff, building The Kingdom.
Can you imagine what we could get done if we would take all the energy and emotion we focus with on others issues & things we think are issues, and we applied that energy and focus toward things that actually make a difference in the kingdom of heaven and bring us into God's heart? It would be world changing.
thisg person from Texas couldn't agree more...
there is a phrase that describes most of that type of thinking..."don't be so arrogant about something you just discovered yesterday." I and our culture are really good a becoming elitist, experts about things we know nothing about. but hey what do i know...
I don't think he's surfing much b/c 1. he's talking and 2. there's no waves to surf. The tide's out. You have to wait until the tide is coming in for the waves to start getting strong enough to surf. At least that's my limited knowledge.
I didn't see anything wrong with his message. Beautiful scenery.
I think this God/Man Jesus, Lord Almighty said it best. We let the wheat grow up with the Tares and at the end of the age it gets separated. Since I haven't won the entire world and certainly not California to Christ yet...I'll agree to let others do their part while I do what Christ asks me to accomplish.
For the record I think he did a good job. Since youtube everyone thinks they are video producers slash critics.
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