Basically, I said:

1)  Yes and yes.  Yes, she defamed God.  Yes, the Christians responding so hurt and offended are being too sensitive.

2)  They DON'T speak for me (I am a Christian missionary who directs a non-Christian theater company in a country other than the U.S., and a budding screenwriter and filmmaker), and I think they are doing damage to the cause of Christ for the folks who are laboring in the mission fields of the entertainment industry.  Not permanent damage, but damage nonetheless. 

3)  I think their spending $200,000 for two ads regarding this issue is a HUGE waste of money.  The general manager of the company was quoted as saying, "We have to start changing the hearts and minds of people on this subject!"  My opinion?  The only thing they're doing is hardening hearts and minds.  Don't believe me?  Look at the comments readers made in the link below:

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/detail?blogid=7&entry_id=20475

Finally, a message to the Miracle Theater:  if you have another hundred grand burning a hole in your pocket that you're considering giving away to USA Today, contact me first.  I could really use the cash to get my first film off the ground!

- Nate 

The key thing here is the inconsistency. If she'd said "Suck it, Allah" or "Muhammad" there'd be a price on her head. She'd have to issue several apologies and go into hiding! But because it was "Jesus" everyone says "Get over it! No big deal." I do think the $90,000 ad was a gross miscalculation on the part of Miracle Theatre. But frankly, the fact that no one gives a dang about her blaspheming Jesus when they would about any other religion, just makes the truth of Christianity ever more real to me.

I'm just a regular visitor here, but I appreciate your comments and coming here to discuss the Miracle Theater's recent reactions to Kathy Griffith.

I wonder if you might do me a favor, and go to the other story on Phil's blog about this – the original story.  On down in the comments section of that story a poster makes some pretty harsh claims about your company's financial situation.  Could you respond to that?

Also, I am curious where the money came from to buy the advertisements.  You can respond "it's none of your business" if you'd like, because it's really not, but I am curious.

Thanks,

Nathan

To quote Russ Hollingsworth, 

“It seems like Christianity is the only religion that it’s acceptable to persecute. It made my heart sick to see people in the audience at the Emmy's laughing at Griffin's remarks.  It should not be acceptable to mock anyone's faith.  We have to start changing the hearts and minds of people on this subject!” 

Do we expect to get “persecuted” and ridiculed as Christians? Absolutely, Christ even said we would. Does that mean we should be silent when it happens and not stand for the one we love? No. We should without shame do so. We do not hide who we are…..hence the photo and source from the first ad. Nowhere did we ever attack a single person. We may have used Kathy’s quote because it was fresh news but she is just an example. We understand that there are those who are not of our faith that do not know of our passion for God when they speak out against our LORD but there is no doubt in my mind that there should be respect given no matter who you are. 

So, we plan on taking the “Million Voices for Christ” to the national media, which by the way have been quoted they feel “our story is not newsworthy.” However, there is strength in numbers. One million people speaking up together just can’t be ignored.  Personally, I know the responsibility I have been given straight from God’s word is to speak to my generation which is going to involve confronting our culture. Our cast and leadership have spent many hours in prayer over the direction we have and are heading and many of us have been heavily involved in each step of the way. We want to see the hearts and minds of the media and entertainment industry changed and if they still refuse God then we want to at least see that there will be the respectful treatment towards Christ and our faith that He deserves from those mediums. Our goal is not to clinch someone’s freedom of speech but to ask for respect of all people as we use that freedom. 

Everything we have done has been out of love, not hatred. We have been very careful in the words that we have used. I also encourage all to go to the website and read all the press releases that we have put out there. I think you will see our strategy and intentions clearly. 

I know one issue is the money thing. There are many things I could say to that but I don’t feel like I have to defend it. As I was praying last night God laid two things on my heart about the matter. i will share those…..

1. Our company in the past has given hundreds of thousands of dollars to charitable organizations over the years from the needy across the world to right here in our country after Katrina hit. A truck was loaded and beat the national guard down to Louisiana. I could go on but that is enough said. 

2.   two passages of scripture come to mind:

John 12:1-7

Mark 14:1-9

I encourage you to read these to passages about the same story.

At the heart of it all with Mary then so long ago and now with us today: we want to bring glory to God, honor, and respect to and for Him. This is an opportunity for Christians to have their voices heard and stand for who we believe in.

Thanks for the response.  I meant to write "Josh" in my message, but for some reason wrote "Todd".  Sorry to you and to Todd, too (whoever he might be).

I appreciate your passion for this, and understand that you and your collegues wanted to "take a stand", and make a statement on behalf of the church.  However, I just disagree that this was the best way to do it, and I don't think it was the best use of money.  That's just my opinion.

Phil made the comment earlier that Christians are typically reactionary, and I see this as another example of that.  Really, what good are these ads doing in making people not want to ridicule Christ?  How will 1,000,000 signatures make difference in the big picture?  It seems to me that the way that Christians can really impact culture is by supporting the Christians who are working in Hollywood, trying to get jobs with the studios and trying to write pilots for the networks – let them know that they are not alone, and that the Church is behind them in their attempt to engage culture at the culture's level.  That 200 grand could have gone to support those Christians through the many different organizations out there trying to equip Christians to work in the industry - to start some sort of scholarships for Christians to go to film school, or something else.  

Just my quick pre-coffee thoughts.

-Nate