Comments on: The Power of Great Stories

By: Rick Wilson

Rick Wilson — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

This is SO TRUE!

I remember watching a Christian film on creationism with a couple of friends with science backgrounds – both meteorologists – sharp guys. The movie was doing fairly well when inexpicably, an altar call was presented. I never forgot their reaction – both shook their heads – “Inappropriate,” they said. “It’s the wrong thing to do.”

Now many would take issue with me over that. When is offering salvation EVER inappropriate? What’s more important than the gospel? Problem is from a writers point of view – it is what I call a dissimilar element. Doesn’t fit, breaks continuity – it’s just plain bad and ultimately it becomes more valuable for our culture than for the people we’re trying to reach.

Great post brother! Story is king! We have the greatest story ever told – we’re just not telling it very well.

By: Christie

Christie — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Ok, so power of a good story, check out this blog about a visit to the largest Red Light District in Asia http://bit.ly/viBah

By: Patrick Knock

Patrick Knock — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I believe most people feel that Christian movies are "fake" movies. In other words, they don't really believe that the movie has the same type of value that "real" movies have, because "real" movies are made for the purpose of telling a story, whereas a Christian movie is merely a teaching tool used to promote propaganda.

A similar example would be the fake $100 bill tract. When many Christians go to a resteraunt, the waiter or waitress may do a great job at serving them, refilling their ice tea 10 or 20 times, and treating them kindly. Then the Christian leaves them a fake $100 bill with bible verses on the back, as if the waiter is going to drop to his knees in repentance at this "generous" gift.

I believe it is the same way, when people plunk down their hard earned $10 for a movie ticket and then an additional $7 on sodas and popcorn, only to find out that this was some lame "fake" Christian propaganda film. We are not supposed to go around jipping the lost, but showing them the way, and by showing them the way , I don't mean to rob them or swindle them in the name of evangelism, because I'm not sure that that would be an effective method.

Having said that, I'm not sure that most Christian movies are really that bad. I just wanted a good laugh dissing on them haha.

By: Guy Chmieleski

Guy Chmieleski — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Stories connect to the heart… What a great reminder for those of us who speak regularly!

By: Simon Dillon

Simon Dillon — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I completely agree with Phil.

Example: I had seen endless news reports about third world poverty, heard stirring political speeches on the subject and been bombarded by (and become increasingly desensitised to) countless World Vision commercials. But the first thing I did after watching About Schmidt was sponsor a child (through Compassion - a great charity).

By: Patrick Knock

Patrick Knock — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I believe what needs to happen in the film industry is to have Christians who are willing to write stories that are mainstream in nature, but that “push the envelope”. In other words, make movies in all the same popular genres that people flock to (romantic comedy, action thriller, drama, etc), and to have the same positive message that many movies already have, but then to push that positive message just a little bit extra-not so much that it puts the movie in a different class, i.e. the “By Christians for Christians” class, but not so little that it doesn’t make an impact. You always hear about films “pushing the envelope”, and unfortuanately the only ones doing that are the ones that are pushing it the wrong direction. What I do learn from these films though is that society is Ok with the envelope being pushed. Why not be different and push it in another direction?

By: Daniel Hahn

Daniel Hahn — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Honestly, who doesn’t love a good story!? People will sit for hours at a good story, but after 20-30 minutes of a sermon, people tend to get a little fidgety. Where’s the sense in that?

By: Bubba Smith

Bubba Smith — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I really enjoy your blog posts… Thank you so much for taking the time to invest in others. It’s making a huge difference!

By: J.C.

J.C. — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Haven’t heard this mentioned so would like to emphasize: The essential source and foundation for this important storytelling is God’s Word. Gotta know the Word as a storyteller sharing God’s grace – 2 Timothy 2:15, 3:16. Of course there’s a need for communicating truth in creative ways/stories that are growing out of the imagination well rooted and grounded in scripture. Change is needed in the Church…however, some of the “emergent” believers are downplaying scripture – and that doesn’t need to happen in order to share the love of Christ in new directions.

By: Armin Völckers

Armin Völckers — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I would also draw a line here between “conversion” movies that end up in the video department of the church library (that thing with the Jesus who looks like the singer of the BeeGees), and “real” movies made by Christians. I heard that some of the Pixar writers and directors are Christians. Don’t know about the conversion rate of their movies though :o) But isn’t the mistake that we are so conversion-fixated? Doesn’t God work in a million other ways we don’t know? Blessings, Armin from Berlin