Lord, Save us from Your Followers...

...Who want the gospel to be something other than the cross.

I saw this movie last night with my good friend, Thessalonians expositor, and well-known radio engineer, Troy Bryant. I can honestly say this movie, Lord, Save Us From Your Followers was a positive, thought-provoking experience. And before I tell you about the deception it's selling, I want to talk about that positive learning experience.

The movie interviews many people from many different persuasions about what needs to change in Evangelical Christianity to solve the problem of Christians dividing the United States into two hostile camps. You will not be surprised to know that the answer is not for liberals and unbelievers to repent of their sin and change their minds about accepting the gospel. Ah, yes, it is conservatives who must abandon their strident, provocative methods and doctrines.

Watch the trailers here: View the trailer here:

Positives:

1. The movie truly tried to be even handed in interviewing both sides of the issue. Even as it was clear that conservative evangelicals were being called to change their message and not liberals, the movie was in no sense heavy handed. Conservatives got a lot of air time. Definitely not strictly a Michael Moore assassination of a position by creative editing.

2. The movie is correct that the nation has been unnecessarily divided by Christians insisting on dividing based on political affiliation. When a Christian declares Democrat or Republican he immediately alienates half the country. This is particularly a problem when a Christian's identity cannot be separated from his politics or if his religion largely or even primarily consists of his politics.

3. SO MUCH can be gained by not merely having the correct doctrine but actually living out the love and service of Jesus in the lives of the poor and in the lives of our enemies. The power of this love is ASTOUNDING. This is a great lesson as far as it goes for modern evangelicals.

4. Ever since I read, Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller, I have loved the idea of the confessional booth. Dan (the protagonist) sets up the booth at a Gay Pride festival and he confesses his sins to them. This really opens doors to speak into people's hearts and get them to open up. I think it would good to have a booth at the Fair some year and do this--without getting into the liberal guilt trip, just honestly naming where we have fallen short in loving people.

Now I will proceed to the lie, which is quite subtle. After the movie was over most in the crowd applauded and agreed with Dan (who was present and addressed the audience and took questions).

Let me summarize the lie before expounding: "Preaching against sin and for the cross is not effective in 21st century America. Therefore we need to lay aside our doctrine and address the human need of the hurting and needy in our society."

Now, several points about that:

1. The heroes of the film turn out to be Bono and Tony Campolo. Of course, when they show up, not everyone in the audience knows their backgrounds. Campolo has been accused of not believing hell. Recently, I have seen him quoted saying that he does. But he is always decrying its use in preaching. He and Brian McLaren claim it means that anyone preaching it doesn't care for the quality of people's lives here on earth. Nice deflection.

Therein lies the fatal flaw of this movie. The movie is not concerned about escaping an eternal Lake of Fire by faith in a Christ who both died on the cross and rose from the grave. This gospel, the true one, is not advocated. It is abandoned in favor of loving people and accepting them right where they are at. A group of young, Christian students gathering in San Francisco, are chastized for their posturing. Gay and transsexual protesters are cast in a favorable light. These protesters one after another claim that any message assaulting their lifestyle will never have any affect in converting them.

The movie wants us to embrace a social gospel of good works. Of course if you do good things for the poor and hurting and at the same time manage to leave out the gospel, you won't have to face the persecution of the cross. I think Paul in Galatians 6:12 lays bare the motive of Progressives, Emergents, Liberation theologians, and others. If you preach good works, you avoid the persecution of preaching the cross.

Those who want to make a good impression outwardly are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ.

-Galatians 6:12

The goal of Christianity is not primarily to be at peace with others or to quell strife or to get along. Jesus said he came not to bring peace but a sword and even division among members of one's own family. There is something greater at stake than peace when there is no peace: The eternal destiny of souls.

You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.

-James 4:4

How much easier it is to settle for a gospel that does not mean walking in the footsteps of Jesus, who was opposed by the establishment at every point and put to death by the same. Jesus did not entrust himself to men because he knew what they were like. The crowds who shouted praises and carried palm fronds one day yelled "Crucify" soon after.

Jesus came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. He came to give His life as a ransom. Any message where that is not the centerpiece is at best misleading.

For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

-I Corinthians 2:2

I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said

-I Cor. 15:3ff

2. The movie is effective propaganda for the primary position of the Emergent Church. We need to engage people and have a conversation without insisting on traditional doctrines of right and wrong. This includes shying away from taking a position on abortion and homosexuality. Clever, but subtle shots are taken at Republican politics.

One scene confuses the personal morality of "Thou shall not murder," with a denunciation of the Bush administration using a preemptive strike in an act of war. Obama quotes are strained to make him appear to believe in prayer to a personal God (He believes in prayer as a meditative, therapeutic exercise). Another clip has him advocating the common theme of all religions, to do unto others as they would do unto you. Of course, only one religion, Christianity advocates this in Matthew 7:12.
Do Muslim holy men teach this doctrine side by side with the glories of jihad to eager young students who forbid their sisters and mothers to receive an education?

So, the movie is very deceptive on doctrinal grounds, but also cannot help slip its political leanings. It tries so hard to say that it is apolitical, but of course, when eternal salvation is exchanged for merely improving the lot of people here on earth, that is all about politics. I am not condemning Democrats here. Christians shouldn't be subjected to a political litmus test and Republican politicians have perpetrated a large amount of folly in recent years.

I just find the masquerade interesting. These people claim to be just like us, but if you took a secret poll of how these people vote I suspect you wouldn't find any Bush supporters. That in itself is not a problem. Being honest about it is. It reminds me of the polls taken of the voting preferences of the supposedly unbiased media. The preponderance of liberals is remarkable. Why the effort to hide this?

In short, I believe this movie is an excellent teaching exercise for leaders in the church. It should be shown, dissected, and discussed so that they understand the folly of the reasoning and course of action advocated.

Wanna watch the DVD together and have some discussion?