The Third Jihad... I Will Not Be Seeing This Film
The Third Jihad. As pastor, I have received literature and several calls promoting the screening of this film. Today they called again. The secretary asked if I would like to speak to the representative? Usually I will have her to say that I am not available. However, these guys have been making a diligent effort to reach me, so I thought I would show respect by taking the call.
“Sir, I appreciate the ongoing effort you have made to promote this film. But I’m not interested in seeing it.”
He asked why, a query I wanted from him.
“It’s the name. The Third Jihad. I have no doubt about the content of this film. It is not the type of vehicle of communication that I want to use in my church. I figure since you are probably making note of the response of the pastors you contact, you might want to write that down. If you want to reach ministers and churches of a more moderate persuasion, you might want to listen.”
“But we’ve had a great response from our churches to this screening.”
I’ve no doubt that a particular type of church, and pastor, will find this film to be appealing. But a film with this name and message will not reach your more moderate church.
I really do not like to define myself as “moderate” for it certainly does not describe me in relation to the conventional uses of the term in current politics and religion. I meant to say “thoughtful”. It’s a peril of communicating off-the-cuff.
But, do you not agree that radical Islam is a threat to our way of life?
Yes. But I do not think that militancy of the church is the answer. We’re supposed to love people. Where is the love in your film?
By now I had gotten far off target, and this guy was debating with me. I thought he was simply calling a list of pastors to enlist them to see his film, and I was hoping that he would make note of why I did not want to view it. So I told him, politely, that I did not mean to engage in an extended conversation. I realized the nature of his call, was honored that his company would make such a diligent effort to enlist me, and just hoped he might make note of my opinion.
This effort to be conservative, with a stubborn independence and some common sense, can sometimes be tiresome!
05.14.09 (11:08 am) [
edit]
posted by:
surrogate (
reply)
post date:
05.14.09 (9:40 am)
I'd see it, but no doubt it would reinforce my thoughts about the self-serving paranoia too many Christians have about a relatively small group of fanatics. Plus, I'm convinced our "we've got to kill them before they kill us" attitude does nothing but foster growth in their ranks, since every time we kill someone (regardless of what they've done to us) we create another generation or two of people who will hate us forever. It's absurd AND is why "turning the other cheek" is more than a personal directive. It's still the best defense policy we could ever muster, which, of course, is NOT to say that criminal acts should go unpunished.
I know, I know. I've said all this before.
Sorry.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
05.14.09 (9:58 am)
Reply to: surrogate
Yeah, we've been down this road a few times!
My big problem is this is a film with a political agenda, disguised/married as religion. I really want to keep politics out of my church, and especially out of the proclamation part of our worship times. These guys, I'm quite sure, have no problem preaching politics and even requiring political perspective for true conversion. I've a real problem with that.
posted by:
bawdy (
reply)
post date:
05.14.09 (1:01 pm)
It wouldn't hurt to see it regardless of whether you approve or not. Would you watch if the agenda agreed with your own views?
posted by:
surrogate (
reply)
post date:
05.14.09 (1:57 pm)
Reply to: PastorDave
The world would be a better place if everyone stopped worrying about converting others altogether, and just lived their lives for eight or nine decades according to the broadest themes their own religions teach. It's always those narrow pesky "rules", and how they're interpreted, that cause problems.
posted by:
fractalmom (
reply)
post date:
05.14.09 (4:39 pm)
I don't even want to watch the news anymore, much less any movie with a political agenda.
I am looking forward to the new Star Wars though :)
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
05.14.09 (5:56 pm)
Reply to: fractalmom
Do you mean Star Trek? I saw it last weekend, and the plot was indiscernible, but everything else was fantastic. Go see it- heck, YOU may even understand it!
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
05.14.09 (5:57 pm)
Reply to: bawdy
A political video? I might watch it out of personal interest, perhaps on television or at a political rally, etc. But not in my church. I believe strongly such stuff needs to stay out.
posted by:
fractalmom (
reply)
post date:
05.15.09 (11:37 am)
Reply to: PastorDave
ROFLMAO Ooops. I did mean Star Trek !!!
posted by:
barnabus1 (
reply)
post date:
05.15.09 (12:16 pm)
I Believe our friend surrogate the Lord told us to preach the Gospel to all creatures...so we can't just stay silent about it!! How can anyone be converted unless they hear about it?? Don't know what to make of the movie...I sure wouldn't pay to see it!
posted by:
barnabus1 (
reply)
post date:
05.15.09 (12:17 pm)
Reply to: barnabus1
surrogate forgets that....
posted by:
bawdy (
reply)
post date:
05.15.09 (1:53 pm)
Reply to: PastorDave
Oh, I didn't realize they wanted to screen it in your church.
