On Noah

The first time I even heard that the movie Noah was coming out in theatres was in a stadium packed with Christians. What better venue to promote a movie based on a Biblical person than to those who know the story best? On top of that, what better way to make money off a movie than by having the MCs at an event encourage everyone in the room to go see it (and bring your non-Christian friends!). Hollywood knows a set of suckers when they see 'em.

But I digress. For it seems that there's a growing backlash against Noah led by none other than those who the movie is marketed to. Christians are telling other Christians NOT to see the movie.

One blogger (who actually felt it necessary to ensure his readers that he's a Christian in the title of his blog post) has gone so far as to give a complete synopsis of the film in order to convince his readers not to watch it. Why are Christians turning their back? Well, for various reasons--not being true to Scripture is one of them (something about rock people). The best reason I have heard so far is that the director, Darren Aronofsky, is ... wait for it ... atheist (GASP!). And he used the F word when talking about his film (double-gasp!). Oh, and he made other films with the F word actually in it. Sigh.

How's the song go? 'And they'll know we are Christians by how much we complain.'

So someone who is definitely not a Christian directs a movie about something in the Bible. His secret is out, so now all Christians are told to avoid the movie at all costs and tell all their friends that the director is an atheist so that they will boycott the movie as well.

Could you imagine the backlash if Aronofsky was gay?

Seriously, am I missing something here? Does Hollywood owe Christianity something? Is that the expectation, that whenever a film is based on a Biblical story it has to uplift the souls of the faithful and (hopefully) bring a few non-faithful to their knees in repentance?  Do we honestly believe that watching a story about God completely destroying all but a few souls on earth is going to drive the masses into church the following Sunday?

What gets me about this is that there are many Christians who would read about the personal beliefs of the director of Noah and turn their back on the movie, only to go home and turn their T.V. on to the season finale of Breaking Bad or the premiere of Game of Thrones without a thought to the beliefs of the directors or even about what they're actually watching. I have honestly heard more buzz in my Christian circles about Breaking Bad and Game of Thrones than I have about Noah--and nobody blinks an eye at the gratuitous sex scenes of GoT and the violence of BB when they talk about getting together to watch.

I have to admit, I haven't seen this movie--not for any of the reasons cited above but because a night out to watch a movie generally costs us over $50 when you factor in the babysitting.  But I'm sure I'll watch it someday.  And if you intend to boycott the movie, ask yourself why.  Are you watching it so that you can be reassured in your faith?  I'm sorry that a movie has to do that for you.  Because the entire movie is just that: a movie. A film to watch more for it's entertainment value than for a spiritual revival.  The point is not about us as Christians gloating in the fact that Hollywood produced a Biblical story true to Scripture.

Does Noah twist Scripture?  Sure.  But at least you know it.  There will be countless people who will watch this movie and think what they're seeing is Biblical.  What a great opportunity to tell those people about how it really went down ... or up (depending on whether you're talking about before or after the rain--ha!).  And it's a great opportunity to finish the story of Noah, because chances are the movie doesn't end with Christ.  Christ who told us to complain go and make disciples.  What a great opportunity to start.