It is somehow a fitting metaphor for the spiritual battle raging around us that longtime homosexual political activist and gay pinup boy, Chad Allen, ends up being the actor chosen by a Christian film production company to play missionary martyr Nate Saint in the End of the Spear movie. Satan has managed to cover just about every corner of America with Sodom's tireless foot soldiers and the evangelical church is no exception.
Nate Saint and the Christian testimony of his martyred brothers in Christ touched hearts around the world 50 years ago and served to set a powerful, godly example for generations of young people desiring to serve Christ no matter the cost. There is little wonder why the enemy has successfully managed to eclipse the story with cover shots of Chad Allen flashing his wares on the cover of the popular gay magazine, The Advocate. It's little wonder the man who plays Nate Saint is on Larry King promoting not only gay marriage, but also his neo-pagan beliefs which he describes as a mixture of Buddhism, Hinduism, Catholicism and Native American spirituality. From the enemy's standpoint, this casting could not have been more effective at obscuring the heart of the martyrs' story and the message of Jesus Christ.
Steve Saint and Every Tribe Productions remain unrepentant for directly sowing this kind of needless confusion. Chad Allen reported that Steve Saint and he had such love for each other when the filming ended that they were in tears when they parted. Yet for all of Steve Saint's love, acceptance and promotion of Chad, the man is boldly serving as a false prophet of New Age spirituality and sexual rebellion.
Worse still, the movie writers decided not to “cram the Gospel down the throats of viewers”, they said. Plain truth apparently doesn't go over too well with modern movie goers. The Christian Post and critics have observed that the name of Jesus does not make a showing in the entire movie. Here's a quote from the article:
“Critics have pointed out that the film and the documentary do not state the name, "Jesus," although one tribeswoman in the film did acknowledge that "Waengongi" (the name by which the Waodani refer to God) had a Son who was speared so we could live well."
That's the entire Gospel contained in this movie. Not even a hint of the Name above all names. Despite this, Evangelical leaders have been heaping praise on the film. One national home school leader at HSLDA sent out an email after being contacted by numerous concerned Christian families about the organization's hearty endorsement.
I can recommend without hesitation the movie, "End of the Spear!" It is an accurate, gripping, and well performed account of the incredible story of the mission work to the Waodani Indians.
"It is clean, tasteful, artistic, and powerful. You will be changed as you see the bravery, sincere love for the lost, and self-sacrifice of these godly men and women. You will see the miraculous change in these killer Indians as the movie depicts their spiritual transformation by the Holy Spirit. I believe you will be moved to tears repeatedly as you see the overwhelming love God put in the hearts of these young missionaries for these obscure, violent, and lost Indians."
All this without even so much as a mention of the name of our Saviour, Jesus Christ. While Christians who know the missionary story fill in the blanks left by the movie, unbelievers who need to hear the name of Jesus and the Gospel, won't.
Compare this kind of modern day approach to evangelism with the bold, powerful witness of the Apostles in Acts Chapter 4.. Read and weep at what has become of the "Christian" witness in this land.
And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes, And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this? Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
Where is this bold witness today? Where is the fearless proclamation of the Lord Jesus in our ministries? Steve Saint was quoted as saying that “cultural hearts” are changed in theaters. Are we here to change a culture or to see souls saved from an eternal hell? The Apostles never changed the entire culture of pagan Rome. They did preach faithfully and God saved those who believed. At a time of growing compromise, relativism and pragmatism in Christian ministry, more than ever we need a return to confidence in the power of the Gospel. God has not promised to bless concerts, or shows or films. He has promised to bless the preaching of the Word. This is the true calling of the church. This is the need of the hour.
For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. I Corinthians 1:21
© 2006 Ingrid Schlueter
Ingrid Schlueter has been producer and co-host of the Crosstalk Radio Talk Show on the VCY America Radio Network for 18 years. She is author of numerous articles on current issues and is a regular columnist for Wisconsin Christian News. She has also authored, Parent Police: The UN Wants Your Children. Email: vcyproducer@aol.com Website: http://sliceoflaodicea.com
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