Folks,
As usual, the point is lost amid emotional reactions
(Marcia, especially,should appreciate the irony).
Incidentally, Marcia, thanks for the Imonk link-- certainly one of the best and clearest articles I've read on the topic to date, and for your personal post on the matter.
First, let me say Thank you to all for your replies to my post. It's nice to be actually included in dialogue once again...
Second, let me assure you that, had I not posted an endorsement of the film, I would have had no need to post a retraction.
Ah-ah-AH-- don't jump to conclusions... The point here is that I get no pleasure from, nor do I feel compelled to "out" homosexual actors, doctors, lawyers or dogcatchers, and would likely have remained silent on the matter unless someone else had raised it and I felt it had been insufficiently addressed.
With your indulgence, I will try to clarify my stance re: "Spear." With your earnest consideration of what I write, I may actually succeed, at least in some instances. I will attempt again to state my case, this time in a more concise and orderly manner:
1. The issue of my post is
personal to me, and based upon my previous endorsement of a film I very much enjoyed. Chad Allen's homosexuality IS NOT the issue, just as the personal sexual and/or religious orientations of the other actors mentioned by posters is not an issue to me. What matters is that Allen is a leading activist for homosexuality and that he has publicly stated that he is not a believer in Christ and that the message he sought to portray by acting as the two Saints was not a Christian gospel, but a (false) gospel of the triumph of "love" (tolerance) over hatred and fear (intolerance). The homosexual community is using Allen's roles in the film to push its agenda, which is anti-Christ and anti-Christian.
2. As for the film itself, who am I to disagree with Paul? I rejoice at whatever measure of the true gospel of Christ is preached, even in contention or dishonesty. However, I doubt that any Christian believes that Paul
personally endorsed or financially supported those who practiced such contentious or false preaching. Rather, he was proclaiming the power and mercy of God to communicate the truth even through such imperfect, even insincere, vessels. (If we had to wait for perfect preachers, we would all be lost.)
3. I think my former statements
should suffice to explain that I do not boycott, simply as a matter of form, unbelievers, regardless the form of their unbelief. I will, of course, preferably support believers rather than unbelievers, all other things being equal. Nor did I suggest that others should boycott "Spear." My exact words were,
"Let everyone answer to his own conscience before God's face." I stand by that. Do as you believe God wants you to do, but I urge you: Never stop asking the Lord to teach you His will, and to be open to it, despite your prior opinions. This is a difficult lesson.
4. My personal issue is that I monetarily supported, and personally endorsed something that I would not have, had I been aware of more facts. I also stated as much in saying,
"Had I known what I now know, I would not have supported this film with the price of a ticket."5. My second post on this thread was simply a retraction of the endorsement stated in my first, with an attempted (but apparently failed) explanation of my reasons.
6. The enemy of Christ and His church is satan, and not just some sector(s) of society. Nonetheless, tolerance of public aggressive godlessness has brought God's judgment against nations throughout history, and can do so among us.
7. I am not a "culture warrior" who believes that treading down evil will usher in righteousness, nor have I thought of others in such terms (even though I'm sure they apply to some people). I seek only to please our Lord in my thoughts, words and conduct, and I urge others to do the same. This cannot be achieved by dictating the conduct of others (as we on this board, of all people, should understand), but only through our individually learning to know, to love and to serve Christ in spirit and in truth.
God bless you all,
al
