Unleashing the Gospel (or, Strategic Investing for Kingdom Returns)

21 Jul 2010 | 5 Comments »

by Craig Smith

Samuel looked across the table at us, his eyes brimming with tears.  “I love my country,” he said, “and I love God’s people in my country.  Sometimes, when I think about the church in Bolivia, I cry.”

I don’t know what you think of when you read those words.  Chances are, if you’re like me, you assume that the Christians in Bolivia are persecuted for their faith.  Or maybe you think that they’re so poor they don’t have the basic stuff of life:  food, clean water and shelter.  But if those are what you think Samuel was talking about, then like me, you’d be wrong. 

“In Bolivia, we have almost no teachers of good theology.  There are only 2 doctors of theology in all of my country and one of those is stopping to work, so soon there will only be one teacher of theology to help all of the pastors in my country.  Our theology is weak, like little babies.  It cannot stand up when things are against it.  It has no…ah, deepness?…like with a tree?” 

“Roots?” I asked. 

“Si, roots,” he said, nodding.  He sighed and looked troubled, but then brightened.  “That is why I come here, to study and learn how to help my people by helping them have deep theology.”

As I write these words, I’m sitting in my room at SETECA in Guatemala City, Guatemala.  SETECA stands for Seminario Teologico Centroamericano (Central American Theological Seminary), where I’m very privileged to be able to teach for two weeks this month.  SETECA is responsible for giving thousands of Spanish-speaking pastors the training they need to be able to shepherd their people effectively in the midst of a world that continually presents new challenges not only to effective ministry but also to faithful Christian living.  This kind of training is both desperately needed and desperately lacking for a tremendous number of pastors down here.

Samuel was describing a problem that few people in the United States understand.  In the U.S., our pastors are typically well-educated with extensive theological education as well as practical instruction in issues like church administration and leadership development.  Even those who haven’t had the opportunity to study at one of the many, many good seminaries in the U.S. can take advantage of seminars, conferences, workshops and other special events designed to equip and strengthen them for effective ministry.  Worst-case scenario, they can simply read a book.  With so many resources available, pastoral ignorance in the U.S. is an intentional choice.  But in much of the world, Christian pastors live out their calling to ministry with virtually no training whatsoever – and with virtually no access to helpful resources – simply because the resources are absent or inaccessible. 

I’m not talking here about familiarity with the latest trendy techniques for church growth or strategies for church marketing.  I’m talking about something much more foundational.

To the church in Corinth Paul wrote, “I gave you milk to drink, not solid food, for you were not yet ready to receive it” (1Co. 3:2).   Paul lamented the fact that the church in Corinth wasn’t ready to move beyond the basic things of Christianity and really sink their roots deep into an understanding that could withstand all the challenges that might be brought against it.  But Paul was ready to help them go deep as soon as they were ready.  For much of the world, though, there is no one who can help them go deeper, no one who has anything other than milk to offer.

Here’s the root of the problem:  equipping pastors takes money, and it’s hard to raise money for this kind of ministry.  People who have money, like Christians in the United States, want to donate to causes with immediate, tangible results.  So, it’s often relatively easy to raise money to feed orphans or to collect clothing for the poor.  Even non-Christians are frequently willing to donate to such causes.  Somewhat more difficult, but still relatively easy, is the task of raising funds to support missionaries who are directly engaged in proclaiming the gospel to unreached people.  Far more difficult, however, is raising funds to support the kind of long-term equipping work that I’m talking about here.  The irony is that there’s an inverse relationship  between how easy it is to raise the funds and the return-on-investment of those funds:

The reason for this is simple.  If you give a child a piece of bread, that child eats for a day.  If you share the Gospel with someone who accepts it, then that person enters the Kingdom.  But if you equip a local pastor so that he can have a long-term ministry among a people whose language and culture he knows, then he can be instrumental in seeing hundreds or thousands of people come to Christ over his ministry and he can equip them to see and meet the needs of people around them in tremendously effective ways. 

Equipping local Christian leaders doesn’t replace the other kinds of efforts, it merely enhances them.  For instance, local pastors and their churches can make sure that donations of food and clothing are used in the best possible ways.  This past Saturday we met with the leaders of an orphanage in Antigua, Guatemala and made arrangements to return this coming Thursday to distribute some food and other items to impoverished families in the town.  The leaders told us that they had chosen several families for us to visit who do not often receive aid but that were in serious need.  They had also visited the families already to make sure they were truly in need.  Apparently here, as I’ve seen in other parts of the world, it’s not uncommon for well-off families to send their kids to get donated items which they don’t really need and may even sell to make extra money.  This is the kind of thing that only local people can find out, so you can see how helpful it is to have local believers in charge of distributing such donations.

But the long-term impact of supporting local ministries comes from more than just knowing how to distribute donations wisely.  For example, during our afternoons off, we’ve had the chance to do some work with one of the local Compassion International projects down here in Guatemala.  This church has a tremendous ministry in the local “Dump”.  This is a huge landfill where all of the garbage from Guatemala City gets…well, “dumped.”  There are thousands of people who live in the garbage here and the church has raised up a large group of volunteers to go into this place regularly and distribute food and clothing to them.  But this is not a one-shot ministry.  It’s an ongoing program that happens each and every week.  They also have programs to provide education for kids in the Dump and programs to provide day-care for parents who live in the Dump so that they can find work and break the cycle of poverty.  They’re also raising up small-group leaders to teach Bible studies to families living in the Dump who are excited to learn about this Jesus.  This kind of long-term ministry will ultimately lead to an impact for the Kingdom that will far exceed that of just sending an occasional truck-load of food into the Dump.

And yet, the pastor of this church confided to me that he is at a loss as to how to help his people understand who God is and what He wants to do in and through them.  At their request we led a short two-hour leadership seminar and were humbled at how thirsty they were for what seemed like such basic principles to us.  And so I was reminded:  what seems elementary to us is often radically new to our brothers and sisters in much of the world.  Why?  Because in the United States we are blessed to have so many great resources that equip our pastors and leaders to minister biblically and effectively.  But for my friend Simean, those kinds of resources seem like unimaginable riches.

That’s why the ministry of groups like SETECA is so important.  They are equipping local pastors to be able to know God well and make Him known well in contexts where they already speak the language and know the culture.  This will make them effective in a way that foreign missionaries can never be.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that we don’t need missionaries to go where there are no – or aren’t enough – local pastors.  Nor does it mean that we don’t need to feed the hungry or clothe the naked.  All of these are important biblical mandates.  All I’m saying is that one of the most effective investments we can make for the Kingdom is in an area that is often ignored or dismissed and this needs to change.

Donating to missions organizations that are devoted to the theological education of indigenous pastors is a way of setting the Gospel free in a culture.  This is a way of unleashing the power of the Gospel to transform lives, cultures and the very world itself in ways that we can only imagine. 

If you want to see the Gospel set free in our world to do its work, I would like to encourage you to consider becoming a regular supporter of an organization that is devoted to the kind of work that I’ve described here.  Again, I’m not saying you should stop supporting the other kinds of things that you’re already contributing to.  I’m just saying that supporting a group like SETECA ought to be as important to us as sponsoring a Compassion child or supporting traditional missionaries working to make inroads into new cultures for the Gospel. 

And hey, since I’m down here donating my time and experience to SETECA…and since I’m extremely impressed with the quality and the quantity of their ministry to pastors all over Central and South America…might I even suggest that you consider making a small one-time contribution to their work right now?  These people know how to stretch a dollar and use it to equip pastors for long-term, effective ministry here.  Money that you donate to SETECA (or some other group like it) is used to produce and provide materials, pay for teachers, fund scholarships on which most of the students depend, keep radio stations running (SETECA has a radio station that broadcasts to more than 4 million listeners!) and much, much more. 

This is exciting stuff!  Even more important, this is one of the most strategic investments you can make for the sake of God’s Kingdom and I encourage you to give some serious thought to using a portion of your tithe to invest in this kind of ministry.

If you’d like to make your first such investment through SETECA, it’s easy.  Just visit www.seteca.edu and click on the link for donating.

Category(s): Biblical Studies, Christian Living, Christian Ministry, Faith & Culture, Missions

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The Last Airbender – Movie Review

20 Jul 2010 | Comments Off

The Last Airbender – Movie Review

By: Stacey Tuttle

Highly entertaining, full of action and beautiful scenery, artfully done, The Last Airbender has been a top box office draw (currently 5th), bringing in $16.6M in its first two weeks of release—and it’s no wonder. Whether or not people have seen the cartoon it is based on, parents and children alike are flocking to see it, and they’re all being equally entertained.  But here is my question, are we just being entertained, or are we pausing to filter through the messages and beliefs that the movie is based on?  The movie is clearly coming from an Eastern religious influence (echoing the teachings of New Age, Hinduism and pantheism), yet according to some statistics, as much as 75% of Americans consider themselves Christian with the next two largest religious groups in America being Islam and Judaism[1].  Yet, none of those religions align with the Eastern teachings in this movie, so one can’t help but wonder at its popularity.  Yet, as I already wondered:  are most people even aware of the differences between what the movie propagates vs. what they believe?  And are we helping our children or our friends to decipher the difference? 

The following is a grid which I hope will help us to think through what the movie says/implies and how those things differ from the Truth.  But I’d also like to go one step further and point out how some of those things echo Christianity.  If all the teachings were blatantly wrong, we’d see it clearly, but the differences are often subtle and have whispers of truth, and parts of truth such that the error is all the more embedded and well hidden.  We can use those echoes of truth to point us to THE Truth, but first we have to discern the truth from the lie. 

Quote / Concept How it differs from Christianity How it echoes Christianity
“There are reasons each of us are born—we have to find those reasons.” God created us and He has a plan for our lives.  But that plan comes from HIM, not from an impersonal cosmic force. 

Ps 139:13-16, Jer 29:11, Eph 2:1

 There is a reason(s) why each of us was born.  We do have a purpose.  And yes, we need to find that purpose – but we find it in Christ and Christ alone. 

Matt 6:33, Eph 2:1
Air nation wants to rule all four nations.  The Avatar keeps peace between them.  The Fire Lord launched a genocidal campaign against all the Air Nomads, aware that the next Avatar was to come from that nation in hopes of eliminating the one who could put a stop to his reign.   There have been several instances of genocide in the Bible from power-hungry rulers who feared a rival.  And similarly, they failed to kill the one they sought. Most notably you have Moses, and Jesus. 

Moses, (found in Exodus) was ironically saved by daughter of the very Pharaoh who ordered the execution of all the babies.  He later led the Israelites to safety away from the rule of Pharaoh. 

Jesus was rumored to be the coming King, which threatened the current King, Herod.  Jesus’ kingdom though was far greater than just Herod’s kingdom.  Jesus is the Lord God, King of EVERYTHING.  He will establish true peace on earth, beginning with the peace inside the heart of any who trust in Him.  Isaiah 9:6-7, Luke 19: 28-40
The Avatar is a reincarnated being who communicates with (and is even one with) the elements of nature.  He is learning, through meditation and the teaching of other masters, how to work with those elements (earth, fire, water, wind) and get them to work in partnership with him.  He is learning how to manipulate their forces.  This has some superficial similarity to Jesus – He certainly held power over the elements of nature.  He calmed storms, walked on water, withered fruitless trees, turned water into wine, etc…   but there is a key distinction:  Jesus doesn’t communicate with nature, He’s not one with nature, He is LORD over nature.  He commands nature and it obeys.  He is the king, nature is but a humble subject.  He doesn’t petition nature to do His will, pleading with it to help.  He doesn’t have to learn and study how to work with the elements of nature.  Jesus created nature; he speaks and it obeys. 

Furthermore, Jesus was not a reincarnated being.  He is creator God, the first and the last.  Rev 22:13

 We love the idea of a being who can move water and air, etc…  It is a fantastic idea, this Avatar who communicates and has power with the very elements of the earth.  However, let it remind us of the Son of God who spoke the elements into existence.  Jesus who can calm the storms.  Jesus who said to His disciples that not only could they command a tree and it would obey, but they could cast a very mountain into the sea and it would happen, if they only had faith and did not doubt.  Saying, “Whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith” (Matt 21:20-22).  To have the power of the Holy Spirit, we don’t have to learn to communicate with nature; we need to learn to pray with faith.
Only the Avatar can communicate with the spirit world (and spirit creatures, if I’m not mistaken) and therefore he is the mediator between man and the spirit world. Jesus came to bear the punishment for our sins so that through Him we could have a relationship with God the Father.  We not only have communication with God, but we are called his sons and daughters (I John 3:1). 

We don’t need an Avatar or a priest or any one else to act as mediator, translator or communicator between ourselves and the spirit world.  We can go directly to God as His child. 

Furthermore, Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit to aid us in that communication.  He is our helper, our guide and our teacher (John 14:26) and when we struggle to find the words to talk to God with, the Spirit speaks on our behalf (Rom 8:26).

 If you find it cool or fascinating that Aang can communicate with the spirit world, be encouraged!  God desires that we would all be in communication with Him!  It is not a privilege He reserves for one special person.  He wants it so much He sent His son Jesus to die on the cross to make it possible!  And He sent us the Holy Spirit to help us! 
The Fire Nation doesn’t wish to live by the Spirits. We don’t live by the spirits (plural) but the Spirit (singular).  In fact, the Bible says we live “by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matt  4:4).  There are a lot of people who do not wish to live in submission to God.  They hate the things of God and do their best to ignore or even destroy them.  They want power for themselves.  Romans 1 says that they “suppress the truth” and “although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him,” “they exchanged the truth about God for a lie,” “they did not see fit to acknowledge God.”
“The Avatar can change hearts and it is in hearts all wars are won.” As Christians, we certainly believe that it is through Jesus that hearts are changed and no one else. Wars are won through the heart, which is why Jesus’ Kingdom begins not with a political coup as the Jews of the day expected, but with a liberation of the hearts of man, set free from sin and death and filled with His love.
“The ground is an extension of who you are” the Avatar tells the earth benders. God did use the earth when he formed Adam (Gen 2:7), but then he gave Adam the responsibility of working in the garden and maintaining it (Gen 2:15).  He did not tell Adam to be one with the earth, or that the earth was an extension of himself.  Rather, Adam was to rule over it, command it and take care of it.  Man is to have responsibility over the earth, not partnership with it.  
Aang ran away from the ceremony in which he was crowned Avatar when everyone began to bow to him. The very first of the Ten Commandments says that “You shall have no other gods before me” (Ex 20: 3).  And the only one to whom everyone will bow is Jesus.  Philippians 2:9-11 says, “9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,   10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,  11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” 

Aang was frankly right to run away when everyone began to bow to him.  That is an honor that belongs only to Jesus.  And rest assured, Jesus will not be afraid or overwhelmed by the responsibility and run away when we bow to Him.

 There will come a time when we all bow before our Jesus, recognizing Him as our rightful leader, our Lord and King.  There will come a time when all will finally recognize Him for who He is and bow in submission before Him.
“Let your emotions flow like water…water teaches us acceptance.” To say that we should just accept our emotions and let them flow is silliness.  There are a lot of emotions that are not worthy of such unrestrained freedom and power.  What about the emotion of jealousy, of bitterness?  What about a person who has romantic feelings toward someone who is off-limits, already married, for example?  Or what about a two year old who is angry because they were told not to touch the hot stove?  Should those feelings be encouraged to just flow and run rampant?  No. 

In fact, emotions are usually a response to what we are thinking about.  This means that if we think about true things, we are more likely to have good, right, true emotional responses.  But if we think about things that are lies, or negative or hurtful, our emotions follow suit. 

Therefore, we need to train our thoughts to think about the right kinds of things, such as things that are “true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable,… excellent or praiseworthy” (Phil 4:8).  Only emotions based on these kinds of thoughts will be the kind we should just “let flow”.

 Acceptance, when accepting the right things, can be great.  There are things you cannot or should not fight against.  However, there are things you MUST fight against. 

The Avatar had to learn the difference.  He didn’t simply accept the domination and cruelty of the Fire Nation, he fought against it.  However, he had a calling on his life that he had run away from and been loathe to accept—and he was wrong to do that.  He should have accepted his role as the Avatar much sooner than he did. 

As Christians we are to do battle against the enemy, the spiritual forces of evil (Eph 6:10-20).  We are to defend our faith (I Pe 3:15) and the defenseless (Ps 82:3-5).  This means we are not to accept the enemy, or attacks on our faith or doctrine, or unfair treatment of the weak and the defenseless. 

However, we are also commanded to turn the other cheek (Matt 5:39), and to forgive those who persecute us (Matt 5:44).   This means there are things we should accept and forgive.  The key is to know when to accept and when to fight and defend.
Before going into battle, Aang retreats to meditate and talk to / seek advice from the spirit dragon. The practice of seeking out God and His will before any major event, battle, decision, etc. is a good one.  However, it is God whose advise we seek, not a spirit dragon, not any other spirit, not the universe…it is the Creator of the universe. There are many examples of people in the Bible who went to get alone and seek God’s will and advice before going into battle all throughout the Old Testament.  There’s the cool story of Israel fighting the Amalekites – as long as Moses’ hands were lifted to God, the Israelites won (Ex 17:8-16).    And of course there is the example of Jesus who went to the Garden of Gethsemane to seek the Lord before his crucifixion (Matt 26:36-46).
Aang frequently enters a trance-like state.  His eyes blow and he appears to be almost possessed, but is shown in a positive light as he is accessing the power and wisdom of the ancient ones and the spirit realm. While Aang meditates before the battle, he is so deep in his trance-like state he loses all awareness of his surroundings.  I don’t mean to be an extremist or an alarmist, or to make a mountain out of a mole hill, but I can’t ignore the nagging feeling that his meditative, trance-like states and then his glowing eyes and sudden rush of super-natural power seems an awful lot like demonic possession.  Aang seems to realize that he needs a higher source for power, strength and direction – he is not enough in and of himself. 

Similarly, we are not enough.  We do not have enough power or wisdom for the tasks at hand.  And we too have a source of power.  Our source of power is the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8) whom God gives to us as a helper.
The spirits take the form of benign things (such as the fish) to teach lessons like humility and kindness.  God uses the things of the earth, the benign, every day things to teach us lessons.  However, he uses them to teach a lesson, he does not inhabit them or become them to teach a lesson.  God does not hide himself in the forms of the things he created.  Those things are not God, they do not carry God within them. 

Although, they do reveal the nature and character of God, just as a work of art will reveal something of the nature and character of the artist who created it.    Romans 1:18-32 says that God’s qualities and his nature have been clearly revealed by His creation. 

However, it immediately cautions that there are those who have refused to acknowledge His divine nature and instead have “exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things….  They exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator” (emphasis mine). 

Sounds a bit like the Last Airbender, doesn’t it?  We are on very dangerous ground when we start to worship the creation instead of its creator.  If you read Romans 1:18-32 you can see the consequences for such behavior.

 God’s ways are not our ways (Is 55:8-9).  He does choose benign things to teach us lessons.  He spoke in parables about every day things such as fishing and farming to teach great truths.  In fact, the Bible says that God chose the “foolish things of the world to shame the wise… the weak things of the world to shame the strong” (I Cor 1:26-31).  For example, in Proverbs 6:6 (NLT) it says, “Take a lesson from the ants, you lazy bones.  Learn from their ways and become wise!”  You can learn a lot of practical lessons from simply paying attention to the creation and listening to what it has to say about its Creator.
Once the spirit fish was killed, one of the Fire people declared, “We are now the gods.”   Satan rebelled and rather than submit to God, he wanted to be God.  He then enticed Adam and Eve with the same idea.  He told them they could be like God (Gen 3:5) if they ate of the fruit.  And then when Jesus came to earth, Satan incited mankind to crucify him.  The motivation was the same, if God is dead, if there is no higher power, then we become the highest power, therefore we become gods. 

The rebellion of the Fire Nation echoes the first rebellion, Satan’s rebellion.  And that same rebellion has been repeated throughout history, literature and epic stories through out time.
“Nothing is ever truly lost.” – spoken as the Princess Yue gives her life back to the spirit fish who first gave it to her.  The fish spirit god was saved and resurrected by the sacrifice of the life of a princess. The idea that nothing is ever lost, it just changes forms is very Eastern.  It lends itself to the teaching of reincarnation.  You don’t die, you simply recycle to another form, another life.  Christians don’t believe in reincarnation, they believe in resurrection.  For those who believe in God, they have the gift of eternal life (Rom 6:23).  Not of another life here on earth in a new body, a new form, but a life in heaven in your own body, resurrected and improved. 

Also, it’s a small god that needs a young girl to die to give it life.  The fish spirit gave the Princess Yue life when she was born, but then needed to take it back when his own was threatened.  Seems like that is what we called an “Indian-giver” when I was a kid (before we knew anything of political incorrectness – so please forgive any offense!).  Compare that with Jesus who willingly sacrificed his life so that mankind might have life.

 Princess Yue willingly laid down her life that others might live.  It is shown as a peaceful, very serene, almost beautiful and instantaneous death. 

Jesus too laid down his life.  Jesus too is royalty, a prince; his father is King of Kings.  But, Jesus’ death wasn’t peaceful or serene.  It was a bloody scene.  He was beaten beyond recognition, mocked, scorned, spit upon.  He was nailed to a cross and hung to suffer for hours until his eventual death.  Yet, for all the gruesomeness and hatefulness, for all the wrong and injustice of it, still Jesus willingly, peacefully, serenely and lovingly laid down his life.    
“You stand alone and that has always been your great mistake.”  Uncle Iroh said this to Commander Zhao of the Fire Nation right before Zhao was killed.   Uncle Iroh is right on this one.  We are not meant to be alone.  From the very beginning of time, in the garden of Eden, God said it was not good for Adam, the first man, to be alone (Gen 2:18). 

In the New Testament, believers are commanded not to forsake getting together (Heb 10:24-25).  It is a great mistake to stand alone.  Even the Lone Ranger had Tonto –even he didn’t stand alone. 

 

I encourage you, especially if you go see this movie with your children, to take some time to discuss it afterward.  Ask them to try to think of their own examples from the movie of ideas and concepts which echo truths in scripture, and those which are contrary to what the Bible says.  You can use this grid to get started or come up with your own.  The process will teach you and your kids to think more critically and to guard more carefully your minds.

Questions for Discussion:

  • What were some of your favorite scenes and/or quotes from the movie?  Would you say those scenes/quotes point you to something you have heard about in the Scripture or is it contrary to what the Bible teaches?
  • Who do you think were the most noble characters in the movie?  What made them noble?
  • Do you have a habit of going to God in prayer and reading His word for direction before you have to go into a “battle” of some sort or make a big decision in your life?
  • Do you try to stand alone or do you lean on others in partnership?  Which comes more naturally for you?  Which do you prefer? 
  • What are some of the simple things of the world which God has used to teach you lessons about his nature and his character?
  • What do you think about the Avatar’s power to control the elements?  What is your reaction to the concept (the truth!) that you can move actual mountains through your faith in Jesus? 
  • Have you thought about what it would be like to have to go through an Avatar or someone else to talk to God and never be able to talk to him directly yourself?  Does it amaze you that you can talk to God, and that he wants to talk to you?  Does it surprise you that you don’t have to be someone with special talents or powers in order for God to want to talk to you?

 

[1] http://christianity.about.com/od/denominations/p/christiantoday.htm

Category(s): Apologetics, Books, Christian Living, Faith & Culture, Movie Reviews, Movies, New Age, Parenting, Reviews, Students, World Religions

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Thinking Right about Being Wrong

20 Jul 2010 | 4 Comments »

Thinking Right about Being Wrong

By:  Stacey Tuttle

 In the February 5, 2010 edition of THE WEEK, it said it was a “Bad week for: Equal-opportunity employment, after a British government-run job center rejected an ad from a company specifying that applicants “must be very reliable and hardworking.”  A government official told the company that it could get sued ‘for discriminating against unreliable people’.”  Really?  Is it a bad thing for a company to discriminate against unreliable people?  I’m not saying, obviously, that hate crimes against unreliable people are acceptable, or that just not caring about them in general is ok, but should you have to knowingly hire unreliable people?  Is it really discriminating to simply suggest you are looking for someone hardworking?  Following this logic, wouldn’t it be discriminating to specify the ability to speak  Spanish as a requirement for a job as a Spanish/English translator?  In fact, wouldn’t every job description be some form of discrimination?

I think the silliness of this is evident.  Of course, the job center’s primary concern was that people might read this description and feel badly about themselves.  Their concern was that this ad might be detrimental to their self-esteem and that makes me wonder:  how important is our self-esteem, really? To what lengths should be go to feel good about ourselves and make sure others are just as content in their self-perceptions. 

I had a teacher in High School who opened class the first day with this statement:  “I hope you never feel good about yourselves in this class.”  In the era of feel-good, raise-your-self-esteem education, this was shocking, to say the least.  It was a Bible class nonetheless, so the statement was even more shocking.  You think Bible class is going to teach you about how much God loves you—kind of a feel-good booster, don’t you think?  But no, he opened with the shocking statement that he didn’t want us to feel good about ourselves in his class.  Of course, everyone jumped to the opposite but false conclusion that he must, therefore want us to feel bad about ourselves while in his class.   Boy, that’s an encouraging motivation to attend class every day!  But then, this brilliant teacher explained what he meant:  his goal wasn’t to make us feel good or bad about ourselves.  His goal was to make us feel RIGHT about ourselves in his class. 

Feeling right about ourselves means that we are seeing ourselves accurately in light of the truth.  We feel good about things in us which are good and bad about things in us which are bad.  The goal isn’t pleasurable or unpleasurable emotions, but an accurate self-perception based on God’s standards.  From this perspective, feeling bad when you have done a bad thing is actually a good thing.  When people do bad things without feeling badly about them, there is no way to characterize that as good.  In fact, God says that this kind of thing makes us calloused, hardening our hearts until we are no longer able to render accurate judgments on our sin (Eph. 4:17-19, Rom. 1:21-22).

On the flip side, especially in high school, there is an epidemic of people feeling badly about themselves for no good reason.  It is largely an issue of comparison.  Julia feels bad about herself because she’s not as pretty as Jolene.  Tom feels bad about himself because he isn’t as good at football as Frank.  And everyone feels bad because they don’t have the money and the clothes and the cars that the Kardashians do.  These are not good reasons to feel bad.

So, back to the issue of discrimination against lazy people.  First off, let me ask again:  Is it really that horrible for an employer to want to hire people who don’t just feel good about themselves falsely (i.e. feel good about a lazy work ethic) but actually are honest with themselves about their character and the kind of employee they are?  Is it bad to “discriminate” against someone who has a false sense of self-esteem, a wrong estimation of their value and feels entitled to a pay check they didn’t earn?  Isn’t that simply being a good judge of character, using wisdom and discernment and being a good steward of your company’s resources?

But what if that same employer had someone apply who was able to be honest and admit, “Hey, I haven’t been very hard working in the past, but that is something I am trying to change and I am willing to work with you on some accountability if you’ll be willing to give me a chance”?   Now it’s not so much an issue of discrimination but of helping someone be honest about their faults and overcome them.  That might be a person the employer is willing to take a risk on. 

This is how God treats us.  He doesn’t require that we all start out perfect, but he does ask us to be honest about our imperfections.  He doesn’t discriminate against us for our failings, except for the one that causes us to think that we don’t have any.  He is willing to take on any person who wants the job of ambassador for Christ to the world.  However, he asks that you be honest with yourself and with Him about your skill set:  namely your character and degree to which the fruit of the spirit[1] is evident in your life.  In fact, when we are honest with Him about our areas of weakness, we don’t need to feel condemned, but rather, be encouraged that He is excited to make Himself strong for us in these areas (2. Cor. 12:9).  He is like an employer with an incredible advancement program.  He is eager to help us succeed as His ambassadors and will give us all the skills we need to do it, so long as we are honest with him about what we need.   It’s the issue of feeling rightly about ourselves—recognizing our limitations and our need for Him, feeling good about the things we ought to feel good about, and bad about the things we ought to feel bad about.  When we come to Him, asking Him to help us see ourselves the way He sees us, He gives us a correct view of ourselves.  It may not make us feel good about ourselves, but it will help us to think rightly about ourselves.  And in the areas where we have it wrong, He comes alongside and offers to help make things right in us so that there is no need for future condemnation (Rom. 8:1).

If we will be honest with ourselves, we can find great comfort in the thought that God doesn’t discriminate against unreliable people.  He doesn’t discriminate against unqualified people.  He doesn’t discriminate against awkward or uncool or disabled people or people who lack some qualification.  The only people He could be said to discriminate against are people who don’t think they need Him.  And really, it’s not that He’s discriminating against them so much as that they aren’t applying.  He is willing to take anyone, no matter how unqualified, unreliable or uncharactered.  He has a huge heart for His employees and His on-the-job training is out of this world! 

[1] You know:  love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control – Gal. 5:22.

Category(s): Christian Living, Parenting, Students

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The Toy Story of Redemption

20 Jul 2010 | 3 Comments »

The Toy Story of Redemption

A Movie Review of Toy Story 3

By: Stacey Tuttle

The story of Andy’s toys, facing the uncertainty of their futures once Andy goes off to college in Toy Story 3, has a lot in common with the story of the disciples facing their uncertain future once Jesus ascended into heaven, surprisingly enough.  And as the toys battle Lotso and suffer and struggle in Sunnyside Daycare, we see striking similarities to the battles Christians face with Satan on earth.  But here, let me break it down for you so you can see what I am saying.

It all begins with the question of, “What will happen to us [the toys] once Andy is gone?”  The toys begin to fight amongst themselves as fear and jealousy set in.  “Will he take any of us with him when he goes to college?  What about Woody? What about Buzz?  Woody was his favorite, surely he’ll go?”[1]   They contemplate life with out Andy:  life in the attic or with a new owner or even in the trash and suddenly someone states the very thing they are all wondering and terribly afraid of, “Maybe Andy doesn’t care about us anymore.”  Such a horrible thought.  If they only knew he loved them, then they wouldn’t mind being in the attic quite so much.  But if he doesn’t love them anymore, it changes everything, it even redefines what they thought was true about the past.

The disciples faced similar fears several times.  When Jesus died, they were not only afraid for their own lives, but they were afraid that this man they thought was God was only mortal after all.  He was dead, right?  And then He wasn’t.  He rose again.   Oh joy!  He IS God!  He came back!  He loves us!  But wait, he said he’s leaving – leaving again.  He’s going to ascend into heaven?  Can you imagine the questions they might have asked?  If he loved us, wouldn’t he stay?  Maybe he’ll take some of us with him?  Who does he love the most?  Surely he won’t just leave us behind?[2]  But He did.  And then again, He didn’t, but I’ll get to that in a minute.

As the toys debated Andy’s leaving, it inevitably brought up questions about their purpose.  Woody, more mature and more confident in Andy’s love than the others, continually reminded the toys of their true purpose.  “This job’s not about getting played with, it’s about being there for Andy!” he reminded them.  “We have a kid, and if he wants us to join him or wants us in the attic…” Woody began, trying to petition the toys to remember that their purpose was to serve Andy, whatever his wishes.  Woody believed that despite appearances, Andy loved them—so he was willing and able to trust Andy with his future.  But for all his truth and all his encouragement, the voice of fear kept creeping in and interrupting, distracting the rest of the toys from their purpose.  The voice of fear said, “Maybe it would be better if we  didn’t need owners, we should be masters of our own fate.”  It encouraged the toys to be selfish, to look out for their own selves.  If Andy doesn’t love them, then why should they love and serve him?  Why should they do what he wants if he didn’t love them or have their best interest at heart?

After Jesus left, Christians had to battle these same issues.  While the Apostles, with their 40 days of experience with Jesus after the Resurrection, may not have had precisely these same doubts, Christians ever since have had to deal with them. We have to choose which voices we will listen to.  There are those mature voices in the faith, those who are secure in the fact that God loves them, who cry out to us, plead with us to remember that it’s not all about us, beg us to remember that it’s not about getting everything we want, but it’s about being there for others, about serving Jesus, being there when He wants to use us.  They tell us, “We have a God, and if he wants us to join Him up in heaven or wants us here on earth…if he wants us in a palace or wants us in a prison…whatever He wants, it’s our job and our joy to do it.”  These people are able to trust that, despite any appearances to the contrary, God loves them and so they can trust God with their futures and their lives.  But for all the truth and power of those voices, we still have to choose to ignore the other voices: the voices of pride which say, “We don’t need a god, we are masters of our own fate;” and those negative, fearful, nagging voices which tell us that if God left us here, he must not love us.  And if he doesn’t love us, then why should we love and serve him?  Why would we humble ourselves and do what he desires, if he doesn’t love us or have our best interests at heart?

To really complicate matters and confuse the issues, there was some miscommunication and the toys which Andy purposed for the attic, were put on the curb with the trash.  Circumstances completely confirmed their suspicions and their greatest fear:  Andy didn’t love them, he threw them away.  Of course that wasn’t the real truth.  Woody knew the real truth:  Andy DID love them.  But the toys were deceived by their circumstances.  It was at this point that their decision to no longer trust Andy with their future but to take control of their own destiny instead was made.

How often has this very thing happened to believers?  How often have circumstances, miscommunications, incomplete and false perceptions confirmed for you your suspicions and your worst fears?  Some bad thing happens and you are convinced it’s true; God doesn’t love you after all.  Of course that isn’t the real truth.  The Bible tells us the real truth:  He loves us SO much he gave his only son for us (John 3:16)!  But nevertheless, we are deceived by our circumstances and so we, like the toys, decide God cannot be trusted with our lives.  We decide to take control of our own fate.

And boy, let me tell ya, taking care of their own fate was looking pretty darn good!  Sunnyside Daycare seemed to be everything you’d expect from a daycare named Sunnyside.  The toys received a warm, wonderful welcome. They had promises of being played with to their heart’s content.  There were even repair centers to keep them in tip top shape!  And running the place was the loveable, huggable, warm and gentle Lotso.  Lotso gave them the tour, explaining how wonderful and perfect Sunnyside was.  He promised them love and care.  He promised that all the hurt and disappointment they had faced with Andy was over and they would never feel that way again.  They were going to love life at Sunnyside.

And for a time, when we as Christians take control of our own lives, things will often look just as appealing as a day at Sunnyside.   It actually seems like we will be able to make all the money we want.  We can go out and party and have all the fun we want.  We are surrounded by friends who are all having just as much fun as we are.  And taking us around, explaining to us how wonderful it is to live in control of our own lives, outside the oppression and disappointment of God (at least that’s how he presents it and we have perceived it) is this wonderful, beautiful angel dressed in light named Satan.  Just like Lotso, he promises us that all the hurt and disappointment we have faced with God was over and we will never have to feel that way again.  We are going to love life, here in this kingdom of our own making.

But it doesn’t take long before things begin to go wrong, horribly wrong.  The toys do get played with, but it is brutal.  They aren’t loved, they are abused.  The community doesn’t work together to love and support each other the way the toys were told.  Actually, they begin see that they, as the new toys, are being sacrificed while they others sit back and watch.  They realize that although Lotso “may seem plush and huggable on the outside…inside he’s a monster.”  He’s “a liar and a bully.”  And once the truth is out, all of Lotso’s niceness disappears.  He gets means.  He hurts them and lies to them and puts them down.  He tells Woody, “You think you’re special Cowboy?  You’re plastic!”  And to the others, “You’re all just trash waiting to be thrown away.”

Our story is no different.  Before long, things begin to go wrong once we’ve taken control of our own lives.  We get what we were promised, in a way, but it’s twisted and it’s brutal.  We get what we thought and hoped would be love, but find out it’s abuse.  We find that our new-found friends aren’t as supportive as we thought.  Really, they are just looking out for themselves, just as we are.  And if we have to be sacrificed for their good, they will sit back and watch.  And we find that that beautiful, angelic being dressed in light named Satan isn’t beautiful and good at all.  Inside he is a monster—the very worst monster, in fact.  He is a liar and a bully.  And just like Lotso, one the truth is out about who he is, he doesn’t even try to pretend any more.  He gets mean.  He lies to us, he hurts us, he does his best to destroy us.  He tells us we aren’t special to God, we are sinful and broken and human.  He tells us we are trash and frankly, we are inclined to believe it.  Why?  Because we know that it is true.  We are sinners.  We are broken.  We did walk away from God, why would we believe he would want us?  What good could he see in us when there is no good in us?

But there was one thing keeping the toys from despairing at Lotso’s power and his dark words.  They heard that Andy was looking for them.  Oh the joy!  Andy loves them and is looking for them!  It brought hope, courage and confidence to the toys.  It gave them the courage and determination to escape from Sunnyside and be reunited with him.  When they were finally reunited with Andy they found that it was indeed true.  Andy did love them.  Andy did want them.  And not only that, but Andy cared about their future and their well-being.  Andy gave over their care to a young girl (granted, it was at Woody’s subtle prompting, but let’s not split hairs on that!) and said, “Promise to take care of these guys.  They mean a lot to me.”

It is often in our darkest night, our most desperate plight when we, somehow or other, catch wind of the joyous truth that Jesus is looking for us!  What a joy!  What a relief!  He loves us after all!  Just that small bit of truth or even hope, that Jesus loves us, is enough to give us courage.  It’s enough to give us a confidence to refute the lies of Satan and determination to escape from the pit we are in.  And it’s so much better than Toy Story 3, because we don’t have to forge our own rescue, Jesus rescues us.  He searches for us.  He finds us.  He rescues us.  Not because there is good in us, but because there is good in Him.  Not because we are whole, but because He longs to fix our brokenness.  Not because we are without sin – we aren’t, but because he died for our sin and paid its penalty.  And not only that, but Jesus, because he loves us so, cares about our future too.  That’s why, when he left he gave us the Holy Spirit.  In a sense, he too left us in the care of someone else.  In fact, he said it would be better for us if he went (John 16:7), so that the Helper, the Holy Spirit could come to us.  Jesus promises that the Holy Spirit will take good care of us, because we mean a lot to Him.

Questions for Discussion:

  • Do you know that God loves you?
  • Can you imagine how afraid the toys must have been when Andy was getting ready to leave?  How do you think the disciples must have felt when Jesus was getting ready to leave?
  • Woody said, “This job’s not about getting played with, it’s about being there for Andy.”  What would you tell another Christian your job as a Christian is all about?
  • Have your circumstances ever confirmed your fears?  About God or about something else?  Have you ever found out later that you were wrong, you didn’t see the whole picture or your misunderstood something?
  • Some of the toys thought they didn’t need owners (Andy or any other) and that they could be masters of their own fate.  What about you?  Do you think you need a parent or do you think you can be a master of your own life?  Do you think you need a God or do you think you can be a master of your own life? 
  • Have you ever had a friend or boss (or maybe it was a place or situation in your life) who appeared to be wonderful, but then was not?  Who made you promises and then turned out to be a bully and a liar?  What are some times in your life when you have bought into Satan’s lies?
  • Do you believe that Jesus looks for you and rescues you?  Has there been a time when you have seen that happen?

 

[1] Most quotes are direct from the movie, but these were general summations, not exact quotes.

[2] Again, these are not direct quotes.  In fact, I’m only guessing they had some of these questions, based on some things they voiced prior to Jesus’ death and resurrection on the cross and based on the kinds of questions I might have if I were in their shoes.

Category(s): Faith & Culture, Movie Reviews, Movies, Parenting, Reviews, Uncategorized

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The Twilight Saga: Calling Evil Good

13 Jul 2010 | 4 Comments »

Contact: Cheryl Pruitt
cheryl@capstoneconnections.com
972-394-9746 Direct
214-500-8347 Cell

The Twilight Saga:  Calling Evil Good

By Deborah Collins

 

(DALLAS, TX June 22, 2010)–Hollywood is influencing and promoting the latest vampire craze while many Christians are indifferent about the seductive powers of the books, movies and TV shows that have become a cult.  While some in the Church are clueless others are engaging in all the hype.  Is this innocent “fictitious” entertainment or the latest cult following?  A cult has to do with “extreme or excessive admiration” and the entertainment industry is feeding us an excessive amount of “vampirism”.  For example, there is the popular HBO True Blood series and the prime time TV series The Vampire Diaries.  The most popular by far is Stephanie Meyers’ The Twilight Saga that has sold over 85 million books not to mention movie sales.  What does all this mean?  It is a growing obsession with the supernatural…the dark side.

The Vampire craze has also infiltrated the seeker sensitive Church who has not only embraced The Twilight Saga but will vehemently defend it.  It seems some are more passionate about it than the Passion of the Christ!  Are we so hungry for the supernatural that we are willing to accept a counterfeit and dabble in the occult?  Since we are made in God’s image, we are hungry for things of a spiritual nature and are to fight against the powers of darkness!  Ephesians 6:12 states: “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”  Where the Church often does not acknowledge the supernatural, the secular world does. In many churches, the Holy Spirit has been disabled or ignored which leads Christians to feel powerless, so they turn to the Harry Potter series and The Twilight Saga to fill the spiritual void.

Women of all ages are obsessed with the The Twilight Saga that is about a teen girl named Bella that falls in “love” with a vampire – Edward.  Bella is willing to do anything to be with Edward – even give up her soul!  Women are being lured by the romance between the two main characters but in reality are opening doors to the occult (i.e. supernatural powers, mind reading, psychics, etc.).  We are to be filled with spiritual wisdom and understanding not counterfeit romance novels dealing in the occult.  We are to partake in the kingdom of light as Christ rescued us from the dominion of darkness.  (Colossians 1:9-14)  And let’s not forget that Bella wants to give up her soul to be with the vampire!  Somehow, we overlook these details because Edward “seems” chivalrous and romantic!  “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness.”  Isaiah 5:20

What is missing in Christian women’s lives that they are being seduced by the supernatural vampire craze?  What is so appealing about the so-called “good evil” vampire?  Is it that he is handsome and exudes sex appeal that makes girls swoon and women’s hearts faint?  Or is it somehow meeting unmet needs spiritually and emotionally?

© 2010 Deborah Collins

Deborah Collins is also a speaker, author and Founder and President of Exceptional Women, a fellowship and networking organization for women in the marketplace.

For additional resources on the Twilight Series, click here to check out our Twilight Series Resource Page!

  

Celebrate Women Radio
Real Women. Real Issues. Real Answers.™
www.celebratewomenradio.com
Listen Online 24/7
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TWILIGHT FEEDING FRENZY

05 Jul 2010 | 8 Comments »

 
 
 
 

TWILIGHT FEEDING FRENZY 

Radio Host asks: But what are we feeding on? 

 

 

 

DALLAS, TX (June 2, 2010) Deborah Collins, Executive Producer and Host of Celebrate Women Radio, thinks it’s time someone offered a long overdue reality check regarding the current pop culture craze and she’s not afraid to do it on her daily radio program. 

It is being called “phenomenon”, “the hottest thing on the planet” and is being “devoured” by young and “grown” women alike. Is it the latest beauty secret, weight loss program, or self-improvement tactic? No. It is a story about vampires, drinking blood and losing one’s soul. It’s being praised virtually everywhere from pundits to professors to pulpits. But remove all the media hype and celebrity gushing and what is The Twilight Saga really about? 

Celebrate Women Radio special programs covering The Twilight Saga slated for the week of June 28 coincides with the release of the third movie. Collins addresses the subject from a perspective probably not available on any national platform. She cuts to the heart of the matter and exposes the darkness behind the subtlety, the seduction and ultimately the deception of the books, movies and countless other products and venues stemming from Stephanie Meyers’ best-selling writings, The Twilight Saga. 

Collins and guests discuss topics of the day relevant to Twilight such as: 

  • Self-image of young women: Lead female character is young, insecure, needy and love-sick 
  • Obsession: Define obsession and find it’s a powerful controlling force 

    •  

  • Yearning for romance: Women look for honor, respect and chivalry 
  • Mother and daughter bonding: Role models who “lust after young men” 
  • Advocates of women’s rights: Seem to validate giving up everything for a man 
  • Escape: Withdrawing from responsibility and to fill void in empty lives 

 

Deborah Collins is also a speaker, author and Founder and President of Exceptional Women, a fellowship and networking organization for women in the marketplace. 

Deborah Collins is available for interviews. 

 

 


Celebrate Women Radio
Real Women. Real Issues. Real Answers.™
www.celebratewomenradio.com  
Weekdays 7:30 – 8:00 p.m.
100.7 FM – Dallas, Texas and Online 24/7

 

 Twilight Feeding Frenzy – Part 2 

Does Anyone Care What We Are Feeding Our Teens? 

DALLAS, TX (June 2, 2010) Deborah Collins, Host and Executive Producer of Celebrate Women Radio, answers questions about her upcoming programs slated for the week of June 28 dealing with The Twilight Saga and the release of the third move, Eclipse. 

Q) From pop culture pundits to professors to pulpits, it seems everyone is riding the The Twilight Saga train. As a follow up to your radio programming last year on the previous Twilight books and movies, you are devoting a week of programming to discuss this topic. However, you are not riding the same train of thought, so to speak? 

A) You could say I am trying to stop a runaway train! I have seen the first two movies and have major concerns about how the books and movies are affecting young impressionable “tweens” and teens. In all the media coverage, the viral Twilight feeding frenzy, there are a few things that no one seems to be talking about. Like Bella’s poor self-image; her sick “obsession” with Edward and thoughts of suicide. This girl spends all her time fantasizing about a toxic relationship with a vampire. Not to mention how women of all ages are obsessing and fantisizing about Edward – even married women! There must be a real void in women’s lives, if they are focusing so much time and attention on a fictitious teen romance. 

Q) One issue you are especially passionate about is the figure of Bella, the female lead character, and her self-image. You have said that she is a poor role model for young girls. Elaborate on this please. 

A) As I watched the first two Twilight movies and the dynamics surrounding Bella – her self loathing, absentee mother and a father who is clueless I was shocked at the media hype and how so many moms are fueling this “obsession”. Not to mention how Bella is disconnected from the normal teen school activities and social life. She is so depressed and desperate to be with Edward, that she engages in dangerous activities in hopes that he will rescue her. This story line is in the first book and movie but is an example of how distorted the public’s perception is and how media, women and young girls are overlooking some very destructive behaviors. For months after Edward leaves, Bella continues in depression, becoming catatonic, even suicidal and where is her father? There is no adult to intervene in her life. In real-life, we would be horrified that a parent would be so negligent. Without intervention, Bella eventually snaps out of her depression and turns to a teen werewolf who she manipulates to get to Edward! Another dead-end relationship! 

Let’s look at Edward the vampire. He is dark, moody and has nothing going for himself except his supernatural powers. He is not happy being a vampire and mopes around, a loner. And Bella, who has nothing particularly good going for her at this point in her life is drawn to him, obsessed with him and that’s a good thing? We would never tell our teens that this sick unhealthy behavior is acceptable! 

Q) You also have some strong concerns about the words that people are using to describe the so called Twilight phenomenon. Could you address this? 

A) Yes, it has become a feeding frenzy! It’s being said that women and girls are “devouring” these books and movies. To devour means to eat voraciously, or ravenously; to consume destructively, recklessly, or wantonly. Women and young girls devouring The Twilight Saga would imply that there is a void, an emptiness, a hunger that is not being satisfied. What is this craving that is causing females to “ravenously, destructively, recklessly and wantonly consume” these novels and movies? 

It is not just teens who are obsessed with the The Twilight Saga. Women of all ages are devouring these stories in order to escape. Why the strong need to escape in romance novels, a fictitious story full of exaggeration? Has the lack of heroic endeavors and chivalry in our society created such a void in our hearts that we obsess over a fictitious so-called love story about teens, vampires and werewolves? Edward is not a hero! He is a tortured vampire who wants to drink Bella’s blood. He can offer Bella only one thing – a wretched existence where she will never eat food again and will constantly fight against the urge to kill others. Oh, and don’t forget that she will lose her soul and live like this eternally! Somehow, we overlook these minor details because he “seems” gallant, chivalrous, and romantic! 

Bella is so miserable that she is willing to do anything to be with Edward. She obviously wants to be transformed from the insecure, hurting, pitiful creature that she sees herself, to be like Edward, a so-called reformed serial killer with supernatural powers who is not happy with his “authentic self”. She is willing to overlook the dangerous and destructive aspects of this toxic relationship to be with him. Again, in any other context, we would be getting her into counseling immediately. Instead we are cheering for her to be with Edward! This is what some are calling a phenomenon. I call it crazy, toxic and destructive. 

Q) What is your opinion on the Twilight moms’ websites, clubs and various other venues where it’s been said that moms are bonding with their daughters through The Twilight Saga? 

A) Mothers bonding with their daughters over this feeding frenzy makes me sick to my stomach. It is a sad day when grown women are so unfulfilled in their lives that they have an obsessive crush on young men, teens mind you, in the movies. The teens playing the vampire and werewolf roles happen to be very well built. Seriously, mothers are bonding with their daughters over “lusting” after young teen boys. What would these same women say and do if it was grown men obsessing with their sons over teen girls? Women would be outraged! Mothers engaged in fantasizing about toxic teen relationships can not be healthy. Not to mention that mother’s participating in this type of behavior are endorsing Bella as a role model. This is not responsible parenting. Our reaction to the Twilight phenomenon is a sad indicator of how far we have fallen from our responsibility as being good parents and role models. It concerns me that an entire generation of teen girls is lacking secure, moral female role models in their lives. And no one is willing to address these aspects of the so-called phenomenon. 

The same people who give the self-help gurus a voice about being “your authentic self” and not giving “your power away” and being around “good energy” are also promoting the Twilight feeding frenzy. Bella is not willing to accept her authentic self or listen to her “intuition” about heading down a dangerous path. So much so that she is willing to give her “power” away and be around dangerous “energy”. Bella is obsessed, depressed and miserable. I think the so-called “universe” is trying to tell her something! 

Q) Why do you think Christians and the Church so quickly and easily embraced the Twilight Saga? 

A) We are made in the image of God and therefore are spiritual beings, with a soul who live in a body. It is part of our identity in Christ. We are hungry for things of a spiritual nature, for the supernatural and transformation. In my estimation, the secular world has recognized and tapped into the mysterious spiritual world where the church often has not. The sad part is that the secular world entertains us with “good evil” fighting against “bad evil”. In many churches today, the Holy Spirit is ignored or not even allowed to operate. He has been “disabled” or unplugged. In my opinion, many in the Body of Christ feel powerless and are not experiencing true transformation so they turn to the Harry Potter series and The Twilight Saga to fill the void. Of course, these are counterfeit and many are easily deceived. Good Christians go to church, Sunday school, Bible Studies, and small groups and then secretly “devour” the Twilight Saga behind closed doors because they are hungry for the Holy Spirit and good overcoming evil. Some churches and ministries have gone so far as to embrace the books and movies and erroneously teach how Edward is like Christ! Something is seriously wrong when churches are so desperate to connect with the culture that they are watering down sermons to engage with their congregations and be consumer friendly. Some have gone so far as to have Twilight Bible studies! This is calling evil good and good evil! 

Much of the allure about Twilight is that it appeals to our heart, or rather the unmet needs and issues of our heart. The driving need for escape, for romance, for the supernatural. We are investing enormous amounts of time, money and emotional resources on a fictitious toxic romance about the supernatural. Because we are not grounded in the truth of God’s word, and are not being transformed, we are easily deceived and drawn away from the truth to fill the empty void in our lives. 

The imagery in Twilight is strikingly similar to many images and components in Scripture and in fact directly goes against God’s Word. It is clearly prohibited in the Holy Scriptures to eat or drink blood and that drinking blood is detestable and an abomination to the Lord. The life is in the blood and Christ poured out his sinless blood to make atonement for our sins. Yet, many Christians, leaders, churches and teachers are comparing the lead male character in Twilight, Edward, to a type of Christ. I find that questionable at best and heretical at worst. 

Q) So these are just a few of the topics you will be covering in your radio programs that air beginning the week of June 28 to coincide with the third movie release in theaters. Tell us more about your radio show and some of your other topics and/or guests?  

A) Our tag line is “Real women. Real issues. Real answers.” I am focusing on the real issues that women are facing today that are not being addressed from the pulpit and in Bible study. Such as Depression, Domestic Violence, Adultery, Perfectionism and Poor Self Image, Single Parenting, Boundaries and much more. I bring on different guests, some experts and some are just your everyday woman. It is the everyday REAL woman in my audience that I want to address. 

A few of the topics I covered over the past year that got a lot of response are Women That Wound by author Sue Edwards of Dallas Theological Seminary, Setting Boundaries with Adult Children with Allison Bottke, author and speaker; perfectionism and body image with Jen Strickland, author of Girl Perfect and a former runway model; physical health with several women who provide health, nutrition and fitness services; and of course the programs I did on The Twilight Saga topic brought a lot of response last year! 

Q) What about male listeners? First, do you have any and why do they listen? 

A) I always say, “Smart men tune in!” and YES, I do have many male listeners. Some that even write in commenting on the topics and say how much they enjoy the show. I believe men want to understand the heart of the women in their lives. They want to know how to understand their wives and daughters. The men who listen get “real answers” to some of the issues going on in their current relationships. 

 

For additional resources on the Twilight Series, click here to check out our Twilight Series Resource Page!

   

Deborah Collins is also a speaker, author and Founder and President of Exceptional Women, a fellowship and networking organization for women in the marketplace.

Deborah Collins is available for interviews.

Contact: Cheryl Pruitt

Celebrate Women Radio
cheryl@capstoneconnections.com

Real Women. Real Issues. Real Answers.™
972-394-9746 Direct 

www.celebratewomenradio.com

214-500-8347 cell   

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Category(s): Books, Christian Living, Dating, Faith & Culture, Movies, Parenting, Students, Women's Issues, Women's Ministry

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Shrek Forever After – A Movie Review from a Not-So-Feminist Perspective

04 Jul 2010 | 8 Comments »

Shrek Forever After – A Movie Review from a  Not-So-Feminist Perspective

By: Stacey Tuttle

“Where were you when I needed you?”  – Fiona

The final Shrek installment follows a familiar story line, one that we’ve seen before in films like It’s a Wonderful Life (Jimmy Stewart) and The Family Man (Nicolas Cage).  A man gets to see what his life would have been like if he had taken a different path.  He gets to experience an alternate reality and then realizes that while family life can be demanding and may not seem as glorious as bachelorhood, it is really more rewarding.  What struck me about this film was not Shrek’s journey (honestly, we’ve kind of seen it before), but Fiona’s. 

Fiona spent much of her alternate life trapped in a tower waiting to be rescued by a prince who would, naturally, be her true love.  The Prince, her rescuer, never came.  Fiona did what many women do; she gave up waiting for Prince Charming, strapped some pants on and rescued herself.  This was empowering.  Fiona didn’t need a man, or should I say ogre, to rescue her.  Not only could she rescue herself, but she went on to rescue others.  Fiona, the respected and admired leader of all the ogre men, led a rebellion against the foul ruler of the day, Rumpelstiltskin.  The ogres admired her, but none dared try to woo her. 

Enter Shrek.  Remember, Shrek is living in an alternate reality, but retains memory of his previous reality.  Shrek still remembers Fiona, his wife.  Fiona the warrior princess is a bit new to him.  He tries reminding her that he is her true love.  But, she retorts, “Then where were you when I needed you?”  True love shouldn’t have abandoned her.  True love should have been there when she needed saving.  She says, “True love didn’t get me out of that tower.  I saved myself.”  Hear the pain?  Hear the disappointment?   While she says she doesn’t need a man, while she puts any man in his place who tries to woo her, the truth is that she is bitterly disappointment that no man has really risen to the occasion. 

Shrek does win her back.  How?  He rescues her, of course.  Fiona thought she could do it alone, thought she didn’t need any help, thought she didn’t need rescuing.  But Fiona was wrong.  First off, Fiona wasn’t completely honest with herself:  she still wanted a man to rescue her—she just didn’t trust that anyone would.  Second, she couldn’t do it all on her own.  And finally, she did need rescuing—not only from the scrape she got into with Rumpelstiltskin, but more importantly from the tower of isolation she had put herself in. 

You see, Fiona rescued herself from a physical tower only to put herself in an emotional tower.  She lived in a tower of isolation that was made from bricks of loneliness, held together with the mortar of pain, surrounded by a moat of despair and guarded by a dragon of bitterness.    She had put herself in a formidable castle—the kind of castle which makes men who would normally face any physical, mortal danger with astounding bravado retreat with hardly a second thought. 

Does this sound like anyone you know?  Do you know any women who have had to face bitter disappointment, who have struggled with never a rescue in sight, who have waited for years for prince charming and finally given up?  As a single woman in her mid thirties, I can speak from first hand experience.  It is only too easy to retreat into a self-made, proud tower of isolated disappointment.  It is easy to guard ourselves from future hurt and suffering with a dragon of bitterness.  It is easy to put up walls made of loneliness and pain.  We wait and wait, and then we finally decide that we have waited enough and life isn’t waiting on us.  So, we put the pants on, take matters into our own hands and do it ourselves.  We become our own rescue.  And then, not only do we stop waiting and move on with our lives, but we become distinguished in our careers and begin to lead everyone around us.  And that’s when we find out how easy it is to become proud and abrasive because “I did it myself.  I didn’t need a man.”  If we are honest, we find ourselves echoing Fiona’s words, “I saved myself.” 

What is the result of Fiona’s proud self-empowerment?  If you ask me, the men around her look like buffoons.  Many had some physical strength and size, but none had any heart.  They were cowards around her.  The truth is, they were rather belittled around her.  She didn’t encourage them to be more manly—not in a true sense of manliness which involves strength of heart and character.  In retrospect, I think it was quite the opposite.  Fiona didn’t value the men, she used them.  She needed their brawn; she needed masses, sheer numbers of warriors.  But beyond using them for their brute strength, she never once leaned on them for support, for stability, for real insight.  She didn’t trust them, couldn’t lean on them.  She never let them into the tower where she protected her heart and emotions and vulnerabilities.  They could not be trusted with that.  And sadly, until Shrek, not one of the ogres was man enough to even try to be more than a brute.  While they were willing to face physical death in a fight against Rumpel’s forces, they weren’t willing to face the emotional perils they were sure to encounter in the journey to Fiona’s heart.

It’s easy at this point to find fault, with Fiona or with the ogres, or in the case of real life, with men or with women.  The truth is both are at fault.  C. S. Lewis wrote, “Such is the tragi-comedy of our situation—we continue to clamour for those very qualities we are rendering impossible…  In a sort of ghastly simplicity we remove the organ and demand the function.  We make men without chests and expect of them virtue and enterprise.  We laugh at honour and are shocked to find traitors in our midst. We castrate and bid the geldings be fruitful.”[1]  I don’t know which is the chicken or the egg.  Women are hurt that men don’t rise up and be manly.  Maybe their hurt is justified, maybe their expectations are ridiculous.  In either case, the tendency is to then turn around and in bitterness, without even knowing it, belittle the guys around us.  We (and I include myself in this) effectually castrate men and then complain because they appear to be missing something.  Maybe if we didn’t treat them thus, maybe if we didn’t live in our isolated tower with our bitter-dragon guardian, we might find they were more manly.  Then again, maybe if there were more Shrek’s in the world who saw past that and were willing to swim the moat of our despair, maybe we wouldn’t be so inclined to treat them thus.  You will notice, Fiona softened and was more gracious once love found her.

So, what is the solution?  Fiona was rescued by Shrek.  What do you do when your Shrek hasn’t come?  What are you to do if you, like Fiona, have had to provide your own rescue and now find yourself leading a horde of ogres in your workplace?  Let me provide a couple of suggestions, coming from a place of much humility, from someone who, admittedly, usually gets this wrong. 

  1. You DO have a rescuer.  Fiona softened when she finally knew she had a rescuer and was loved.  There is a rescuer and a lover for your soul as well.  It’s Jesus Christ.  Psalm 40:1-2 (NLT) says, “I waited patiently for the LORD to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry.  He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire.  He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.”  Not only does he rescue you, but he is faithful to you.  You can trust him.  Joshua 1:5 says, “I will not fail you or abandon you.”  Not only will he never fail you or abandon you, but he will go so far as to die for you—in fact he DID die for you, and then rose again that you might have eternal life with him (John 3:16).  You need not become hardened with disappointment, loneliness, bitterness.  You ARE loved, sought after, rescued.  You don’t have to face the world alone.  Take heart, find your heart, risk your heart…it is loved by one who can be trusted.
  2. When you find yourself tempted to, in one subtle way or another, emasculate the men around you, please don’t.  We treat the men around us with contempt, feeling they have somehow failed us.  But what if we could change the way we saw them?  What if, instead of seeing them as the symbol of our disappointment, we saw them as our brothers, our beloved friends, as someone’s son or future mate… what if we saw them as imperfect, broken beings who, like ourselves, need help and encouragement to become the people they are supposed to become?  If we can see them as someone’s future hope and not our past disappointment, then we can find a purpose in helping them become, rather than scolding them for what they have (or more likely have not) been. 
  3. Women have the joyous role of helping inspire men to be more than they currently are.  However, when that role is twisted, we can do horrible damage and keep a man forever stagnated from future growth.  He can become so discouraged that he never wants to risk again.  And then, we criticize.  What a horrible thing, but we do it—I know; I speak from experience.  We are so often guilty of criticizing the very thing we helped to create.    This isn’t how it was meant to be. 

Women do have a remarkable power and influence with men.  When used poorly, it cripples, it even castrates the soul.  But when used well it inspires and ennobles.  Think of Athena whose encouragement inspired Telemachus to get off his duff and become a man, going off to sea to find his father who had been long absent.  Or what about John Tyree who becomes a better man because of the gentle influence of the servant-hearted Savannah in the movie Dear John—even sacrificing his own inheritance and his future happiness with her to do what was best for her present need.  She had so inspired him, he was willing to be her rescuer even when it benefitted him nothing and cost him everything.  I could go on, but you get my point. 

If I can give my fellow females one thing to take away, it would be this, a vision to be the kind of woman who helps men to become men, a woman who longs not to criticize, but to encourage.  A woman whose strength, nobility, purity, kindness…whose very femininity is such that the men around her are inspired to be better men for the simple hope of being worthy of her.  But I caution you, that no woman who lives with bitterness, who resides in an isolated tower of lonely pain can be that woman.  You must first turn to Jesus, let him rescue you.  Let him love you.  Let him heal your bitter wounds.  You are not without a savior.  You are not without a lover.  Once you have known his rescue, you can extend his grace to others.   Once you have known his love, you can be patient, encouraging and even inspiring to the men around you and the journey they are on.

Questions for Discussion:

  • Have you been disappointed and possibly even become bitter because true love let you down in some way or another? 
  • Do you know any women who have had to face bitter disappointment, who have struggled with never a rescue in sight, who have waited for years for prince charming and finally given up? 
  • What do you think are some of the good and bad effects of the feminist movement?  Both on women and on men?
  • Do you know the true Rescuer of your soul?  Do you believe Jesus loves you and wants to woo you?
  • Do you tend to belittle the people around you because your disappointment fills you with scorn?  (This isn’t something that only women do to men, it is universal.)
  • What do you think about the idea that, “women do have a remarkable power and influence with men.  When used poorly, it cripples, it even castrates the soul.  But when used well it inspires and ennobles”?  Do you think you use your power for good?
  • Read Proverbs 31: 10-31 about the Noble Wife.  How do you think this woman would respond to our feminist ideas?

 

[1]Lewis, C. S. The Abolition of Man. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company, 1947.  35.

Category(s): Christian Living, Dating, Faith & Culture, Movie Reviews, Movies, Reviews, Students, Women's Issues, Women's Ministry

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Where in the World Was the Shepherd Project Team?

24 Jun 2010 | 7 Comments »

OK, here’s the original picture:

A member of the Shepherd Project team took this picture sometime in the last 3 years.  Just submit your guess as to the country and region using the comment space below (valid email required). 

The first 5 correct answers will win a copy of Craig Smith’s newest book:  The Word – Understanding and Trusting the Bible in an Age of Skepticism.

Category(s): Contests

Twilight Series Resource Page

24 Jun 2010 | 15 Comments »

Twilight Series Resource Page

With the release of the next installment in the Twilight Series fast approaching (Eclipse is due to hit movie theatres June 30), Shepherd Project Ministries wanted to highlight a few books that have been written to help Christians think through the themes and hidden messages (both good and bad) in Twilight.  Each of these books has taken a unique and different approach and each is well worth investigating.  Since you probably don’t have time to read three separate books on this same subject, we’ve written book summaries of each of them.  Click any of the following links to read a chapter by chapter summary of the each book with all the main ideas clearly highlighted.  Additionally, we are putting together a condensed resource highlighting some of our favorite contributions to the discussion from each of the books (to be available shortly).  We hope this will encourage you to not only sieve the good from the bad for yourselves, but will also become a valuable tool to use the phenomenon that is the Twilight saga to lead others to Jesus.

Note:  please keep checking back for updates!

Touched by a Vampire

The most thorough analysis of the Twilight saga of the three books, Beth Felker Jones’ Touched by a Vampire focuses on the underlying messages in Twilight.  While fans love Twilight because it taps into some core needs and desires of our humanity, she finds that many of the ways those needs and desires are satisfied are subtly but critically different than the ways God designed them to be satisfied.  She also mentions several ways Stephanie Meyers’ Mormon theology is revealed in the saga.  (Click here.)

Escaping the Vampire: Desperate for the Immortal Hero

Kimberly Powers uses the Twilight series as a springboard to point readers to the spiritual and lasting answers to the desires and questions which the series taps into.  She defines Satan as the Ultimate Vampire and Jesus as the Immortal Hero, claiming that the longing to be part of the Twilight adventure can help point us to the far greater adventure we are meant to have with Jesus. (Click here.)

Shepherd Project Ministries did an interview with Kimberly Powers, author of Escaping the Vampire.  Click here to read the interview.

THE TWILIGHT PHENOMENON: Forbidden Fruit OR Thirst-Quenching Fantasy?

Author Kurt Bruner takes the approach of a literature teacher, focusing first on the genres of fantasy and gothic horror so that readers can understand the rules of the genres in which Twilight is written.  He gives a fairly thorough history of vampires throughout history and literature.  He then moves the discussion to romantic love, its true purposes, how it’s handled in the series and how it’s influenced by Mormon theology. (Click here)

Please note that none of the authors desire or intend to tell readers what they should or shouldn’t read, but to give them the tools to help them evaluate for themselves which stories nourish them and which stories do not.

Author Interview with Kimberly Powers, author of Escaping the Vampire - Click here.

Twilight Series Movie and/or Book Reviews:

 

Twilight Feeding Frenzy

DALLAS, TX (June 2, 2010) Deborah Collins, Executive Producer and Host of Celebrate Women Radio, thinks it’s time someone offered a long overdue reality check regarding the current pop culture craze and she’s not afraid to do it on her daily radio program. Read excerpts from her radio program -  Click here.
The Twilight Saga:  Calling Evil Good
Celebrate Women Radio Host, Deborah Collins, writes about The Twilight Saga with a caution from Isaiah 5:20 not to call evil good.  Click here.

Category(s): Book Summaries, Books, Christian Living, Dating, Destiny/Purpose/Calling, Faith & Culture, Movies, Parenting, Reviews, Students, Uncategorized, Women's Issues

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Interview with Kimberly Powers, author of Escaping the Vampire

23 Jun 2010 | 6 Comments »

Interview with Kimberly Powers, author of Escaping the Vampire

 

Could you give us a brief synopsis of your book?

Escaping the Vampire–  At the core of every young woman’s heart is a longing to be truly, madly, deeply loved.  EtV draws on themes presented in the popular series– romance, superhuman powers, mystery and adventure–to offer girls a real Immortal Hero who sacrificially loves, fiercely protects and never abandons.  Weaving discussion of the Twilight phenomenon, Biblical truths and real-life stories, EtV makes a compelling presentation of Christ as the true escape from sin’s life-sucking traps and the only fulfillment of the heart’s deepest desires.

EtV is helping countless young women navigate the intersection of popular culture and spiritual growth, providing answers to their own personal questions and better equipping them to engage their peers in meaningful discussion.

What motivated you to write it?

I saw the response of teens to this phenomenon.  I would say the name “Edward Cullen” in a room of girls and they would go crazy!  They were asking me “Where is my Edward?…Is this guy for real somewhere?”  Our conversations were filled with their own thoughts not only of Edward but of also of themselves.  They were irresistibly swept up in this adventure of the Twilight Saga on screen (and book series)…so very desperately wanting to experience such a story themselves. What an awesome opportunity  to respond! :)

Why are teen girls(and women of all ages) so interested in this series (and others like it)?

I have seen for years this desperate longing that girls (and women)experience…this longing for a true immortal hero who can rescue them from their uneventful lives and provide an eternal love.  What an opportunity to come alongside them, talking about their thoughts.  This is an opportunity to see a bit more of what’s going on inside.  This has given an even bigger opportunity to share with them about the Ultimate Hero, Jesus Christ ,and share of His ultimate story of unconditional, eternal love.  Their true Hero never leaves and He offers them sacrifice of HIS life to save THEM.  Stories of an imperfect hero can leave them empty and searching inside.  In Christ, they have a fiercely protective Hero who faithfully loves and provides rescue!  (Everything they have been searching for and so much more! )

How can Christians use the interest in the Twilight  series to turn conversations to more substantive spiritual issues?

As I wrote the book, my ultimate goal was to introduce girls to relationship with Jesus.  If they could just catch a glimpse of who He really is…of His love.  There is NO comparison to this love.  I think for many who don’t have a close, intimate relationship with Christ, this is a perfect opportunity to offer the Truth.

Observing the character,Bella, I can see how girls have related to her insecurities, her struggles and her desire for love and acceptance.  This has opened the door for discussions about their lives.  This beloved story and characters can be a perfect backdrop for sharing the true Epic story of rescue and salvation.

Check out Shepherd Project Ministry’s online Chapter by Chapter Summary of Kimberly Power’s Book: Escaping the Vampire here!

For additional resources on the Twilight Series, click here to check out our Twilight Series Resource Page!

Category(s): Book Summaries, Books, Christian Living, Dating, Faith & Culture, Movies, Parenting, Students, Women's Issues

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