Following Jesus, Demons, Avatar and Driscoll

by · April 20, 2010

It’s interesting to traverse this modern day, westernized culture as a Christ follower. The day of sex, drugs and rock and roll are still prevalent, but are shifting in to a more progressive approach via ‘sexting’, pharmaceutical candy and American Idols.

Culture is indeed progressing and within the walls of the church I’m not sure we always know what to do with it. I think for many within the church, the reaction is to approach what culture is doing through a Biblical lens and forget that most of the culture shaping world doesn’t live life through that lens.

Don’t get me wrong with my last statement, I FIRMLY believe that the Bible is the source for all truth, knowledge, Godly wisdom and a guide to move us towards the image of the only hope we have, Jesus.  Abundant life comes through the life, death, resurrection and glorification of Christ come alive in us. He alone is the hope of glory. I want to make sure my position on the Bible and salvation are stated clearly before I go where I’m about to go.

I was recently told about a sermon that Mark Driscoll did in a series called Jesus and Demons as he taught from the book of Luke. It was actually a really great sermon on the realities of the spiritual darkness in the world and he does such a brilliant job at alerting people to the Scriptures.

There was a particular point in this sermon that caught my attention as he spoke to the realities of the deceptive and demonic spiritual around us. He went right towards the movie Avatar with a passionate vengeance in his Driscoll way. I want to preface this next section by also mentioning that I do have a lot of respect for Driscoll. His knowledge of the word, his heart for the church (locally and globally) and his compassion for the world are incredibly Kingdom minded.

My frustration about his segment on Avatar was his approach, delivery and his lack of forethought on how his statements about this pop film could affect those far from God. I get convictions, I get ‘truth’, I get ‘taking a stand’, and I get that we must stand for those things as it relates to the Kingdom. What I don’t get is his perspective on the film and his commentary delivery.

If you haven’t seen the clip watch it here, at time stamp 17:00. It’s about a 3 minute clip.

I have many thoughts on what he said. If society were looking at Avatar as an opportunity to find spiritual connectedness I would say that what he said would have needed to be said in order to balance truth. What I haven’t seen is an uprising cult following in society that’s birthed from the film. Maybe I need to be enlightened though. I’d be open to the links or knowledge on that subject.

What I watched and heard about the film is people struck by the incredible fictitious, imaginative story and the remarkable technology used to make it. I haven’t heard a pop circle talking about how we should start living enlightened from the film. Honestly, I thought it was a great film based on both of the above stated.

The thing I question is why the disdain for pieces of work like Avatar or The Shack in this posturing approach.  that people like James Cameron (writer and director of Avatar), from everything that I can find, probably aren’t connected to the mission of the Kingdom of God through Christ. My concern is that when pop voices in the church, like Driscoll, come out against things in culture with such hell, fire and brimstone it misses the point.

I believe people like Driscoll with his knowledge of the word, heart for the world, his seeming connectedness to culture and the arts could be better at building bridges towards a guy like James Cameron. With the kind of influence Driscoll possesses it would be under thinking to assume that James Cameron hasn’t heard that Driscoll spoke of the film with such disdain. My guess is that it’s one more strike against the church for a guy like James Cameron and people in Hollywood.

I’m all for Kingdom. I’m all for truth. I’m all for equipping the Saints, but, I’m also about being a better bridge builder for the Kingdom rather than being a bridge arsonist.

I think Mark Driscoll is doing amazing things for the Kingdom, I just think he could be doing even better things while still holding true to the Scripture, his convictions and all the while building better bridge bridges along the way.

Imagine if he’d celebrated the profound innovation and art of a writer and director like James Cameron. Imagine if Hollywood heard of a Pastor and church community that wanted to be a blessing to a guy, most likely not a believer, who had the creativity and influence of James Cameron. Imagine bridges built and maybe influential lives changed by approaching truth through a different lens. I’m not saying I’m right, I’m just offering a perspective.

My question for this blog post is simply this; is it selling out to be a better Bridge Builder than a Bridge Arsonist? At what level does truth forfeit love? Do you think Driscoll tends to be over the line at times in his approach to some things in pop culture? How would you go about trying to build Kingdom bridges towards a guy like James Cameron and the community of Hollywood?

These are things I ponder and my intent is not to burn a bridge with Driscoll, I’d love to talk to him about these things face to face. It may just be a difference in perspective on Kingdom living and I celebrate what God is doing in and through him, regardless!

What do you think?

Filed Under: Be Inspired, Strategy

  • RonnieM

    Bri! Love these thoughts. I also love that YOU are a bridge-builder to those cultures and not a bridge arsonist. Rock on and write on, brotha!

  • http://twitter.com/mrongey Matthew Rongey

    I agree completely. I love Driscoll, but I was really irked by his scathing comments against Avatar. The film was much more about condemning imperialism and aspects of capitalism than promoting the a certain spiritual worldview. I even think there are a lot of lessons in Avatar that Christians can apply to their spiritual lives, like the danger of letting the things of this world encroach on and sever our connection and closeness with God.

  • nickasolas

    I recently had someone tell me that I get too easily offended my things. I have no idea what that meant and I'm pretty sure it was a loaded statement, but this post (mainly the last two paragraphs) got me thinking about it. I waste too much time on the minor details and differences that separate me from other Christians and even humanity. In many ways, even though I hate how it sounds, I am a negative person… a bridge arsonist. I dont like this about myself and Im pretty sure its not all bad, but it doesn't feel right nonetheless.

    When it comes to someone like Mark Driscoll, I have strong opinions. The guy drives me nuts. It seems that every time I check in on him, he is putting his foot in the collective mouth of Christianity. I wish he would think more before he speaks. But the thing that drives me the most crazy about Driscoll is that he embodies one of the things I hate about myself… being negative. In many ways, he is me and I am him.

    I think there is something gracious about being a slow to speak, bridge building, erring on the side of love type of Christ follower. Maybe someday I can grow up to be one.

  • nickasolas

    BTW, great post Brian.

  • http://www.timdan.com Tim Allen

    I tried to write a response to this five different times, and I just kept getting frustrated. Driscoll speaks truth often – probably even most of the time. But if I listen to him objectively – as a filmmaker – all I leave with from that talk is, “This guy doesn't have a clue. He's so wrong about this, he's probably wrong about Jesus too.” That's probably what James Cameron heard.

    When I look at the life of Jesus, the only people I see him condemning or those in the “church”. The tax collector, the prostitute… he just showed love. Jesus was a bridge maker, and he never had to forfeit truth for love or vise versa. They kinda go hand in hand.

    Good post, Brian. Thanks.

  • http://bricebohrer.com Brice Bohrer

    Agree with the above post if Driscoll's audience was Cameron or society. I think we all may be missing the point here. His audience was his flock and believers. He was surprised and disheartened that believers don't see what is right in front of their eyes, in fact they enjoy it.

    He would build lots of bridges with Cameron and the world, but he wasn't preaching to them or to build a bridge with believers. None of this is mentioned above. The post above makes the assumption that believers knew that parts were bad but overlook it to reach the lost. Driscoll is saying believers don't get it and are entertained by evil.