The Medium or the Message? by Pamela Urfer

Lately, it seems there is a lot of talk about what makes a film "Christian." Is a film made by a Christian, a Christian film? The consensus on this seems to be "not necessarily." Christians have made many secular films, both good and bad.

So what is a "Christian" film? One definition currently on the web is that "a Christian film is one where the main story line or ending deals with (or is based on) Biblical Christian principles, morals and beliefs." All right, but which principles? Which beliefs? Must a Christian film explain, somewhere in its plot line, how one goes about getting saved?

Must a Christian film include an invitation to accept Christ? Some filmmakers insist a film must at least mention Christ or it is not truly "Christian." Or, perhaps it can skip that if it has a strong enough "message."

But which message? That Jesus is God and Saviour? That there is life after death and we'd better get ready for it? That we are all sinners and need redemption? That God loves us and is concerned with our welfare? That we should treat our neighbors as we would like to be treated? That we shouldn't hide our light under a basket but get out and spread the gospel? Or all of the above, all in the same film?

One way we might come up with a clearer understanding of what makes a Christian film is to return to the Scriptures, to see how the Master Himself taught through story. In my research, I've set out to discover "What Did Jesus Do."

As we all know, Jesus' parables are imaginary (fictional) situations designed to convey a point - very similar to what we do in films. Jesus explained that the reason He used parables is because "seeing, [His listeners] do not perceive, and hearing, they do not listen; nor do they understand." That is the goal of most Christian films - to help people see, listen and understand what Jesus is trying to say.

So, then, what kind of stories did Jesus tell? And how did He tell them?

The majority of parables involves a God-figure (the just ruler, the rich landowner, the loving father, the good shepherd) and us - as subjects, servants, slaves, sons or sheep. The ruler gives an order, the subjects obey or disobey, and the ruler chastises, rewards or rescues them. These stories are obviously meant to portray our relationship (current or intended) with God.

Other parables evoke an image of the Kingdom of Heaven - as a mustard seed, a field on which good seed was sown, as yeast, a hidden treasure, a merchant in search of fine pearls, a net thrown into the sea. In these stories the protagonist is sometimes God (the sower,) sometimes us (the treasure seeker, the merchant) and sometimes someone else (the fishers are angels.)

There are many parables that do not directly involve God at all. In the story of the Pharisee and the Tax-collector, it's just them - or us in disguise. Nor is there a God-figure in the parable of the Good Samaritan - the Samaritan is us as we should be and the priest and the Levite are us as we should not be.

Nor is He present in the stories of the Tree Bearing Fruit (good people bear good fruit, etc.,) the Man Building a House (the rock is the Word of God,) the Lamp Under a Basket (the Word again,) the Unjust Judge, or the Rich Fool.

It doesn't seem that Jesus worried all that much about whether there was a clear portrayal of God in each story. Nor, in each story, did He give explicit instructions on how to "enter the Kingdom of Heaven." When He did, it was often as a metaphor - be like a little child, a trusting sheep, not rich, go by way of the narrow gate, be born again of water and the spirit.

There are stories about the End Times - the parables of the Foolish Maidens, the Wedding Guests, the Watchful Servants, the Young Leaves of the Fig Tree. But, again, it doesn't appear to be His main concern.

What He wanted, it seems to me, was to make clear the way some particular person or situation was like His Father, or like the Kingdom, or like us. He knew it was impossible to cover all bases in one story; that's why He told so many. Each one was devised to illuminate one aspect of His Father, the Kingdom, or our relationship with God - not the entire thing.

Following Jesus' lead, it seems to me that we can make films about any amount of interesting and important stuff - as long as it conveys some aspect of Jesus' teachings. My bible, the New Revised Standard, lists some of the topics covered in the parables like this:

Good and Evil in Life, the Value of the Gospel, Finding Salvation, the All-inclusive Church, Duty of Forgiveness, the Last will be First and the First Last, Insincerity and Repentance, Careful and Heedless Preparation, Use of Advantages, Righteousness Brings Eternal Life, Gratitude for Forgiveness, Compassion for All, No Anxiety for Worldly Goods, Prudence and Self-denial.... The list goes on and on.

Like Jesus, let's imagine situations where people are confused, or fearful, or blind about God's role in their lives. We don't need to neglect the way to accept Christ, but let's also remember that many people haven't reached that point yet. Perhaps they need a little story to get them started on the right track. Let's not limit ourselves to a narrow spectrum of life. Let's embrace it all!

WWJD

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