Movies for the Lost! by Wally De La Fuente

If you’ve ever noticed the difference between secular movies and Christian movies, you’ll find that secular movies do a lot more to attract the audience they are trying to reach. There is much effort in analyzing, compiling and researching data to make sure a certain movie will work for that particular genre. For teen movies we know we need humor but nothing too corny, violence but a little funny, and romantic but witty. And it also needs to speak their language.

In the Christian film world, we are stuck with the problem of researching for not only the genre but for lost souls as well. We have to make sure that whatever message we are trying to send will not only make the movie-lover entertained (example: Science Fiction) but also be able to testify about Christ without allowing him/her to feel as though he were deceived by another “corny Christian movie.”

But where do we draw the line?

I believe in the Great Commission of Christ, to go and preach the gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth. I believe that we as Christians have spent too much time making Christian movies, music, etc… a separate world instead of overcoming the world with the Gospel.

But how do we do this? With the Word!

We need to do whatever it takes to get people saved without compromising the Word of God. I have compiled a small check list that we as Christians should go through to make sure we are not compromising the Gospel in any way but still entertaining as movies are meant to be:

1. Does your story point people to Christ? Your movie should always point people to the saving power of Jesus.

2. Is it corny? As wonderful as the old Christian films were, they were corny. Especially for our world today. It’s good to flat out tell the Gospel but you may find that your film is starting to make its way from inspiring to flat out corny. If so, then find a new way to portray it. If it is an action movie then place it in the middle of a car chase, if it is a horror/thriller then right before the “Jump Scene” so people will continue with the movie but meditate on it later, if it’s a comedy then right in the middle of a joke… whatever you can do to make it interesting but pertinent to the story.

3. Are your Characters talking too much about God? There are so many secular films that talk about God. If you notice, those movies have more of an impact on people’s beliefs than those that are designed to do so. Sometimes less is more. The reason they impact so much is because that one line about God centers around the action of the movie. A play will get away with people speaking about every feeling, but a movie is a series of pictures. “Show – don’t tell” them God’s miracle working power. Some of the most influential films have very little to do with the dialogue but will have that one line that everyone remembers. Let yours be, “He’ll be back,” and show them how – don’t tell them how. If your whole movie shows God’s miracle working power where there was no other way your character could have been healed, then a line like, “Truly, God made this happen,” would probably be enough.

4. Is your idea too violent? The fact is, we live in a violent world. If we water down violence then we are not able to show how God’s power can work through even the worst situations of life. This is not compromise! This is speaking in a language that people of the world can understand. There are murders in the inner cities, there is violence in schools. How can we show people who have grown up to know these things, “Super Christian”? Do we somehow think this will speak to them? Remember from whence you came and know how the Lord spoke to you. What were you going through and what made you change? It will probably be the same for your audience.

5. Who are you writing for? You have to make the decision of who your movie is for. Christians or Non-Christians. Saved or Lost. Who are you trying to reach? If you are making a movie for a Christian, then why show them the redeeming power of God instead of How to be a better disciple? If you are making a movie for the lost then why give would you give them an in-depth look into the book of Revelation when they don’t have the foundation of Salvation yet?

Let us remember that we are blessed with salvation so that we can be a blessing to the lost. Movies are entertainment designed to entertain. But not only do we have to entertain, but we must send a message of hope, love, joy, peace and salvation at the same time.

Give them action but show them how to be still for God, give them horror but show them to fear God and not the world, give them comedy but show them how serious Hell really is, and give them drama but show them who the Comforter is.

With God-given talents, I believe we can overcome the imagination of the world with the wisdom of God and beat the Devil at his tricks.

Keep Filming.
Wally De La Fuente
Fountain Films
Spiritual Films Overflowing with Power!
www.fountainfilms.com