With the current growth in numbers and political influence, evangelical Christians have become fodder for critics, including social pundits, editors, politicians and film makers. This last, the documentary film, was popularized by Michael Moore when he presented his film critical of General Motors. Al Gore, former American vice-President, won an Oscar in 2007 for his 2006 film on greening the planet. A film by Alexandra Pelosi attacking evangelical Christians made its debut in 2007. Her film, like Michael Moore’s, is not a genuine documentary but electronic rhetoric reflecting a prejudicial agenda. If the agenda is bent favorably the warts are somewhat veiled. If unfavorable the warts are magnified out of proportion to their meaning. The alleged documentary, in these propaganda emphases, tends to garble truth. It makes some implications and assertions that will not hold up under scrutiny. In the end it tells a false or jaundiced story, mixing fact and fiction. When Moore was challenged, even by those who shared his basic views, that he distorted the GM story, he rejected open discussion about the matter – a similar rejection he deplored in the General Motors modus operandi. The critic is refusing equal rights for opponents.
The Pelosi piece accented selective groups, and extrapolated from that context to tar the ideas, conduct, and procedures of larger groupings. It is similar to approving the conduct of terrorist Muslims and applying that to the majority of Muslims; or, faulting fringe operators in the business world and applying similar conduct to all businesses. Are there persons who identify themselves as Bible believing Christians, evangelicals, who do some of the objectionable conducts suggested by the film? Certainly there are, and they are an embarrassment to the larger body of believers. Are they influential to swing movements, to control majority votes, to threaten objective treatment of issues and problems? Perhaps on occcasions. Who knows? A true documentary seeks to be fair with known relevant evidence and issues. It does not skew evidence and beliefs.
The Apostle Paul and other Bible authors as well, saw two camps of enemies to their Christian message and purpose – the pagan who suppressed the messenger, so to suppress the message, and/or those who were either carnal Christians or clear counterfeits whose ideas and conducts violated the meaning of Jesus Christ. Writing to his spiritual son, Timothy, the Apostle Paul used harsh words for those who, claiming to be Christian, deviated from the Church purpose making the gospel fit their own formations. They were vessels of dishonor. They brought up foolish and unlearned questions that engender strife. He did not hesitate to name them. He wanted nothing more than to serve mankind in any ethical way, with his main ideal to glorify God and be free to communicate his faith to the benefit of others. His message was not political but personal – the call to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ for right living, love, joy and eternal peace. Faithful documentary will show that Christians have been at the heart of good government, of rights and duties of citizens, of peace and love, of education and care of the sick, concern for the needy, the disadvantaged, even the guilty prisoner and the enemies of God’s good. Rights are related to righteousness, a concern of God. The story is Christianly. It ought to be fairly told. Of course it has been told, and one feels it has received some award by those who have examined it fairly. Most persons may not bother with the matter. Separate the church from the State, and leave it at that. If that is all these neutral persons know of the meaning and impact of Christianity they have lost an important dimension in history that, with biblical conceptions, would lead them to at least use God’s common grace to beneficial purpose for planet earth. *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020