My Unapologetic Opinion

Many people have asked me how I feel about the new movie that recently came out, “Noah.” When I  first heard about it and watched the trailer, I was excited at the possibility. Finally! A movie on the biblical account of Noah that isn’t cutesy, or “nursery-rhyme-ish.” But as our family started to hear feedback on this film, we found out that it is, “the most unbiblical movie (that is based on a biblical account) ever made.” Ever. Made. That’s staggering. What’s even more shocking is that the producer is a professing atheist. Does that send off any warning signals? We researched and found out some of the producer’s intents and motives in creating this film. Among them was an “environmentalist mindset.” Noah was an environmentalist. Hmm....does that line up with Scripture? Something else that resounded in the reviews was that there was no mention of God whatsoever. That is to me a HUGE red flag, if not the biggest one. The target audience for the movie is unchurched, unsaved individuals. When they see it, they will take it as fact. A movie so far from God’s design and hand in the real, true account of Noah...this is a work of the enemy. Our family really appreciates the ministry of Janet Parshall, who hosts a Christian talk show on Moody Radio called “In the Market with Janet Parshall.” 

On her show one night, she was discussing with her guest (I have forgotten who the guest was now) about the movie. Her guest had some deep insight into the movie. I have forgotten all the details, but he said that somewhere in the movie, God dies, and man becomes God. In the movie, Noah is God, and Noah makes all the decisions. Noah chooses who goes on the ark. Noah shuts the ark door. Noah chooses who lives or dies while on the ark, and whether or not to kill his unborn grandchild. Noah discovers mercy and grace by the end of the film, but it seems that he has learned this of his own power. And after they are out of the ark, Noah blesses the people to multiply and replenish the earth. Wasn’t that ALL just backwards? 

As I was listening to the radio show, I was given new insight and purpose about why Christians should not go and see this movie. Janet was making some very important points. If Christians go and see this movie, what is that sending back to the producer? “Give us more of these kinds of films,” right? What other message would $12 multiplied by the many, many Christians there are in America... On the other hand, if we choose NOT to go and see it, that would send back quite the opposite message. 

One Christian lady called in saying, “It was a great conversation starter. We were able to go back to the Bible and read for ourselves what really happened.” 

Janet ended the talk show with a very important statement. “I would rather have opened my Bible first, than to have a movie make me open my Bible.”

 

A Look at the Life of a Faithful Servant...

...Fanny Crosby

I recently had the privilege of using Fanny Crosby’s life as an example to my Bright Lights girls on the subject of contentment. 

What an amazing testimony this dear, dear lady had. 

Most of you have probably heard of Fanny. She wrote many of the hymns that we sing every week at Church, some of which we probably never realize that she wrote. You see, Fanny had many, many pen names. As far as I know (according to a list I saw online), she had just about 100 pen names. If she hadn’t used these names, then the hymn books would be filled with her name above all others! Over her lifetime, Fanny wrote over 8,000 hymns, many of which are the most dear to our hearts, precious songs of faith. 

Fanny was blind for much of her life. In spite of this condition, she was busy for the Lord. She was well known also for her mission work. 

One day when Fanny Crosby was at some kind of church meeting, she had an encounter that showed the wonderful attitude that she had concerning her blindness. 

"I think that it is a great pity that the Master did not give you sight when He showered so many other gifts upon you," remarked a well-meaning preacher.

People had made these kinds of comments before. She immediately replied, "Do you know that if at birth I was able to make one petition, it would have been that I was born blind." See, Fanny was not born blind, but became blind when she was six weeks old. She went on, "because when I get to Heaven, the first face that shall ever gladden my sight will be that of my Savior." 

2:47pm

Just a few thoughts for the day. 

I have been amazed lately at the power of God. Something struck me from Sunday's message. Jeremy (pastor of Park Street Baptist Church) was encouraging the congregation. "Picture how big NH is. Then you'll see how small NH is compared to the rest of the US states. Then how small the US is when compared to the rest of the world. And how small the world is compared to the universe. Then you keep going and going and going...it never ends."

 When we do this, it should bring us back to God. It all belongs to Him. Who shall stand before The Lord?

"The earth is The Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, for He has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers. Who shall ascend the hill of The Lord? And  who shall stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully. He will receive blessing from The Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation. Such is the generation of those who seek Him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of Glory may come in. Who is this King of Glory? The Lord strong and mighty, The Lord, mighty in battle! Lift up your heads, O gates! And lift them up, O ancient doors, that the King of Glory may come in. Who is this King of Glory? The Lord of Hosts, He is the King of Glory!"

Psalm 24

What a powerful scripture. It all points back, as does all creation, to the awesome God that we serve. He is the King of Glory, mighty in battle. He has founded the heavens and the seas and all that we see..and more. As Jeremy explained on Sunday, those who are pure in heart, have clean hands, etc. We are to bow before The Lord in awestruck humility...He is the only reason why we are able to enter into His presence. Yet the chapter does not end there. Lift up your heads! Open the gates! Let the King of Glory in! Where do we let Him into? We would most likely say, "into our heart." If you are saved, He is already in your heart. We must let Him into our lives! Every room and every closet...yes, even every cupboard. We must let Him in to reign as the King that He is!