What the Church can learn from Avatar.
James Cameron’s newest film Avatar is taking the world by storm literally. It tells the story of a future corporation’s pillaging of a planet and the resistance they encounter from the pantheistic alien population (The Navi).
In considering the success of Avatar, one thing strikes me; it’s success illustrates man’s hunger for an authentic solid connection to a real and powerful God. This generation is not hungry for ethics, apologetics, or theories. They want spiritual reality, and they don’t expect to find any of that in church, so they look elsewhere. The Church, who’s job it is to display authentic spiritual reality to the world, has largely become a Christian country club.
The Church’s response to James Cameron’s jaw-dropping, breathtaking, and dauntless sci-fi epic will mainly fall into one of 2 camps.
1. Some will denounce it as evil, say it is opening people up to demon possession, or teaching them Gaia worship. 2. Others will try to put a Christian spin on it , making Angeltar comics, having “How to be an Avatar for Jesus” conferences, or some such nonsense. But neither of these addresses the real issue, the church has drifted far away from true spiritual communion with God.
I can almost guarantee that our response will not be the correct one. Which would be to return to authentic spirit filled Christianity. To stop imitating the world, or finding ways to increase attendance. Instead the church needs to pursue, seek, and serve God. To live lives of simplicity, humility, and prayer. To live a passionate life of love for God and our neighbor. Pouring ourselves out as an offering to God.
Here is the gauntlet that lays at the foot of the Church . . . The fake world and religion of the Navi appeals to people because of their passionate pursuit of, and relationship with their fake God. Which looks much more real and appealing than our fake pursuit of, and relationship to the true God.
Patricia Lane Moulard says:
March 2nd, 2010 at 3:29 pm
The influx of porn, which breaks down families, christian or not, global governance to sustain world peace (Through utilization of the green peace regime backed by communist leader Mikhail Breznekov, who swore that America would be converted to Communism instead of Christianity; see KOSMOS magazine to see how they lure in by the beauty of the pictures, and then check to see who endorses that magazine and you will know the true threat against your liberty in Christ Jesus) wreaks throughout this whole movie, amongst other things such as the hint of a globally-governed ‘social’ religion, but doesn’t even come close to that even because it is more about worshiping the earth. Many are daily being set up and sold out by deceivers. Look at the number of movies containing lessons in witch-craft and sorcery, alone. The devil is making his last stand against every man, woman, and child. Lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, and the pride of life is the gateway to the devil’s ground. What has a hold on you? Repent and STAY ALIVE!!!!
Jeremiah Dusenberry says:
March 2nd, 2010 at 3:37 pm
I definitely see this as one of the most alluringly evil movies ever made. But in the same sense that we are told to agree with our adversary and make restitution at the altar. I agree with Austin’s point, which was rather unique I thought. But I concur with your views Patricia.
austin says:
March 2nd, 2010 at 5:35 pm
I appreciate your point Patricia but I think you missed mine. The church is presenting no viable alternative to which a dieing world can turn. Ask one hundred randomly chosen unbelievers what the gospel is and you will get few correct responses. Ask them for synonyms to the word “Christian” and “hypocrite” will likely be the most frequent response. Today’s “Christianity Lite” is the problem, most unbelievers have never seen an on fire radical Christian, so they attempt to fill the void in their heart elsewhere.
Joel Martinson says:
April 11th, 2010 at 9:18 am
I think that too many Christians get caught up in issues like global peace, global governance, global religion, environmentalism, and national patriotism. What does this have to do with “AVATAR”? Because the arguments I hear against the movie mainly have to do with the above stated things. The problem with viewing these things as evil is that they are not in themselves evil. They are only evil under the authority of men (all men). This includes the United States. All one has to do is look back at what “professing” Christians and “their” government (the U.S.) did to the Native Americans (just look it up in a unbiased history book. A good one is by a Christian family titled “The Indian Prayer Guide”, which isn’t a guide to Indian prayers, but a guide for what Christians can pray for regarding the Indians). But all these things are “good” under God’s rule in Jesus Christ. With that said I agree with Austin’s perspective on “AVATAR”. To me it’s unfortunate that most people don’t see it as Austin sees it. The movie brings out in people a longing for real spiritual things, which only Christ can give. When we, as a church, reject something because of its anti-patriotism to America and its agenda, we are being fools who are showing allegiance to a worldly governmental body and not a heavenly one. Sure this movie has obvious worship of the earth, but what about our worship of material things? It’s not that I condone the worship of Gaia, it’s that most people miss the point that Austin is trying to make, pure dedication and devotion to something. Ours should be to Christ.
Jeremiah Dusenberry says:
April 11th, 2010 at 2:40 pm
I have toyed with the idea of writing a post concerning the futility of the traditional view that American Democracy/Patriotism = Christian spirituality. When I read on some “Christian” news sites that the reason to hate Avatar was because of its anti-corporate perspective…I just thought in my mind…when did Christianity become synonymous with high powered covetousness? Why are we promoting democracy as Christianity? While I think those things can be good, I personally saw the evil of the movie being the direction it went spiritually. Austin and I don’t see totally eye to eye on this but again…his point is well made. Maybe some people will wake up to their deep seated spiritual need. At least that is my prayer. I only hope they do not fill that need with what the movie has to offer.
I would not be opposed to getting my hands on a copy of that book you mentioned.