Dangerous for the Whole Family

If you are any sort of an artist or a Christian who has any inclination towards impacting culture please read this article. (Gatekeepers of Christian radio PLEASE read...)I couldn't say Amen any more loudly to it. Here is how he starts the article:

If ever there were a time in which Christians had an influence in the media and arts, it is now. After the success of The Passion andThe Chronicles of Narnia, Hollywood has recognized there might be tangible ways to heal their declining box office receipts by catering to an untapped market. Two recent articles in the L.A. Times have uncovered this faith market. The first article announces Fox Faith, a brand underneath the banner of 20th Century Fox, which was launched to both re-brand some of their library (i.e. South Pacific and Garfield) under this label and also to create new films for this market. This article was followed up the next week with one heralding the family friendly Dove Foundation as a gatekeeper to the coveted audience base. Other studios such as Lion’s Gate, Sony Screen Gems, New Line and even the Weinstein Company are taking steps to go after this market.

So this is a critical time. It’s a “for such a time as this” kind-of time. Hollywood is embracing Christians, wanting their feedback, even wanting to make films for them. The tool that has the greatest impact on the way people live their lives is suddenly in the hands of Christians. So why am I scared to death of this window of opportunity?

Let’s pretend for a minute that you are a Hollywood executive and are learning what it is that is “Christian.” You might first try people in Bible robes and then maybe make something dealing with the end of the world because Christians like to dwell on the apocalyptic. But your best guess is to put a dog or a lion in it … maybe include a kid and, above all, make sure there’s no cussing. To put it into a word, make it “safe.” So “Christian” equals “safe".