God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are venerated and celebrated in the most creative and out-of- the-box way in a new movie being released nationwide in 3,000 theaters this coming Friday, March 3rd. The movie is called The Shack.
I hope that you and your congregation will go see this movie. I’m predicting that much like the affect The Passion of The Christ had on Dan Leach in a Houston Theater back in 2004, a resurrection and transformation awaits many who see The Shack. If The Passion showed us what, The Shack powerfully reveals why.
I’ve seen The Shack twice now, both times having the privilege of spending time with spiritual leaders as they asked important questions of the movie’s producers. I have heard their heart and I am confident in the theological soundness of the movie. But much more importantly, I saw The Shack as a tool to engage this culture with the life-changing message of a God who can bring truth into the midst of the darkest lies.
On exiting the screening of The Shack in Dallas two weeks ago, I was reminded of a Houston Chronicle story I had read in 2004. Read article here.
Twenty-one year old Dan Leach had gone with friends to check out Mel Gibson’s movie, The Passion of the Christ. Church happened that night in the Houston movie theater, for shortly after, Dan walked into the Fort Bend County sheriff’s office and turned himself in for the murder of his former girlfriend, Ashley Wilson.
A month and a half earlier, Dan had committed the perfect crime. He carefully planned and executed the murder of Ms. Wilson by making it appear as if she had committed suicide. The coroner and medical examiner both ruled her death a suicide. Dan Leach had gotten off scot-free.
But that night in March when Dan saw The Passion, he met Jesus.
“I went and saw the movie with a couple friends. It was very intense, and having that visual stimuli really helps to focus; it does move you. After watching that movie, I was very emotional. I thought about the things I had done, and I was upset that I hadn’t repented yet.”
“Being guilty, I knew I couldn’t repent to God for it and be forgiven spiritually without going to the law and allowing them to take their course of action.”
In America, this present Millennial generation has been brought up largely without God having come along after prayer and the Bible were removed from public schools in 1963. Confirming the prophetic voice of Justice Potter Stewart in his dissenting opinion, “It [the decision] led not to true neutrality with respect to religion, but to the establishment of a religion of secularism.”Though many younger Americans may never darken the doors of a church, as the sight and sound generation, they will go to the movies. It’s where they worship. Media and technology are how they communicate. It is at this intersection-conjoining technology and entertainment-where the false gods of secularism, multiculturalism, and political correctness have dominated, evangelizing and converting America’s youth. Submerging them in a “Whatever-makes- you-feel- good-do- it” worldview, entertainment offers alternative and competing philosophies, ideologies, and values that contend with Jehovah, the Living God. The Shack is a potent drama and powerful tool that enables the Church to engage this generation in a loving, provocative conversation about the truth of Jesus that unveils the life-changing power of the Gospel.
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At a time when the world perceives religion as growing increasingly irrelevant, The Shack wrestles with the gnawing question of humanity, “Where is God in a world so filled with unspeakable pain?” Do not stand on the sidelines and miss an opportunity to become part of this unfolding conversation that will undoubtedly touch multiplied millions with this movie. Watch the trailer here.
American Renewal Project
Get more info: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2872518/?ref_=nv_sr_1
