I remember watching A Thief in the Night at a Pentecostal church in Portland, back in the early 1970s. Loosely based on Biblical ("end times") prophesies, the storyline reflects evangelical beliefs about the trials and tribulations that await non-believers who don't ascend to Heaven during the coming Rapture. War. Pestilence. Disease. Famine. Natural disasters, a New World Order, and the inevitable ascension to power of the Antichrist.
The film was groundbreaking, in that while it was produced by Christian filmmakers, it was aimed at a wider audience. Hence, the infusion of rock music and the liberal "borrowing" of special effects most frequently attributed to horror flicks. Evangelism, writ large by popular culture.
The church bulletin called it "family entertainment," but I recognized it immediately for what it was: a hellfire-and-brimstone sermon intended to bring movie-goers to their knees.
I'd seen milder versions of this act many times before, in revival tents and church meetings. Doubts burned hot in my belly, even as a small girl, primarily because I couldn't fathom a God so vengeful that he'd tear whole families apart, that he'd rip all of creation asunder. But when the movie ended and the lights went up–when I saw stark terror, etched into the tear-streaked faces of the innocent children sitting in the pews all around me–the glowing embers of disbelief finally erupted into flames.
And here we are again, 40-some years later, witnessing the same (and to my mind, shameful) use of fear-based marketing to scare into the fold all those who live at/beyond the margins of church doctrine.
Although I suspect Left Behind will rake in lots of money, the underlying message runs counter to everything I believe. Light, replaced by eternal darkness. Love, yanked away at a moment's notice. When fear is the teacher and these are the take-away lessons…if that's your thing, so be it. But you can go on ahead without me.
I agree with cinda cite: It’s so good to see you and your blog here again!
I third that!
You’re incredibly kind, and I’m deeply grateful. And I’m very much looking forward to catching up… xo
Thanks, Barb. I was sidelined by a move, and then laid up with injuries, but boy howdy, it feels good — feels RIGHT — to be blogging again!
How lucky am I, that you’re still here after all this time? More fortunate than words can express. xoox
LEFT BEHIND.
MELODYE, I LIKE NICHOLAS CAGE. HOPEFULLY, ITS NOT THE TYPICAL HELL FIRE
AND BRIMSTONE TYPE. HATE THOSE KIND. ONE REASON, I QUESS, I DONT LIKE TO GO TO CHURCH’S ANYMMORE, IS BECAUSE I GOT SICK AND TIRED OF THE SELF RIGHTEOUS RELIGIOUS NUTS THAT TRY TO CONTROL PEOPLE WITH FEAR.
THANKS FOR POSTING, MIGHT JUST WATCH IT, WHEN ITS ON VIDEO, TO SEE
WHAT ITS ALL ABOUT. ILIKED THE MOVIE NOAH. DID YOU SEE THAT ONE?
love you girl.lovella
Re: LEFT BEHIND.
I’m with you, Lovella. I can’t stomach those who would try to control people’s thoughts & behaviors with fear. We’re called to love one another, right? And as one preacher’s kid to another, I’ll bet you can recite from memory the Bible verse that talks about perfect love casting out fear. 🙂
No, I haven’t seen Noah. Yet. Maybe I should?
I’m guessing this is based on the books? I read the first one (years ago when it first came out)…not a fan. *sigh*
Yes. In fairness, I haven’t seen Left Behind; but while I know the books are hugely popular, my own experiences make it really hard for me to accept the underlying premise.
Re: wow!
Thanks so much for the warm reception!!! It’s great to be here with you again, lit torches at the ready. 😉
It’s interesting how the same Bible can incite such very different interpretations, isn’t it? I know some people don’t believe in God because the idea of a giant magical Santa in the sky, rewarding those he likes, is absurd to them. And likewise, they don’t like the idea of an angry God just waiting for someone to break a rule so he can hurl lightning bolts at them–the underlying assumption being, God only loves those who robotically follow him, and if you mess up, BAM!(I suppose there are some who believe in EXACTLY that idea of God, and see religion precisely as what you said–a way to control people by fear.) I do believe in God, as you know–but I don’t believe he’s like this at all. He’s our father and he loves us! And if we’re his children, then naturally he wants us to grow up into the kind of wise, independent, loving, GOOD being that he is. Which means he loves us as we’re learning and is cheering us on as we yes, sometimes experience imperfect circumstances so we can master certain skills and develop wisdom and compassion. The whole world is full of choices, and we are completely free to make them. But natural consequences apply, and I see God’s commandments as something like a map key, so we don’t have to invent the wheel all over again. If you’re honest, the natural consequence of this is that you help build a world where you can trust people. Where there is no corruption. If you’re kind and loving (instead of ruling by fear) in your family, your home will be a place of peace, the people in it will develop confidence and compassion, and it will be a refuge and a support when inevitable challenges in life arise. If you have courage and integrity instead of being swayed by peer pressure every time you have to make a decision, you can strengthen other people, you can have the wisdom to make long-term good choices that will benefit many, instead of a short-term candy choice that doesn’t last. In the end, I really don’t think it’ll be a check-off–oh, no, you were so good, but man, you really messed up question #15, so it’s the fiery pit for you! That’s not learning, you know? Learning is sometimes messing up, but then figuring it out and doing better next time. Learning is *becoming* someone better, someone new. If it’s all up to you to never, ever make a mistake for fear that God won’t love you anymore, then what is the point of Christ? Instead, I think that all our efforts, plus a large dollop of grace, ultimately turn us into someone better. That instead of oops, one mess-up and you’re down to the Bad Place, that we’ll go to the reward we feel most comfortable with, depending on who we chose to become.
That’s probably waaaaaaay too long for early Saturday morning, but it’s my way of saying that I totally get what you’re saying. Fire and brimstone and fear have never spelled G-O-D to me.
(Also, welcome back! And Gute Besserung!)
Thanks for the well-wishes, Rose, and more so, for this well-considered comment. I don’t put myself at the head of the class by any means, but I do love that you spell G-O-D the same way as I do. 🙂
Not sure I saw A THIEF INTO THE NIGHT, but I definitely saw a couple Christian “rapture” films back in the day, when I sort of even bought into it, but thought the films were ridiculous. (It helps that I grew up mainstream Presbyterian, and not in a more evangelical or charismatic branch.) Sorry to hear this movie came out. Although it stars Nicholas Cage, apparently, and he hasn’t done well in recent years. Also, I thought you might enjoy this review of the movie, which is entitled “LEFT BEHIND” When God becomes a Hollywood monster”, and includes this bit of pull-out text that echoes your conclusion precisely: “ALL WE SEE IS AN UNSTOPPABLE BEING THAT SHOWS UP, STEALS YOUR LOVED ONES, AND DEMANDS THAT YOU THANK HIM FOR IT”.
A THIEF IN THE NIGHT was the most popular of a four-part series of Rapture films, so if you didn’t see it, chances are good that you saw one of the others. (HEE! Just noticed your user pic!!)
Thanks for the link to that movie review. I like what they did there. Clever, balanced. And it parallels some of my own reactions, so there’s that. 🙂