God On My Side
A live reflection on Denton's coverage...
I expect some of my gut reactions will be as controvertial as his doco.
* Intro is using Jesus' words, with a weird traditional thing, interesting use through the doco of the NIV audio tracks.
* Then superimposed by perhaps some of the more radical bits of teaching on the pseudo healing/teaching ministries.
* Oooohhh George Bush... Scary!!! He is endorsing them!!! Nooooo!!!!
* Denton looks for the everyday believers... good to see that it is not just about the televangelists.
Issues identified:
Personal Promise Bible
I have had a view for a little while that is dodgy theologically. Denton is right to be sceptical, though some of the passages may actually be personal statements to me.
Noah's Ark
There was a funny joke about two stuffed elephants, he paid through the nose for them and carried them around in a big trunk. I think there also needs to be care taken in giving explanations about things like animal messes that are outside the scope of what the bible actually says... Maybe this would be good application for much of Genesis.
Arab Vision TV
Jos seems to be an authentic guy, sees results in his work, that should be pretty exciting. He seems to be quite genuine in his later bits too.
Aussie Christian TV
The Aussie looks tacky in his khaki, trying too hard to fit Australia's stereotype.
Hollywood Actress
A lady with eight Marriages might put you off for a little while. It seems that her pain may have contributed to becoming a Christian (the bigger picture always makes a bit more sense), and influenced her political activism.
Televangelist Producer
Perhaps a more contrary voice politically he has a few dodgy sayings in the clips. Examples include - "Perception is just as important as reality" - "No matter how powerful your message is, if noone is watching it doesn't matter".
Despite this he seems like a nice guy, though favours to some extent size over faithfulness.
Kids Programming
It didn't seem to be that much of a problem in and of itself. Kids praising God, I don't have an issue with that. Looks pretty peaceful compared to the other bits shown earlier in the clash of civilisations intro.
Door to Door Bible Sales
Just as a concept this confuses me greatly. Is business really booming now more than ever before?
Sculpture Guy
Seems to be very open about being an undercover evangelist (as much as you can be at a Christian broadcasting conference). Sculptures seem a bit interesting, caters for a nice trinket market. Queries remain on many points he expressed.
Christian Marketing
Denton appropriately noted on the excesses of Christian retail. Good to see some criticism of Jesus trinkets, but not knocked completely.
McDuff Brothers
What amazing hair, Boring singing - They have a pretty interesting story though with the Texas fire disaster and the felt need for repentance for not telling enough people about Jesus.
Final Events of Bible Prophecy
The guy behind it has an interesting life story, the bible that converted him in the cave, so ended up reading it, prayer wanting purpose for living. Helicopter with a national news crew sent to a cave, what a story.
His program is quoted as saying the final signs are fast being fulfilled, this raises generally the problems of the whole dispensationalist approach, danger of predictions being the last generation.
He is right to point out that return of Christ is good news and will happen, but I am wary of his predictions.
American Political Christianity
* America's Lost Dream - US founded to have only God as king.
* Crisis about politics of abortion and same-sex marriages, interesting lines drawn in the sand on issues. Seems problematic when mingling good and bad from the writers. Shows some breadth of socially conservative politics. Is the homosexual issue being overplayed??? Hard to tell. Appropriate perspective of the people that God is stronger.
*There is Bush again... No!!!!!!!! (joking). Some of those political stickers are scary, but there is a bit of balance and humour to cancel it out. Interesting political discussions where some are in love with them.
* Israel holy land - Isreali tourism ministry. The links between zionism and Christianity are interesting. The christ killers tag is perhaps unfair. They want tourism - well that would make sense. I'm not sure the people on the TV are understanding the Israel references properly. Rapture wrongly understood in these contexts.
Part of the Israel problem is that people misunderstand the impact Jesus had on the ongoing effect of God's covenant with Abraham. Good Biblical theology will teach that the land promised to Abraham now becomes fulfilled in a heavenly Jerusalem.
The Bible as God's word
The show presented an appropriate need for trust in the word of God. Whether the presentation commended the trust is another issue.
The last drilldown is all about the nature of other religions. The false religion points made were relatively fair. There were some unfortunate cringeworthy moments when discussing the Koran, but it seems lots of questions were asked about the exclusive nature of the Gospel - an exclusive nature that the bible clearly affirms.
Our faith is not about experience though, but should be nailed to the history and trustworthiness of the cross, otherwise it is all relative.
I expect some of my gut reactions will be as controvertial as his doco.
* Intro is using Jesus' words, with a weird traditional thing, interesting use through the doco of the NIV audio tracks.
* Then superimposed by perhaps some of the more radical bits of teaching on the pseudo healing/teaching ministries.
* Oooohhh George Bush... Scary!!! He is endorsing them!!! Nooooo!!!!
* Denton looks for the everyday believers... good to see that it is not just about the televangelists.
Issues identified:
Personal Promise Bible
I have had a view for a little while that is dodgy theologically. Denton is right to be sceptical, though some of the passages may actually be personal statements to me.
Noah's Ark
There was a funny joke about two stuffed elephants, he paid through the nose for them and carried them around in a big trunk. I think there also needs to be care taken in giving explanations about things like animal messes that are outside the scope of what the bible actually says... Maybe this would be good application for much of Genesis.
Arab Vision TV
Jos seems to be an authentic guy, sees results in his work, that should be pretty exciting. He seems to be quite genuine in his later bits too.
Aussie Christian TV
The Aussie looks tacky in his khaki, trying too hard to fit Australia's stereotype.
Hollywood Actress
A lady with eight Marriages might put you off for a little while. It seems that her pain may have contributed to becoming a Christian (the bigger picture always makes a bit more sense), and influenced her political activism.
Televangelist Producer
Perhaps a more contrary voice politically he has a few dodgy sayings in the clips. Examples include - "Perception is just as important as reality" - "No matter how powerful your message is, if noone is watching it doesn't matter".
Despite this he seems like a nice guy, though favours to some extent size over faithfulness.
Kids Programming
It didn't seem to be that much of a problem in and of itself. Kids praising God, I don't have an issue with that. Looks pretty peaceful compared to the other bits shown earlier in the clash of civilisations intro.
Door to Door Bible Sales
Just as a concept this confuses me greatly. Is business really booming now more than ever before?
Sculpture Guy
Seems to be very open about being an undercover evangelist (as much as you can be at a Christian broadcasting conference). Sculptures seem a bit interesting, caters for a nice trinket market. Queries remain on many points he expressed.
Christian Marketing
Denton appropriately noted on the excesses of Christian retail. Good to see some criticism of Jesus trinkets, but not knocked completely.
McDuff Brothers
What amazing hair, Boring singing - They have a pretty interesting story though with the Texas fire disaster and the felt need for repentance for not telling enough people about Jesus.
Final Events of Bible Prophecy
The guy behind it has an interesting life story, the bible that converted him in the cave, so ended up reading it, prayer wanting purpose for living. Helicopter with a national news crew sent to a cave, what a story.
His program is quoted as saying the final signs are fast being fulfilled, this raises generally the problems of the whole dispensationalist approach, danger of predictions being the last generation.
He is right to point out that return of Christ is good news and will happen, but I am wary of his predictions.
American Political Christianity
* America's Lost Dream - US founded to have only God as king.
* Crisis about politics of abortion and same-sex marriages, interesting lines drawn in the sand on issues. Seems problematic when mingling good and bad from the writers. Shows some breadth of socially conservative politics. Is the homosexual issue being overplayed??? Hard to tell. Appropriate perspective of the people that God is stronger.
*There is Bush again... No!!!!!!!! (joking). Some of those political stickers are scary, but there is a bit of balance and humour to cancel it out. Interesting political discussions where some are in love with them.
* Israel holy land - Isreali tourism ministry. The links between zionism and Christianity are interesting. The christ killers tag is perhaps unfair. They want tourism - well that would make sense. I'm not sure the people on the TV are understanding the Israel references properly. Rapture wrongly understood in these contexts.
Part of the Israel problem is that people misunderstand the impact Jesus had on the ongoing effect of God's covenant with Abraham. Good Biblical theology will teach that the land promised to Abraham now becomes fulfilled in a heavenly Jerusalem.
The Bible as God's word
The show presented an appropriate need for trust in the word of God. Whether the presentation commended the trust is another issue.
The last drilldown is all about the nature of other religions. The false religion points made were relatively fair. There were some unfortunate cringeworthy moments when discussing the Koran, but it seems lots of questions were asked about the exclusive nature of the Gospel - an exclusive nature that the bible clearly affirms.
Our faith is not about experience though, but should be nailed to the history and trustworthiness of the cross, otherwise it is all relative.
posted by Pete at
9:29 PM
