The Message Behind the Movie – Review

The Message Behind the Movie by Doug Beaumont (Moody Publishers, 2009).

http://www.messagebehindthemovie.com/

http://www.dougbeaumont.org/

Allow me to preface my review of Doug Beaumont’s latest title, The Message Behind the Movie, by first providing some background as to my own evolution of perspectives regarding Christians and Hollywood. I grew up in a vehemently separatist, fundamentalist branch of Christianity. As I grew in age and interests I would often times find my desire to see the latest summer blockbuster running in opposition to the wishes of and teaching and warnings of my pastors. The mantra “Nothing good can come from Hollywood” reverberated throughout their sermons as they would wax eloquent on the evils of motion pictures.  So, needless to say, this anti-cinema conditioning caused a great deal of confusion in my life and especially my newfound life in ministry. I would be told that if a Christian attends a film he/she has disqualified themselves from spiritual leadership and service to the church.

As I struggled with these issues I began to see examples throughout the Scriptures in which Paul quoted from popular media (I realize I am using this term anachronistically) in his presentation of the Gospel to a pagan world.  As I wrestled with the methodology of Paul in contrast to the teaching I was so indoctrinated with I stumbled across www.DougBeaumont.org.  There I found that Doug’s blog provided clear and coherent answers to the claim that “Nothing good can come from Hollywood.” Rather than abandoning the popular media, Doug provided a Biblical framework in which a believer could evaluate a film, digest the good elements and use various points in communicating the Gospel. Finding someone so balanced on the Scriptures and with such a positive outlook on a Christian’s ability to be “in the world” but not “of the world” was quite refreshing and encouraging. That was a number of years ago now and yet I remember even then thinking, “This guy REALLY needs to write a book about this stuff!” Well, finally Doug has and I Am excited to be one of the reviewers selected by Moody Publishers to give my take on this excellent text.

First, Doug opens The Message Behind the Movie by spending six chapters (ACT ONE) discussing how to understand various elements of movies. I particularly enjoyed the chapter entitled “Can Anything Good Come Out of Hollywood.” During these first six chapters Doug lays a solid framework around the nature of storytelling through the media of film. This is quite significant because, as odd as it sounds, many people simply do not understand how to watch a film. Viewers routinely sit back and watch the images stream by as one would watch a car passing them on the interstate. There is no introspection, there is no evaluation, and certainly there is no worldview consideration taking place. The Message Behind the Movie appeals for Christians to first understand how to watch a film before laying down principles regarding how to use and discuss a film.

The Second section of the book (ACT TWO) delves deeper into how one goes about evaluating various elements of the story being presented in a given film. In his chapter on “Discussing Movies Religiously” Doug points out something that I believe to be a key element in movie evaluation. Doug notes that while Hollywood as a whole disdains the notion that human beings are “sinners” there is still a steady stream of films that resonate the theme of salvation (pg. 86). Such themes provide an excellent spring board upon which one can engage non-believers in a dialogue regarding the Biblical theme of salvation. Doug then moves his focus to how one discusses a film both philosophically and theologically. He does an excellent job pointing out that practically all films make assertions regarding the nature of truth, reality, and the existence of God. It would serve the Christian well to know how to understand and to interact with these assertions. As the educational culture in our nation becomes less text driven and more technology driven it becomes imperative that Christians understand how to use the assertions being made in popular film to engage in a dialogue regarding one’s worldview.

Doug provides a fitting conclusion to his book (ACT THREE) by reminding believers of the Biblical imperative to avoid evil and to honor God in all that we do. However, in his classic fashion, Doug attempts to correct popular misunderstandings of texts such as I Thessalonians 5:22. He points out that many Christians take this to mean that anything that appears to have evil elements must be avoided, however, the text actually encourages the believer to abstain from every form of genuine evil, not things that simply appear evil on the surface.  In his concluding remarks Doug leaves his readers with a sobering reminder, one I believe provides a fitting conclusion regarding any debate about what a believer should or should not consume from popular media. The text he quotes from Scripture that most resonates with me was I Thessalonians 5:21 “examine everything carefully and hold fast to that which is good.”

In conclusion, I am very grateful for The Message Behind the Movie. The nascent form of this book found in Doug’s blog impacted my life at a critical point and I believe this text will impact many believers struggling with the same issues I had to face. Now, as an instructor of Apologetics and Theology I plan to use this text as an example of how one can critically engage the culture and remain relevant without losing one’s faith.  This is a MUST read!