Jesus; The Stumbling Block

Imagine the uproar from the masses if I decided to write and direct a movie thats entire theme pushed a Christian agenda by totally mocking anyone and everyone that does not believe in our Lord. I would be a wanted man that's for sure and bring on the protestors. I actually have very little confidence that I would actually have any success at all in getting that movie to play anywhere in this country. Well scratch that and reverse it and you get the new film written and directed by Ricky Gervais (also writer and director of The Office).

Gervais's new film "The Invention of Lying" poses as a romantic comedy but soon into the film the cat comes bursting out of the bag and we come to find that the movie is a religious satire that specifically attacks Christians and our belief that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Basically, set in a world of complete and full honestly, Gervais's character is the only man in the world who can tell a lie. The movie is entertaining and full of clever humor up until the point where Gervais drops the atheist hammer to Christianity. Gervais's character makes up a "lie" about a "man in the sky" who controls everything and determines whether people get to go to a happy place with mansions or to a bad place with no mansions. He goes on to make up 10 rules apparently given to him from the "man in the sky" and places them on two pizza boxes and reads them to the people gathered in his yard. This in the end leads to Gervais's character transforming his miserable life into becoming very popular and wealthy. There are many more Christian references throughout the movie, but I think you get the point.

Now, my initial response to viewing this movie was to express my anger and bring the house down with a one-two punch of Biblical truth and destructive raging rebuke for such a film. However, upon further examining my motives behind something like that I realized what a tremendous waste of everyone's time that would turn out to be. So now I've moved on to a state of sorrow for the lost man behind this movie and the lost country that has kept this movie in the box office top ten over the past few weeks (granted most people probably didn't know exactly what they were getting into). This reminds me of Paul's words to the Corinthian church.... "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God" (1 Corinthians 1:18). How true this is today in our society. Basically, for those who are not being transformed by the power of God, the message of Jesus Christ is considered silly and foolish. Well sadly, the cross of Christ is absolutely no laughing matter.

Here's my message to all true followers of Christ who are angered by such mocking of their Lord and Savior. Be encouraged! Yes, be offended but also be encouraged. Why you might ask? What's so encouraging about living in a country that is desperately trying to remove a 75 year old War Memorial Cross from California's Mojave desert but has no complaints for "Good Without God" advertising? (google those please to learn more). So what's so encouraging? Because there is a reason why the masses always single out Jesus Christ as the one to be mocked and ridiculed. In fact, Jesus said it Himself, Jesus Christ is the stumbling block! Paul explains this in his letter to the Corinthians... "but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Gentiles foolishness" (1 Corinthians 1:23). Seriously, when was the last time you viewed a direct assault on Mohammed, Gandhi, or Buddha? Why does Jesus Christ frustrate people so much? Because that is the way He intended it. How many people who came in contact with Him left HIs presence saying simply "what a nice man"? Nobody. People either fell in love with Him and embraced Him and His message or hated Him and mocked Him and His followers. So be encouraged that your hope is in a Savior that causes so much controversy! Be encouraged that your hope is in a Savior that makes people so uncomfortable! Be encouraged that your hope is in a Savior that stirs the soul! Be encouraged that your hope is in a Savior that is mocked and hated by this world! I tell you the truth.... I'd be very uneasy if I served a Lord that this world was simply okay with and tolerated. No thanks, I am proud to serve my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ whose name alone demands attention, good or bad. So be encouraged!

- Terry