Baptist Parkies and Secular Culture
Before I vent about this, I must say that the person responsible for the remark I reference below is a well respected man and married to a fabulous local woman that I consider a friend. That said, here I go…
The husband, known as a leader at PCBC, made an announcement in church Sunday about a movie that is scheduled to be released on December 7, The Golden Compass. As he was explaining why the movie is not appropriate for Christians he compared it to Harry Potter and said, “…similar to J.K. Rowling’s assault on the United States…”
I remember the exact quote because I wrote it down as my husband nudged me whispering, “Let it go, Merritt.” I looked at him and silently mouthed the words, “What the hell” right there in church. I could see him heating up because he hates conflict and knows that when I whip out my tiny blue notebook with the skull and cross bone pictures all over it, that whatever I’m writing is for sure showing up on the blog or in the paper.
I am a Baptist but also an absolute Harry Potter fan. I was so excited that I could hardly sleep the night before the final book came out. Why, oh why, do Baptists have to assume that everyone in the church is a fundamentalist that firmly rejects the entire secular world?
There I said it. I can rip that page out of my notebook and make room for next Sunday’s notes.
UPDATE: word to the preacher’s wife.
Yeah you. Couldn’t agree more.
From one Harry Potter-loving Baptist to another - “Amen sister”.
I have never been a serious church-goer. But when I was 16 I went to church with a friend down in Cedar Hill where I grew up. The preacher spoke of how Christian Faith will help build a solid foundation for you and your family and compared that to a home being built on a concrete foundation. Then he spoke of the Jewish Faith having a foundation made of sand. I’ve never gone to church since. I think when I have my illegal gay marriage ceremony I’ll have J.K. Rowling preside over it and have one hell of a blasphemous time.
I’ve always thought we could split and have “Orthodox Baptists and Reformed Baptists.” Although I do know people that have switched to Methodist so they could drink without guilt.
As a huge fan of C.S. Lewis’ “Chronicles Of Narnia” (which are also tales of schoolchildren placed in a magical environment with wicked witches and assorted villains from the “Dark Side”) and the Harry Potter books, I cannot for the life of me understand the issues that concern fundamentalists about the Potter novels. If tales that invoke sorcery and magic go against basic Christian principles, then “The 3 Little Pigs” and every other childhood fairy tale should be off limits as well. Tales of fantasy and magic have been available for children’s entertainment for hundreds of years; why would anyone think that these shouldn’t continue to be a part of our cultural landscape? I’ve read absolutely nothing in the Harry Potter books that would seem to encourage evil thoughts or deeds in our children..quite the contrary. As my 9-year-old plows through 750-plus pages of the 4th Harry Potter tale, she’s stretching her mind, improving her reading comprehension and pondering the courage of a young boy who fights to preserve the goodness in the world. Beats the heck out of Nintendo or Northpark, in my humble opinion.
It’s an interesting psychological trait that conservative members of many faiths often have a paranoid streak. The “culture” is out to get them, and the world outside their faith is on a headlong spiral toward degradation. Personally, I like what G.K. Chesterton said when he was asked if he thought the world was getting better or getting worse. “Neither,” he said; “it wobbles.”
BFF,
You could always become a Unitarian Universalist. Then, you could do whatever you want, so long as you maintain a vague guilty feeling on which you never exactly act. I say this from love and familiarity, of course, for UUs (and I feel vaguely bad about saying it).
Seriously??? It is comments like this that caused me to leave PCBC and the Baptist faith in the first place! (The actual comment that made me leave and never look back was during the service immediately following 9/11 when Jim Denison claimed that we were entering a war on Christianity and that we needed to convert those in the Middle East - I paraphrase, but you get the point). Honestly I have seen the emails circulating about the Golden Compass and even though the movie wasn’t even on my radar screen two weeks ago, I now want to be one of the first to line up and buy a ticket! Are these people seriously so concerned that their children will drink the Hollywood Kool-Aid and become atheists, just like the author of the books? If we start worrying about the underlying messages in everything and what the writers personally believe, then we are destined to live closed-minded lives. These folks should quit using religion to influence media, politics, or other people’s beliefs and focus on their own lives and beliefs. Just two cents from someone with only a #3 bumper sticker (though with kids who will have a #1 with two stars once they can drive – I guess we’ll start working on their HPHS senior class president acceptance speeches now!)
I’m getting afraid that lightning will strike any minute. So, I remind all of you that the man making the statement is a great guy, a wonderful example and community member. In fact, until the Harry Potter thing came out, he had me thinking his way. I probably still won’t see The Golden Compass but you get the point, I fear that I’ll be kicked out of church now.
I’ve known the pastor of Park Cities Baptist Church for almost 30 years. I’ve watched him give of his time and energy to help people with their needs,over and over again. I’ve watched him raise his sons to think for themselves, and both are fine Christians. My youngest son read the first two Henry Potter books, but when he was reading the third he put it down and never finished it. It is smart to allow children to choose, it is also smart not to encourage them to fill their minds with wrong ideas. I also know your Sunday School teacher, Merritt, and I agree with you that he is a great guy, married to a great woman and raising great kids himself. And just so you know, your teacher, your pastor and your pastor’s wife (me) would be happy to see you at church anytime. Reading your last entry, I can tell that God has already nudged you a bit. He is pretty good at raising his kids too.
Hi Merritt - As you know, I’m the “fabulous local woman” referenced above (I liked that so much I might consider it for may tombstone one day). I quite liked your posting. It reminded me how much I LOVE being married to a man that will stand up for what he believes in and not fall for every popular idea that comes our way. I love that in this raging secular current he stands on the rock of his beliefs and doesn’t get swept under. Thanks for the reminder of how awesome it is for my children to have a father that takes an active role and is concerned about their soul.
As I read the various comments, I was struck by one thought though. The world “cries foul” saying that Christians are not tolerant toward other people’s beliefs. I don’t sense much tolerance in the comments above toward my husband’s beliefs. Interesting isn’t it.
We at PCBC must be doing something right. If we never caused ripples in the culture we live in, I would be worried about our purpose.
Like Fabulous Local Woman, I don’t understand the double standard…it’s okay for an athiest to publish anti-God children’s books and create movies from them…and state his purpose in doing so, but it’s not okay for Christians to defend their beliefs in light of those books. And from the church, no less. Satan knows which battles to fight.
About the “ripples” and “double standard:” The concerned father attacked a person (an author, who he does not know); those comments on this blog attack a small part of a whole big belief system (and were generally based on personal experience). Can’t see the difference?
Let me put it this way: God doesn’t need you to defend him against a fictional book. If you think that’s defending your beliefs, then you believe in little more than censorship. Maybe Satan does know which battles to fight - and how to get Christian distracted fighting all the wrong ones.
But what, exactly, is the problem with “these books?”
They seem so benign; I cannot fathom why anyone could feel threatened by them. They’re just wonderful stories, not so different from the fairy tales that all parents tell their children.
You know what I feel threatened by? How about poverty. How about war. How about grizzly bears.
Not children’s books.
OMG!
Is it fair to condemn a book or movie before you even read it or see it? Seems kind of unchristian to judge something without knowing all the facts. From what I’ve read about the movie, the anit-religion elements of the book have been mostly toned down if not eliminated.
http://www.cinematical.com/200.....-box-offi/
Good article about controversy surrounding Golden Compass.
“Why, oh why, do Baptists have to assume that everyone in the church is a fundamentalist that firmly rejects the entire secular world?”
The assumption you are making confuses me. Didn’t you mention earlier that you were Baptist. I guess it’s the same reason that people assume that all Baptists are fundamentalists.
Sincerely,
Liberal Baptist who loves the books and the movies
Hey, Paul, good point. I guess I’m a Baptist when I’m not at church. When I’m at church I feel the need to distance myself a bit.
Apparently, this movie must have some drinking and dancing in it.
-David
btw: Go FBA!
Well all I can say is “His Dark Materials” is miles better than Harry Potter and some of the best fantasy I’d ever read. Everybody should go read it for themselves and maybe they’d even enjoy it.
It is this sort of rhetoric that turns off people to organized religion.
I don’t expect film critics to preach and I don’t expect preachers to critique movies.
It is total arrogance to think that one man thinks he knows what is best for another.
Did we not learn anything from Rev. Ted?
Bill Enuff
How said it is that so many Christians pick the wrong hill to die on. Believers should know better.
Every mention of this movie - especially negative mentions - causes the producer to clap his hands with glee. I know. I’ve worked in the media for almost 40 years. Every boycott and controversy merely gives the film more great press it could never buy.
Stand for something? Great. Then express equal grief over the daily fare on Dr. Phil, Oprah, Jerry Springer, and soap operas - and the nightly fare on every channel from ABC to MTV.
What should be apparent to every one who calls themelves a follower of Christ is that nearly all of the Bible’s injunctions were written for the religious - and were designed to create a lifestyle that attracted the world rather than lecturing it. Indeed, Christ reserved his harshest words for the religious. To the outcast, unclean, and abandoned He offered hope - precisely like the Samaritan who offered care, food and housing rather than a sermon to the man in the ditch. Our tendency now is to tell the world how wrong it is, rather than help it out of the gutter.
To “go and make disciples” literally means to “show them through example”. I’m sure that in many if not most ways, the gentleman in question does that. But the fact remains that what everyone needs is not a call to arms. It is a call to grace.
“You know what I feel threatened by?…How about grizzly bears.”
LOL, are you Stephen Colbert?
Present and accounted for when the husband and leader at PCBC spoke about The Golden Compass. I too am a fan of Harry Potter and look forward to each movie with my son. To me the stories are more about the clash between good and evil-in the human and spiritual realms-much like the world-both physical and spiritual-in which we live together. Ultimately, good triumphs over evil-in the Potter series and in life. As Jim Denison (another good guy and blessing to our church)likes to say: in the end, God wins.
Jesus calls us to be salt and light to a world in need of salt and light. In his day, salt was a preservative against decay. The Biblical representation of light is truth. In that moment two Sundays ago, the husband from PCBC was being salt and light. And I am grateful.
He is passionate about children: his, mine and those of his fellow church mates in that room two Sundays ago. And because he cares about them so deeply, he shared his concerns regarding an upcoming movie that many in that room are grateful to be forewarned about before taking their children.
Looking out for one another, and our kids, is a very kind act; a loving act; a Christian act- and, hopefully, a Baptist act. I am thankful for someone who cares that much. Really, that’s the point, I think. I may disagree with the content of his statement about Harry Potter. But I know his heart. Because I know his heart, there is no reason to doubt his motive: he loves God and he loves our kids. To focus on anything else is to miss the point.
I’d rather be surrounded by family and friends who care that much about me and mine.
I am so awed by Jody’s words posted above: How said it is that so many Christians pick the wrong hill to die on. Believers should know better.
Every mention of this movie - especially negative mentions - causes the producer to clap his hands with glee. I know. I’ve worked in the media for almost 40 years. Every boycott and controversy merely gives the film more great press it could never buy.
Stand for something? Great. Then express equal grief over the daily fare on Dr. Phil, Oprah, Jerry Springer, and soap operas - and the nightly fare on every channel from ABC to MTV.
What should be apparent to every one who calls themelves a follower of Christ is that nearly all of the Bible’s injunctions were written for the religious - and were designed to create a lifestyle that attracted the world rather than lecturing it. Indeed, Christ reserved his harshest words for the religious. To the outcast, unclean, and abandoned He offered hope - precisely like the Samaritan who offered care, food and housing rather than a sermon to the man in the ditch. Our tendency now is to tell the world how wrong it is, rather than help it out of the gutter.
To “go and make disciples” literally means to “show them through example”. I’m sure that in many if not most ways, the gentleman in question does that. But the fact remains that what everyone needs is not a call to arms. It is a call to grace.
I coudl learn a TON from he/she. THANK YOU JODY!!
Matt wrote:
“Is it fair to condemn a book or movie before you even read it or see it? Seems kind of unchristian to judge something without knowing all the facts. From what I’ve read about the movie, the anit-religion elements of the book have been mostly toned down if not eliminated.”
When an author publicly states his worldview, and notes that his worldview was a driving force behind his work, it is fair to discuss the merits of the work in light of his - and one’s own - worldview.
While the movie does tone down some things for a more public consumption, the essential vision remains the same.
I too was present and accounted for on the day the Golden Compass was mentioned. Although i don’t make a habit of carrying a notebook in order to record comments made at church, i do remember the leader’s comments and their context. His point was to warn us that the world wants a piece of our children and to be aware of what they see, do and read.
I have known the husband/leader, the fabulous local woman and the hilarious Merritt Patterson for about ten years. I consider it an honor and a privilege to count them as my friends and brother & sisters. All three of them are amazing people that simply have differences of opinion. It is so healthy to have different opinions and opposing views. What a boring class we would have if we all thought and acted the same way! We are a family and we won’t always agree on everything. We have great class discussions when we talk about differing opinions and how it relates to our families and daily lives.
Merritt, as far as the paper nametag thing, i don’t think you need one anymore. Everyone knows who you are now HA HA. Having misplaced my permanent nametag, i am wearing a paper one right now myself. However, please check the box and JOIN OUR CLASS and i’m sure you’ll get a permanent nametag immedietely. You and M would make a welcome and awesome addition to our class!