VOTE
Lord Save Us From Your Followers! That’s the name of the movie on the marquis in downtown Portland, Oregon and the backdrop for the ThinkFWD episode with host Spencer Burke and independent filmmaker Dan Merchant. Dan’s making of the film, which was released on DVD in March, was a five-year journey. The film has been in many different venues, from church screenings to college campuses to film festivals. “People who go to church find it meaningful. People who don’t go to church find it meaningful,” says Dan. So he decided to take it into a secular theater to see if more people would connect with it.
The reaction across the boards is that people are resonating with the film’s messages. Why? “Everybody responds to compassion, loving-kindness and grace,” says Dan. “The film is not about bashing the church. I’m plagiarizing Jesus, raising some questions. God is where all truth springs from, but truth without grace is like a bulldozer. Truth WITH grace takes on a different shape, and it’s not about “us” and “them, but about “we”—it’s relational.”
Dan believes the film gives people permission to stop taking sides, and to try again to hear and live out what Jesus says. And when people say, “But when do we stand up for the truth!” Dan’s reply is that this is the truth—loving others.
Spencer asks Dan if it’s the medium or the message that is resonating with the film’s audience? Does the fact that it’s a film help to engage the viewers? Dan suggests that the film works like a mirror, and that people connect with parts of the film that are true to their experience. He says everyone has a different favorite part of the film and that’s because each person has their own perspective and need, and the film helps to articulate it for them.
Personal Reflections:
- How can I express where I am struggling with the church without being or being perceived as “church-bashing?”
- How can I move beyond tearing down and build what is beautiful and true?
Group or Staff Questions:
- How can we hold the tension between picking sides and showing what we can say “yes” to?
- How can we grow by listening, humbly and without an agenda?
Resources
FEEDS
Highest Rated
- Pete Rollins – Resurrection as Insurrection (+251 rating, 97 votes)
- Brian McLaren – Navigating Through A New Kind of Christianity (+165 rating, 63 votes)
- Phyllis Tickle – Beyond Denominations, the Hyphenated Church (+153 rating, 57 votes)
- Andrew Marin Pt 2- Elevating the Conversation Between the Church and the Gay Community (+133 rating, 40 votes)
- Philip Clayton – Emergence Taking on a Life of its Own (+112 rating, 44 votes)
May 18th, 2010 at 11:28 pm
The podcasts do not seem to be in the RSS feed. I can not get the RSS feed to work in iTunes, and the page found when searching in iTunes for theooze.tv in iTunes does not have any episodes. Looking forward to a fix.
Thanks,
Lon Marshall
May 23rd, 2010 at 3:54 pm
Sharing your pain Lon!
I can’t get them either…. please oozetv come back to me. I love you so!
May 25th, 2010 at 1:49 pm
I have already purchased, watched and thoroughly been affected in a very positive way by this film. And this is coming from someone who is a self-labeled moderate progressive, realizing that the film really focuses quite a bit from a more conservative evanglical perspective, yet beyond. Well worth the view, and it is absolutely important that one view this DVD from start to finish. So don’t give up on it early on to the middle, because the whole thing really comes together very well in the end. I recommend this film basically for anyone breathing, whether committed to a religious tradition or not.
September 15th, 2010 at 12:49 am
This is for Dan Merchant. It is my hope that he will prayfully read this. I just completed your documentary “Lord, Save Us From Your Followers”. For a long period, throughout your documentary, I was trying to figure out where you were going with it. It eventually became clear toward the end. I think you had excellent points concerning how the world views Christians-Bible thumpers (not quote from video, but the general idea) and “I’m right” mentality is a complete turn off to people. In addition, you brought up other concerns how Christians need to examine themselves and clean up before judging others. I like the fact that you pointed out how Christians seem to blame Hollywood for the downfall of our culture when in turn they are the ones showing support by paying to see violent and sexual content movies, including porn. Furthermore, it is vital that biblical foundation and teaching need to begin and finish at home. You are correct to the fact that Christians need to understand people (sinners) and establish some kind of connection in order to display the “love of Jesus”. Christians ought to be the first to help the broken, poor, and needy. It is wrong for Christians to assume that catastrophe is due to people’s sinful behavior or lifestyle (it is not in our place to make such conclusion, even if it may be plausable). There were many good, valid, and genuine concerns you brought up. However, (I’m not speaking as one who is condemning you or questioning your salvation or relationship with Christ) with great humility, I was disturbed by some of your message which has no place scripturally. I gathered that your main point behind your message is that Christians need to be more “loving” like Jesus was. The people (both professed Christians and non) you interviewed made that very clear. Many of your interviewers percieved Christ being loving and forgiving and shun away from condemning or judging. (Please, correct me anytime if I’m wrong). You seem to draw the same conclusion. I agree one hundred percent that Christians need to be example of Christ’s love, but scripture is clear that we need to hate the sin, not the sinner (not a verse in the Bible, but excellent summary). People who emphasize more on love does not understand scripture and are as guilty as those who emphasize only on judgment and condemnation. The Bible teaches a balance. Proverbs 3:3 brings this point home: “Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart” (NASB) Kindness can be perceived as loving people, but not in the absent of truth. Love and truth work hand-to-hand, they are inseparable. In fact, the next following verse is a beautiful result of one’s faithfulness in sharing the truth in love: “…so you will find favor in the sight of God and man” (v.4). Sinners can and do respect the truth, even if they disagree and live on with their wicked lifestyle. I challenge some of your interviewers to read the story about the woman who was “caught at the very act of adultery”. The religious leaders were hypocrites and did not respect the law (the law of God)since they only focused on the woman and left the man guiltless. Jesus knowing their hypocrital-scandalis heart challenged them to cast the first stone. Well, as every body knows, they put down the stone and left the woman alone. I hate how many religious and non-religous audience focus on that specific event and make long ‘feel-good’ statement how Jesus was uncondemning, and neglect how He handled her sinful problem. Look, the woman knew she was at fault and according to the law (God’s law may I emphasize) deserved death, but instead experienced grace and mercy. Jesus also instructed her, “Go. from now on sin no more” (John 8). Jesus didn’t need to tell her that she was at wrong with her adulterous life, she already knew, especially after being humiliated. But on the flip side He did urge her to stop sinning and repent. This is true love. Don’t forget how Jesus “lovingly” confronted the rich man who was slave to his wealth. Jesus loving him, offended this rich young ruler to forsake all and follow him. Jesus was the one who said this about the world, “This is the judgment that Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed” (John 3:19-20, NASB). I do think that there is place to challenge the culture fire and brimstone. There is a place for fire and brimstone. I think John was a perfect example of one who “lovingly” challenged the sinful style of his culture when he spoke of King Herod who committed adultery by taking his brother’s wife. Even though King Herod excuted his own law he was not above God’s law. John clearly told him and his wicked wife that their behavior was ‘unlawful’. John’s challenge of the culture’s lifestyle cost his life in the end. He was simply responding in love and concern that their lifestyle will condemn them to hell, accordking to God’s rigteous standard. Dan, I don’t know if you are aware that one of the apostle Paul’s purpose to share the gospel of Christ was to warn everyone of the judgment that is to come (2 Corinthians 5:10-11) . He didn’t want anyone to experience a worse hell than one on this side of heaven. No one knows when this judgment will come to past, but nonetheless it will come, very soon. I would love to take more time and tell you how the judgment and grace (in love) of God was preached starting from Adam to Enoch, to Noah, to Abraham, to Moses, to Joshua, to David, and all the way to Revelation. These men of faith spoke to sinners in truth and love, hating their sinful garment while displaying great concern for them. This, my friend, is the gospel of Jesus Christ. And I think that your documentary video failed to convey this essential point, therefore producing more harm than good regardless how sincere. You made a statement that God loves people like the pope, Nelson Mendella, including other icon because of their good deeds. God is not concern about men’s deed. Their noble deeds does not earn favor with Him. Righteous works will not get people to heaven (Matthew 7:21-23). There’s only one way, faith in Jesus Christ for the remission and forgiveness of their sin. I tell you this in love and in truth. I would love to hear from you. Thank you.
December 14th, 2011 at 7:29 am
I’m experiencing a challenge with your rss feed . Don’t know why I am not able to subscribe to it. Is there anybody getting an identical rss problem? Anyone who knows kindly respond. Thanks
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