Page 24 - MyFaith Mag August 2016

CHANGE REVOLUTION
I’ve been reading with some amusement about the “outrage” from Chris-
tians over the recent Saturday Night Live satire of the movie “God’s Not
Dead 2”. Sure there’s a few cringe moments that sting, but let me offer
a different thought about the sketch: Consider that for something to get
on Saturday Night Live’s national stage means that it’s made a significant
dent in the culture. For a movie to get parodied on that show means it
broke through and captured an wide audience. After all, SNL doesn’t joke
about issues their viewers haven’t heard anything about.
God’s Not Dead 2 suffers from issues that most sequels suffer from
(“Hey, the first movie made a lot of money so quick – let’s come up with
a follow up.”) It wouldn’t necessarily have been my personal answer to
the cultural issue it highlights, but it was a box office success. And rather
than complain that SNL is making fun of the film, I’m thrilled that the
movie generated such a buzz that SNL felt they needed to respond.
The bottom line is this: If Christians get so offended at every little slight, How about this: Instead of whining and complaining, what if we started
what do we possibly have to offer the world? If we have so little back-
bone when the going gets tough, why in the world would anyone seek
our help when they experience times of trouble?
24 | AUGUST 2016
BY PHIL COOKE
You don’t have to go far to read about Christians in other countries who
are experiencing real persecution. Mothers being raped in front of their
husbands and children. Fathers executed in front of their families. Be-
headings. Rape has become a weapon of war in the ISIS effort to stamp
out any trace of Christianity in the Middle East.
But in the United States, Christians are outraged when we’re made fun of
in a comedy show. It’s no wonder the culture doesn’t see much reason to
listen to our message or seek us out when times get tough.
Certainly our rights as Christians in this country are being infringed on
a regular basis, and every day, Christians face a culture that’s growing
more and more hostile. And this isn’t to criticize those on the front lines
of those very real battles. But whining about every little slight doesn’t
help. In fact, it just emboldens the critics to keep pushing.
doing such remarkable things in the culture that the world would be
forced to re-think who we are and who the God is we serve? Through-
out the New Testament book of Mark, people were astonished because
Jesus’ teaching “had authority.”
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