The Highway Forums General Discussion Open Forum End of the Spear

On January 20th End of the Spear will come out. It is a historical drama about the five missionaries (Nate Saint, Jim Elliot, Ed McCully, Pete Fleming and Roger Youderian.) who were speared to death by the Waodani. It is sort of the follow up to the documentary Beyond the Gates of Splendor

Now there is a little bit of a controversy about this film as Chad Allen, a homosexual, is portraying both Nate Saint and later his son Steve Saint. This alarming bit of news hasn't gone unnoticed and here is the response to questions of why a homosexual actor from the director.
Now I have seen some response to this news that if we "go ballistic" on this film because of this we will just "prove" to the homosexual community that we are bigots. What say you all?

Didn't the same happen with Chariots of Fire movie where a homosexual portrayed Lindell (sp).

We shouldn't go ballistic, but we definitely should be aware of the undercurrent in opposing the biblical tenet that homosexuality is a sin. I would think there would be an adequate replacement for the actor if the director really cared.

Good answer.

We can all point to Ian Charleson too who played Eric Liddell in Chariots of Fire and then died of aids. Didn't change the impact that the movie had on me. It was a great performance and the reality obviously had nothing to do with how Charleson lived out his personal life. Sadly.

It is a shame that they are having a sinner play the part of one of the missionaries. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/Eeeeeek.gif" alt="" /> Are we to regulate what type of sinners are to play sinners in movies? Though I would rather see an ordinary sinner <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/doah.gif" alt="" /> play the part I doubt if the movie (if realistic) will display the homosexual character of Chad Allen in the movie. In actually, this situation could be great as some homosexuals may go see the movie and .... Thus, while I do not support gay rights, etc., I think having a sinner play the part of a missionary may be ok.... Hopefully Chad Allen had the Gospel shared with him in Word and by deed during the movies production. Prayer may be more fitting here than protest. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/bow.gif" alt="" />

John C said this well, "We shouldn't go ballistic, but we definitely should be aware of the undercurrent in opposing the biblical tenet that homosexuality is a sin."

Well actually until this hooplah came about I had been ignorant of the fact that Ian Carleson was a homosexual or that he had died of aids. In one way it ruined the movie for me. Now everytime I see in my minds eye the character of Eric Liddell running in the back of my head I hear in the back of my head "yes but he was a nancy boy you know". Perhaps the messenger has something to do with the message. And that is what Jason Janz says in this article: Nate Saint Played by Gay Activist in "End of the Spear" | Jason Janz For a pdf version download this: Chad Allen plays Nate Saint.

<img src="/forum/images/graemlins/rofl.gif" alt="" />...Classic Bo, Classic.

Hey, I thought your post was very interesting, especially after seeing Chad Allen on Larry King Live tonight with Al Mohler. I gotta say, I love that question of yours, "Are we to regulate what type of sinners are to play sinners in movies?".

<img src="/forum/images/graemlins/ranton.gif" alt="" />
I am curious about the next line though, what constitutes an "ordinary sinner"? Now I don't want to get into the whole question and speculation about which sins lead to death and which do not or anything like that, but I gotta know, why is homosexuality so much greater and filthier a sin than lying or cheating or not keeping my body in good health or failing to show kindness to someone? Let me guess, I Corinthians 6, right, every sin a man commits is outside his body but the one who commits fornication sins against his own body? If that's the text then I would obviously point out that that deals just as much with hetersexuals committing fornication. Or maybe we're thinking of Leviticus (either 18:22 or 20:13)in which he's talking to the priest (men of the tribe of Levi) and God says to not lay with men like you lay with a woman. Or, the ever popular Romans 1, around verse 27, Men giving up natural uses of the woman and doing shameless acts and receiving the "due penalty for their error." All great passages that underline the Biblical truth, homosexuality is a sin. But why is it worse than other sins?

I have homosexuals in my classes and I've had lunch with homosexuals and bi-sexuals and I've met a variety of other "Sexuals" and what I can safely say is that they are people too and that they respond to people who love them (even sinners love those that love them). Actually it's quite interesting that I've found that when I treat homosexual students with respect and dignity as I would a "straight" student, they usually are willing to hear me out and respect my opinions instead of calling me a hypocrite or a bigot, all simply because I apply the same tactics and attitudes towards them that I do towards my "straight" friends (it's called consistancy). I find too that if I treat someone good while they're straight and they should admit to being homosexual that it is a real sticking point should I then treat them different. It may disgust me to think of two guys committing those particular acts, but I'm sure it disgust homosexuals to think about me and a woman (not that I'm engaged in any sex, but if I were).

Now I'm sure some of the homosexuals I've met would suggest something involving a speck, a plank, a board, or something generally involving a piece of wood, but I really wanted to look at Romans 12 which is this one big long paragraph of text, but I'll "proof text" myself here with verses 17 and 18, though the entire passage is stunning. Nobility in the sight of all (I think he means that I'm to do those things which God commands and against which there are no laws), and living peacably with all (sounds like Paul is suggesting tolerance and understanding, not that he's suggesting that we condone or encourage sins, but that we empathize with those in sin because we too were once in sin and apart from the people and the blessings of God).
<img src="/forum/images/graemlins/rantoff.gif" alt="" />

Anyway, the fact that Chad Allen is gay and will get a certain portion of the proceeds of this movie really seem to me to be beside the point. If he is sinning, he will receive judgement just like me and you, and if God's word is true, and i believe it is, then he will suffer what is fit for his sins, and so will I (though perhaps in different forms and fashions). If I really don't like what this guy is doing, I think I should show him kindness (because in my own way I'm overcoming evil with good and at the same time heaping burning coals on top of his head, as I'm sure others have wanted to do to me), and kindness means watching the movie he's in in which he doesn't play a homosexual character but he portrayes a Christian, a brother in Christ whose inspirational story is much needed in our time because so few Christians do what the Bible dictates they do.

I rejoice with you and with Paul, that there is the possibility and the probability that our Sovereign will use even this unlikely and perhaps oft over looked piece of art to further tug at those He is calling (or to use another analogy, to plant fertilizer and water the seed that has been planted). We perhaps would be best off reading the accounts already available so that we can with precision and clarity discuss the events which are being portrayed. And as Romans 12 reminds us, we need always to pray.

The final question that I think this comes down to, would I go see the movie if I didn't know there was a homosexual actor in it? If yes, then I'm saying that I'm bound on what I watch and do based on what someone else does in a bedroom half a continent away, and how free is that? I do believe I may see this movie if it's available in my area, otherwise I'll have to throw out my disney collection and just about every other movie because there's just a whole lot of sin portrayed in movies, newspapers, bibles and all kinds of other media.

Well, perhaps in the next few weeks I'll have reason to revise my previous statements, after all, I'm going to have to read a Christian author who's not unfamiliar with homosexuals, I have to read his book called "Confessions", maybe good old Aurelius will have a golden rule for me or something like that? In the meentime, I'll keep living peacably with and lovingly reproving myself and others around me who do what is contrary to sound doctrine.

As for Mr. Allen, I sincerely hope that the Christians he worked with and the "Church" or faith community he said he's a part of will continue to dialogue and research the subjects of the inerrancy of Scripture and what it has to say about living and lifestyle for both homo and heterosexuals.

-Bro. Luke

P. S., I understand I have a sarcastic streak which likes to come out, one of the members of this board was kind enough to point it out to me on a previous posting this month. Let me say, I have no intention of offending anyone but I hope to speak the truth, and I hope that I do it in love, because I really do care what people say on this board (otherwise I wouldn't be posting). Well, Shalom y'all.

When I stated, "Though I would rather see an ordinary sinner <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/doah.gif" alt="" /> play the part" I was being sarcastic. This was the purpose of the <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/doah.gif" alt="" /> However, I still would have rather seen a professing Christian actor play the part ... but they were probably at Disney World protesting <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/evilgrin.gif" alt="" />

Evil in any form is a problem. We must always keep before us the fact that homosexuals, like all of us, are sinners. Though their sin is manifesting itself in a different form than maybe some of us, none-the-less it is sin. Sometimes us redeemed no longer see ourselves as sinners! <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/drop.gif" alt="" /> We Christians have been some of the most horrible people in all civilizations hating by word, deed, and death certain races and sinners more than others, etc. If not but for the grace of God there go I.

I have read that 35% (app) of TV stars and TV celebrities, including newscasters, etc are or have engaged in homosexual relations sometime in their lives! Thus, though one watches little TV, no matter what we watch you are bound sooner or later to being watching a homosexual...... If we base everything we do on the types of sin of others do we will ex-communicate ourselves from society.

Just a thought - has sex outside of marriage become a normal sin? I wonder if the actors who portrayed the 3-4 other Christian missionaries in the movie are married or chaste.

Joe,


It is true that sin is sin. However, the few times in my life that I've been around a professing homosexual, I get an overwhelming desire to be somewhere else. It's obviously true that I am a homophobe and need serious P.C. counseling by Hollywood and the Democrats.

Still, when Scripture is brought forth we find this in 1 Cor 6:9-11;


Denny

Roms 3:22-24

Well, it is safe to say that if Hollywood would only cast nonsinners, there would be no movies and of course no Hollywood. However, I have just read an article that indictates that this Chad Allen is a gay activist.

Quote:
Every Tribe Entertainment chose a producer of gay films.
Chad Allen is co-producing a film called The Way Out, starring David Duchovny, about two old men who fall in love in an old folk’s home. He also started a company called Mythgarden. In August of 2005, he gave an interview to Scene magazine in which he expanded on Mythgarden’s plans. He said, “For television, we have a biography series of gay and lesbian heroes throughout history. We also have a wonderful series that takes classic fairy tales both familiar and lesser known and makes them gay. There's a fantastic book we optioned called Fairy Tales for Gay Men.” —from the Advocate

I have the article if you wish to pm me, I will send it to you.

Bo,

Let's face it how many movies have we seen that we know little of nothing about the actors personal life. Someone in this thread pointed out that the actor who played Eric Lindell in Chariots of Fire was gay. I saw the movie and I didn't even know that.

I've heard good things about the movie and read some interesting reviews as well. See below...



I found Allen's comments about the Saint family quite interesting. As Christians I'm sure the Saint family do not approve of his lifestyle choices but they still chose him for the part.


Wes

Wes I have to say this that if anything it has brought to the front Jim Elliot and the other four men and their commitment to the cause of Christ. I know that when I told some of the younger (in physical age) Christian friends of mine they didn't know who Elliot, or Saint was, Hopefully this will at least make them curious enough to read about these men and see what Christian men of passion can do. It may even awaken Christendom from this Laodicean lifestyle it is currently in.

I have always asked this question myself. Did Christ atone for this sin or not? What sins are the elect allowed to continue in and still be saved? This side of the grave will never be perfect. So if one is Justified and blameless in Christ, and they sin, why is homosexuality the sin of death?

I thought that this was a thoughtful response to the whole controversy.