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I struggle with Driscoll's approach as if Satan is only involved in the blatant. I've always believed that the blatant is easier to deal with because it's right there in front of you. It's the subtle things Satan is involved in that are more difficult to discern. I wonder what is okay to watch according to Mark Driscoll; Desperate Housewives, violent movies, UFC, R-rated...????? Wonder what's on all those Tivos he's got at home.

I saw Avatar, honestly I didn't see anything in it that was 'anti-Christian' in a sense where they are bashing us. I really don't agree with Driscoll at all but if that's they way he feels then that's the way he feels.

I did however notice a lot of maybe anti-war on terror themes (i could be wrong). Almost as if James Cameron portrayed america as the villian against the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. He also seems to be into letting other cultures live they way they want without us changing it, and also a guy whose big on going 'green'.

These are just things that I saw in the movie, but as far as it being an attack on Christians I really didn't see that, so it didn't bother me.

Only question left now is, whose would be willing to be a missionary to these people if they truly did exist? haha. Awesome movie.

Driscoll is wrong in his interpretation of Avatar. I saw Avatar and liked it. I saw the movie back in a 2D version in 1990. It was called Dances With Wolves! ;-) .

Though I liked the way the visuals worked, and I don't think Driscoll got it when "tech" was able to connect to the "natural" by the Avatar. He still looks at the world through Roman eyes. He cannot see that the world is what it is, and is perfect.

Personally, Avatar is just another James Cameron Big Extravaganza, worth the price of admission and points out how we confuse our lives with war.

A better movie IMHO is "The Book of Eli". But that is just me.

loved Book of Eli!

I must say that i loved Avatar, it moved me to tears (both times i saw it) and in fact it even inspired a blog post (http://darylhb.blogspot.com/2010/03/you-get-more-...

Some points it really drove home for me:

(1) How much respect do we show and how much responsibility do we take for the care of the breathtakingly beautiful creation God's placed under our dominion? (Genesis 1:28)
(2) How willing are we to stand up against the injustice displayed against those weaker (or with less powerful weapons) than ourselves? (e.g. James 1:27)
(3) How do we really view people who are "different" to us (and how different are they really)?
(4) Do we really have faith to ask God for what seems impossible?

I think that, as Christians, we have the ability to see the world and things of the world - be it art, film or the written word - through eyes that are spiritually aware.

Sure, there are certain things that we should stay completely clear of, but at the same time, all people - whether they believe in Jesus or not - have been created in God's image. EVERY person has pure desires and visions that spring from what they were intended to be.

To me, there are many "worldly" films, like Avatar, that contain examples of this. Instead of being critical of media without religious themes, we should be able to identify the positive aspects and take lessons from it, as well as appreciate the God-given gifts and talents that created the art.
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Bam - http://aarondelay.com/blog/religion/2010/03/march...

This is sad..

I loved the movie Avatar.. where their some pagan themes? sure! Do I agree or believe in them? Nope!

I think as Christians its so easy to demonize and condemn, than it is to simply practice wisdom and discernment. When we contrast things in black and white we don't have to use our minds or gifts to filter. I think it's being spiritually lazy to jump up on a soap box and condemn things like the movie Avatar. A bit ridiculous...

I love the Truth and guard it dearly, and strive to live it with integrity.. However God has given me wisdom and understanding through His word.. and also the knowledge to be able to "enjoy" life without compromising Christs witness in our lives.
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I love the effects. The plot... well... just watch Pocahontas or Dance of the Wolves as they said.

Yes, it is definitely demonic. No matter how we try to justify it, we can't water that down.

Whether people should watch it, it should be up to them to see for themselves. Then they should see what the lies are and would search for the truth. Our job is to preach the Good News and to follow Christ and not to bash a movie. Yes, we can bash a movie but then... is it worth the time? Is it beneficial or is there something else better to do other than that?

ehhh...I have to say that although I do enjoy some of Driscoll's teachings, I don't agree w/his 'sermon' against the film. I understand as Christians we must be cautious of what we listen to and/or watch, but seriously take the movie for what it is. When I watched the movie, I wasn't sitting there like wow this is so demonic-yes they worshiped nature,etc, but it's fiction. And I agree with bcrab about the Star Wars thing or Star Trek or Harry Potter...I definitely feel like it's too harsh. Wait he has two home theater systems and three tivo's...lol.

while fiction, it gets those that are "baby Christians" to look at it and begin to wonder if all the paganism involved within the movie is compatible with and equal to Christianity. the new age aspect of the movie degrades our faith to the point of moral relativism that is destroying the church today. Star Wars is not as overt. Harry Potter, while i have seen the movies, is about magic and sorcery. what did the bible say about that?

PAX
JD

I do see what you're saying, and it's true..we have to draw the line and set an example. Yet, I think this can also be a turn-off to new Christians as well....there's so many more important and pertinent issues to be discussed and done, and to have a 'fire and brimstone" sermon against the film seems a little too much to me. I understand what Driscoll is saying about the movie, but he could have said it in a less intimidating and critical way. Also, he had to watch the movie to come to that conclusion...why not let others do the same?

I have to agree with Driscoll. While the movie was really cool, it makes light of the importance of God in nature and all things. The moral relativism of the Christian church is tearing us apart and allowing Satan to get a continued foothold in churches and people that don't truly understand what it means to "live in the world and not be of the world."

"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." - 1John 2:15

“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you." - John 15:18-19

Try this article on for size. A little older, but still relevant: http://bit.ly/b1vfCX

Being aware of Satan's hold on this world and fighting against his lies is not intolerance and conservatism, it is Christianity.

PAX
JD

I saw it. I loved it. I intend to see it again.

Mark Driscoll scares me more than Avatar did. His intolerance and conservatism are exactly what a church needs to continue and increase dissension amongst its people...

Agreed!
It's one thing to warn people about a movie (or anything) so they go in with with wisdom, knowing what to expect but it's another thing altogether to simply condemn something as demonic with no room for God to actually use it (and God is totally using that movie!)
Of all the things to get fired up about, he chooses a movie! Of all things! *facepalm*

I'll probably watch it again, too! :)

good stuff

I saw Avatar and I wouldn't have said it was that bad but you WILL see what you want to see in it.
If you are easily offended and if anything other than blatant Christian theology equals blatant paganism, then yes...that's what you'll find.
If you see it as a parable then it changes lots of things.

I agree that there was an agenda behind the movie (the same old "humans a destroying the planet" type stuff) but if you can watch it without your first reaction being offense, you might get more out of it.

In the end, you can't say anything of Avatar that you wouldn't say about Star Wars, and most Christians are happy with that despite a few 'pagan' themes here and there.

good point

I haven't seen Avatar yet so I can't comment....yet. This won't keep me from seeing it but I'll probably watch through a different lens now.
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well, you should definitely see it and let me know what you think