Email of the Day

For what it’s worth, I posted a response at CT Movies to all of those readers who wrote in to tell me that I will be severely judged by the Lord because of my earlier-posted article, in which I argued that profanity is sometimes an appropriate element in art.

But not all of the responses to the article were negative.

This letter was one of several that came in expressing gratitude for the article. And this writer’s sentiments were especially encouraging to me, because he’s an aspiring filmmaker wrestling with questions of artistic integrity, trying to engage the culture in a way consistent with Christ’s example.

Jeffrey Overstreet-

This morning, like most mornings, I searched the Internet for articles to post on the website for which I work (a Christian website geared at pastors). And every morning, I come across articles that blow my mind…in a bad way. I find myself seeking out non-Christian news sources just to get a somewhat balanced view because most Christian sites and articles are simply finger-pointing, judgmental diatribes against the state of our culture.

Needless to say, when I came across your article this morning, I was thrilled beyond words.

It is so refreshing to read an article on a Christian site by someone who gets it. I am an aspiring filmmaker, hoping to make it big in Hollywood some day soon. And instead of making more “Left Behind” movies, I am taking the “Roaring Lambs” path (Bob Briner book from several years back), hoping to be a Christian who can impact the industry from the inside. Instead of making movies where everyone gets out their Bibles and discusses Scripture, I want to reveal the hope of our faith through stories of redemption and grace.

And yes, they might even have a “bad word” every once in a while, but like you said, some people (even Christians) use foul language from time to time. That’s reality.

When people raise an eyebrow to my dream of making movies, I remind them that Jesus went to the prostitutes, tax collectors and “rejects” and met them in their world. And He never suggested that we create a Christian subculture (repeating my favorite part of your article).

I realize this is a rather long email, and that you probably haven’t even read this far, but if you have, please know that you have made my day. I fully support your commentary, and am so encouraged that you would step out on a limb and challenge your readers’ beliefs. We need more writers like you, who understand that Christianity can’t be lived behind closed gates, shut-off to the outside world.

God bless you, and please continue to seek the truth, and speak it out.

Even if it isn’t the most popular argument.