The Global Community’s Impact on Christianity

NB: We do not resell your papers. Upon ordering, we do an original paper exclusively for you.

NB: All your data is kept safe from the public.

Table of Contents

Introduction
Discussion
Conclusion
References

Introduction

Many ways and methods have been used and developed by Christian denominations to supposedly “propagate” and “spread” the word of God. History has shown us how merciless these mercy-preaching mercenaries have been to thwart opposing beliefs and religions. Wars and conquests were brutally shouted on top of mountains and overseas “in the glory of God!”

Today, more peaceful and acceptable forms of preaching have evolved. Others have become commercialized, and still, others, controversial. Nevertheless, Christianity itself is still divided.

This paper shall try to find out the impact of Christianity today on the global community through the documentary film “Jesus Camp.”

Discussion

There are various reactions to the documentary film “Jesus Camp” by Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady. Jesus Camp is about a Pentecostal summer camp for children who spend their summers learning and practicing their so-called prophetic gifts. They were also taught that they can do something about present-day America for Christ. While the distributor claims it, “doesn’t come with any prepackaged point of view,” and tries to be “an honest and impartial depiction of one faction of the evangelical Christian community,” (Christian News Wire, 2006), other Christian “evangelical” communities have other points of view.

It is to be noted, however, that while the directors simply try to create an objective film about children and faith ring hollow in the earnestness and zeal with which the young people pictured attempt to live out their faith, may find that it appears that the children were unknowingly manipulated to cast evangelical Christianity in an unflattering light (Plugged In, 2007).

After viewing the film where Orso (2007) noted: “A pledge of allegiance that would make liberals pine for the days when ‘God’ was the only religious allusion in the pledge; Becky Fischer, the leader of the camp, setting the text ‘Punishment for sin is death in a bloody red script for a presentation to children; Children smashing mugs with ‘government’ written on them with hammers; and the blessing of a cardboard cut-out of President George W. Bush, he sought the view of another Evangelical friend David Best. Best pointed out that, “Most mainstream Evangelicals would agree with 40 or 60 percent of the words that were used in that film, with the world view that there is a devil, there is a god, and we are in a battle against (the devil). The big dicey question just within the Evangelical community is what does that look like? It’s not just about abortion and abortion,” Orso quoted.

It is worthy to note that “Jesus Camp” was nominated for the 2007 79th Annual Academy Award (Oscar) for Best Documentary Feature. It has been commented on by one passive film reviewer as “a nicely observed, if hardly revolutionary, documentary about a summer camp in North Dakota where pre-pubescent mini-Christians go to learn the evils of Harry Potter and abortion, and to sing along to catchy raps such as ‘JC is in da house!’ The film is mildly inflammatory but doesn’t tell you anything you didn’t already know about reactionary Middle American wackos,” (Maher, 2007).

One scene showed a girl walking up to a young woman in a bowling alley and hands her a Christian pamphlet and this was the same girl in another scene explaining how God is not in every church. Orso was a bit disconcerted and found it not just “aggressive proselytizing, but her I-have-all-the-answers attitude that unsettled me. Aren’t children naturally filled with wonder, not answers?”

There has been a lot of divisiveness that religious factions themselves claim to be “Biblical” so that those from the “outside” of these congregations become adamant, confused, and worst, rebellious. It also presents other “outsiders” such as Muslims in the worst possible light when it is considered a diverse religion and more disturbing when the media’s reach makes narrow religion seem to be the whole (Orso, 2007).

Orso’s friend Best added a very compelling message afterward that, “The missing element is love. It’s kind of a representation of Evangelicals, but what’s missing is love. Basically if the reader doesn’t want to stoop to the same level, then how do you respond to a film like that with love?” so that Orso joined in that “we need to focus more attention on communion, shalom, love and other edifying things.”

Evangelist Muller of Victory Christian Church at 118 Quail St, however, contends that “People say kids in the film were brainwashed, but they were just experiencing the touch of God. Kids aren’t phony, and unless there’s a passion cultivated with our children, we won’t see the mission of the Christian faith evolve and won’t see the world change,” (quoted from (Patterson, 2007).

Patterson suggested that featured evangelist Becky Fischer’s tactics have caused a stir inside and out of the religious community where some admire her commitment to promoting the ideals of Christianity and others contend she indoctrinates children into a right-wing political agenda.

Muller added that evangelists want to see children have a fair chance at life which they cannot get through the same old type of Sunday school but, “By offering a dynamic ministry conducive to the core of where they live, we get them thinking differently and understanding the love of God,” (quoted by Patterson, 2007).

One of the partakers in the film, New Life Church pastor Ted Haggard, also the head of the National Association of Evangelicals, however, commented after viewing the documentary that, “You] can learn as much about the Catholic Church from “Nacho Libre”. It does represent a small portion of the charismatic movement, but I think it demonizes it. Secularists are hoping that evangelical Christians and radicalized Muslims are essentially the same, which is why they will love this film.”

Conclusion

Given films such as Jesus Camp, it is necessary to understand that it is just one part of a big Christian whole. The manner of preaching and praise as well as indoctrinating of the children in the film, however, underscores the depth and grave misgivings about Christianity.

To speak about what history has taught us on “God, Gold and Glory” as the main reasons of colonial occupation that spelled deaths of the “pagans” and “gentiles”, as well as the continuing rift in the Middle East, undermines what real Christianity is all about.

Elsewhere in the Bible, it must be noted that John spoke of the act of love as knowing and practicing what God wants and that as mentioned by Best, the act of love is above all the chanting, above Becky Fisher and her methods as well as tactics, and way above politics.

Due to the narrow-mindedness of trying to understand everything about the words of God, conceptually through a book written by many men supposedly as dictated by God defeats the concept of what God is — omnipotent, all-knowing, perfect, etcetera.

It is therefore necessary that the only important and most consistent message on Christianity and the Bible must be propagated as understood by the human preacher so that a true meaning be derived and received. Otherwise, as Jesus Camp proves, any other approach will just divide camps, locally and globally.

References

Maher, Kevin (2007). “Limited only by their emotional baggage.” The (UK) Times p. 16
Orso, Joe (2007) Questions, answers and ‘Jesus Camp’La Crosse Tribune (WI); 2007
Patterson, Jennifer (2007). “Jesus Camp’ pastor to minister to kids: Evangelist will bring her fervor to Victory Christian Church for Saturday session.” Times Union (Albany, NY);
Christian NewsWire (2006). “Jesus Camp Distributors Adverse to Screening at Traverse: Michael Moore Ignores Request to Remove Documentary from Festival.”
Plugged In (2007). “Jesus Camp.” Focus on the Family.
Watts, Tom (2006). “Ewing believes in Jesus Camp.” Real Detroit Weekly.

Click Here To Order Now!

The Global Community’s Impact on Christianity

Do you need this or any other assignment done for you from scratch?

We have qualified writers to help you.

We assure you a quality paper that is 100% free from plagiarism and AI.

You can choose either format of your choice ( Apa, Mla, Havard, Chicago, or any other)