Review by Dana Chaffin

     Lord Save Us From Your Followers will be released on DVD April 20, 2010.  This is a humorous and insightful documentary about how America views Christians.  It answers the question, “Why is the gospel of love dividing America?”   The film does not add to the fight between “Us” vs. “Them”, but has a conversation with those who believe and oppose the Christian faith.  It is very entertaining and is meant to wake the Church up to see how others view our tactics.                     

“No one ever converted to Christianity because they lost the argument.”

  -Phillip Yancey, author, Rumors of Another World

Lord Save Us From Your Followers is a thought provoking documentary that demonstrates how Americans view Christianity.  It does not add fuel to the fire, but shows both sides and how their tactics are being viewed from the other side.  It is very surprising that statistics show that 9 out 10 Americans claim to be Christian.  So what’s all this “Cultural Wars” fighting about?  The writer/director, Dan Merchant, explains that a lot of the groups, in this so-called fight, cannot think outside their own beliefs.  Most are not willing to have a conversation with anyone from the other side, so we just shake our fists and scream our beliefs expecting to be heard.  I can not see any evidence that this is working.  People are talking about Christians from Politicians to athletes and preachers to students, but are they speaking of them positively?  This film uses interviews on the streets, with people opposing Christianity, with celebrities, and even an unusual confessional booth to show how each side sees the other.  It makes viewers stop and really think about how Christianity is being portrayed and is this how Jesus would approach it?  But some believe today there are so many issues – homosexuality, abortions, various other religions – how can we get our values across?  Through the interviews you will see that we are not doing it very well!  I think Dan Merchant says it best “I found that most people that have a problem with Christians don’t have a problem with Jesus!”

Lord Save Us From Your Followers is a must see for both Christians and non-Christians.  It does not condemn either side, but in fact shows how we can improve our relationships.  Isn’t that what Christianity is all about?  It proves that actions speak louder than words and that whoever screams the loudest does not win!  How did Jesus’ message of compassion, love, mercy, and empathy turn into fighting?  This film clarifies that as Christians we must act like Him!  Please visit www.lordsaveusthemovie.com to find out more information.               *Top

Malatya: A True Story of Modern Day Martyrs

Review by Dana Chaffin:

October 20, 2009 is the second DVD release date for the stunning documentary Malatya.  The film, which had an early release through Voice of the Martyrs on April 18th, 2009 in honor of the martyrs, is now releasing in its final form. 

This is a true story of persecution and perseverance.  Three Christian men were brutally tortured and murdered, in Malatya Turkey, for their faith in Jesus Christ.  It may be difficult for people to understand that Christians even today are beaten, raped, and killed for proclaiming Jesus. Many may read stories about martyrs, but to actually see that these men were real nowadays martyrs is dramatic. 

Like in America, Christians are not beaten for saying the name – Jesus. Their homes are not burned because they own a Bible.  Americans are free to attend public church services and they do not have to hide in the woods after dark for a Bible study, like in some countries.  However; if Christians everywhere do not stand up against this type of persecution, all countries may be affected.  The story of these men’s lives and how their families and fellow Christians are persevering is inspiring.  Also keep reading to find out how you can help persecuted Christians.

The Story

On April 18, 2007 three men were murdered in Turkey for no other reason than they were Christians.  The men murdered were Necati Aydin, 36, Ugur Yuksel, 32, and Tilmann Geske, 45.  Necati and Ugur were Turkish converts and Tilmann a German citizen.  The murderers were five young men 19 & 20 years old.  These young men had attended the Easter service with the men they would days later murder. 

The day of the murder, the murderers came to the office inquiring about Christ. Necati and Ugur talked with the boys for awhile and then they were attacked and bound. Each of the murderers carried a note saying “We did this for our country.  They were attacking our religion.”  What is so disturbing is that Turkey is less than 1% Christian and 99% Muslim.  In Turkey the meaning of being a Turk is to be a Muslim.  These men had their hands and feet bound, their heads slammed against a wall, and tortured with knives.  When the police arrived outside the office door, their throats were cut.  These men paid the ultimate price for serving God. 

Their families and fellow Christians have also suffered due to the loss of these wonderful men.  The strength and faith they show is inspirational.  They continue to have church services and welcome newcomers even though they are at risk.  The story of one of their children wanting to tell the murderers about Christ is touching.  The families understand that their loss is not in vain.  These great men are like seeds for the Turkish church.

What can you do?

Get Involved!  Be aware and inform others that this kind of slaughter happens and we must get involved to help our fellow Christians.  Most of all PRAY for those persecuted and their families. 

Learn to pray for the Turkish Christians by viewing the special features on the DVD, there is a visual/audio prayer guide.  At the website www.malatyafilm.com you can download a 30 day prayer guide.

The Voice of the Martyrs is a non-profit organization that helps persecuted Christians around the world.  They offer many programs and ways that you can help those that are being persecuted and their families.  Check out their website www.persecution.com to find out about their various programs.

The Malatya movie will highlight the truth on October 20, 2009 that murders happen just because one is a Christian.  The world will see the courageous story of these men who gave their lives for Christ. Be encouraged by how the families are continuing and not giving up after their loss.  Sadly these men are not the first or last to die for their belief in Christ.  You can purchase the documentary online at www.malatyafilm.com, www.familychristianmovies.com or www.vombooks.com.

‘Expelled’ was a fascinating presentation of how Darwinism dominates academia to such a degree that no alternative thought is presently allowed. The picture documents how some who merely mention ‘Intelligent design’ have been attacked and even dismissed from their teaching or research positions.

The film host, Ben Stein, who is Jewish, asserts in the documentary that Darwin and evolutionist theory actually paved the way for the atrocities of the Holocaust.

The most interesting part of the film was an interview with famous atheist Richard Dawkins.  Dawkins makes a comment that he’s 99 percent certain there’s no God. Ben Stein latches on to that number and replies, “Why not 97%?, why not49%?”. Stein continues until an exasperated Dawkins concedes: 

“Maybe there is an intelligent designer. But if there is, I can guarantee that that intelligent designer is a life form that evolved elsewhere and came to earth and seeded life here.”

So that’s his major concession to the ID camp? If there is an ‘intelligent designer’ than it was an ‘alien’ who evolved somewhere else in the universe? So there you have it, Dawkins believes in aliens but not God.

The film is an important contribution to the dialogue on Intelligent Design and one that should not be missed either in the theater or on DVD.            *Top

This was a very slick and well produced piece of film making. Good camera work and editing with built in suspense at the commercial breaks, and 2 hours of well written script sustained by great graphics and realistic dramatization. There was a lot of money put into this work and it really showed. Normally 2 hours would be a bit much for a documentary of this nature, but these film makers are among the best and interest is maintained to the very end.

Now for the bad news, and I do believe that this production was bad news. So far I haven’t found one archaeologist or early Christian scholar who believes that this might really be a tomb of the famous Jesus family. On camera they present experts which seem to support some of their contentions, but they have merely edited out most of their negative comments.
Cameron and Jacobovici present their case with incredible graphics and impressive dramatization and all the ‘evidence’ seems so compelling. However, they only present evidence which seems to support their theories; they never present any of the overwhelming evidence against them. Can this work really be called a ‘documentary’? Usually documentaries loosely follow some of the basic rules of investigative journalism, this work doesn’t. This is really more of a ‘docu-drama’.

This work is a one-sided affair which uses dramatization to support some supposed ‘facts’ while leaving out important information which would diminish the effect. For example: They present Mary Magdalene as an ‘Apostle’ and a ‘Master’ and show a short drama with her preaching and ministering. All the while they are citing the ‘Acts of Phillip’ as the primary source.

They do not tell their viewers that the ‘Acts of Phillip’ was a late Gnostic work of the late 3rd or even early 4th century that reflects the Gnostic movement of the 3rd century rather than on any historical facts or real characters of the 1st century. Nor do they relay to the audience that most scholars believe that the Mariamene in that work is probably referring to Phillips sister and not Mary Magdalene.

That is just one example of the many important facts that were left out. In addition, the docu-drama was full of outright speculations which have no real basis in historical fact. There was more drama and fantasy in this supposed documentary than actual archaeology.

For a detailed exploration of some of the problems and inaccuracies see: The three posts on Ben Witherington’s Blog.

*Top

The following is the best review of the film that I have read, including a discussion of the issues from a Christian perspective.  It was written by Rich Tatum for Christianity Today:

http://www.christianitytoday.com/movies/commentaries/brainwashed.html

Also: -See Rich’s blog (BlogRodent) for more articles and observations about the film.

*Top

During the National Geographic documentary on the ‘Gospel of Judas’, shown Sunday night (National Geographic Channel), several of the scholars, including Bart Ehrman & Elaine Pagels, made the claim that the four NT Gospels may have led to the holocaust.  With scenes from the Nazi death camps as a backdrop, these scholars explained how the historical linkage of Judas with the Jews, and the negative treatment of Judas & Jewish religious leaders in the NT Gospels, may have seeded the ground that grew ‘The Holocaust’.  Several Jewish scholars over the years have made such claims, and recently when the movie ‘The Passion’ came out similar concerns were voiced.

However, one must remember that Jesus & the disciples were all Jewish and worshipped in Jewish Synagogues & at the Jewish Temple.  They did not oppose the Jewish religion, but did oppose the Jewish leaders of the 1st century and their contemporary teachings and interpretations.  The writers of the Gospels were merely defending their own understanding of ‘true’ religion & their sect against the contemporary Jewish leadership.  Later generations misinterpreted some of the texts and used them in persecuting the Jewish people.  The original writers would undoubtedly be horrified to see how their writings were quoted and misused.

After WWII, Christian Leaders & Theologians have addressed these incorrect interpretations.  The NT Gospels must be interpreted in their 1st century context.  In that context, they are not anti-Semitic nor can they be.

*Note-Historical Fact:  The Dialectical Materialism, Feuerbach, & especially Nietzsche, provided the philosophical underpinnings for the Nazi Movement.  Also, Hitler was known to be heavily into the ‘occult’ and was not sympathetic to Christianity.

*Top