The Selfish (And Arrogant) Christian Screenwriter

I just want to make a public confession in today’s blog with the fact that for the longest time I had a very clear idea of what movies I was going to make and how they were going to affect the audience. However, after today’s humbling class, I realize that I have been going about this the wrong way. What Professor Leeper said was true. You cannot make an audience respond, act, and change in a certain way.

I have now learned that I can present material in my films that offers audiences the chance to change, but ultimately, it is up to God and the audience for that change to be accepted. I admit that I have been somewhat of an arrogant Christian in the past. I was up on my “pedestal” thinking that I knew everything that was right and that I could “fix” people.

I was wrong.

The truth is that I can only make the introduction to the material that may change an audience. I will always strive to make God honoring films, but they will not be filled with heavy preaching, Bible beating, and arrogant Christian attitudes. Hearing “The Selfish Giant” today made me realize that it is very possible to incorporate wonderful Christian messages into stories that everyone loves. This is my new focus, and I think it was knowledge toward which God was leading me.

From now on, I am going to create stories that everyone will want to watch, not just Christians. No more will my screenplays be filled with “inspirational” speeches laced with Christian theology, but rather, the scripts will contain entertaining tales with important underlying messages such as love your neighbor, don’t lust, and avoid selfishness.

By no means have I given up on putting God into the film industry. However, with this new perspective I feel I will be far more effective in reaching out to the audiences that need to hear these stories.