"End of the Spear" Controversy

I read Through Gates of Splendor, by Elisabeth Elliot, many years ago, and the story has stayed with me. It's the same story as the one told in the new movie, "End of the Spear," except that Through Gates of Splendor is the story of Jim Elliot, and End of the Spear looks like it's the story of Nate Saint. Both were missionaries who were killed together in Ecuador.

The people at my church who have heard of this movie are excited about having a Christian-sympathetic movie to see. But then this controversy came up, as reported in today's WorldNetDaily.

The actor who plays Nate Saint is a gay activist, and some Christians are upset. Blogger Jason Janz, of Sharper Iron, has blogged about it, excerpting from an article that appeared in the The Advocate, a magazine that deals with gay issues. In addition, WND reports, "Ingrid Schlueter, co-host and producer for the Christian radio show "Crosstalk," heard on 85 stations nationwide, says listeners are upset about Allen's role. "

Here's my question: What's more important, the message of a movie, or the actors conveying that message?

If it's the actors, then it was right to raise a stink over Memoirs of a Geisha using Chinese actresses to play Japanese women. And somebody should have objected to Kate Winslet playing an American woman in Titanic. And the director of Vertical Limit should be ashamed of himself for using a Sudanese man to play a Sikh from the Indian sub-continent. Oh, and don't forget that Linda Hunt played a man in The Year of Living Dangerously.

And if it's the actors, then straight people should rush right out to watch Brokeback Mountain, because Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal are both straight.

But it's not the actors who matter, except for how well they portray their roles. The message is what counts. And that's why I won't be seeing Brokeback Mountain or Syriana, or Constant Gardener, or Munich, or any of the other movies that Hollywood likes to call "important."

And that's why I will be seeing the End of the Spear.

Here's another question: How will gay activists ever come in contact with the love of Christ that Christians are always talking about, if those same "loving" Christians keep shoving gays away?

From the WorldNetDaily article:

Nate Saint's son Steve Saint, who served as a producer, a stunt pilot and had a bit part in the film, believes it was God's plan to have Allen in "End of the Spear," according to Agape Press.
Saint admitted, however, he was shocked when he learned Allen was homosexual.

"I could feel physical pain," he recalled, "thinking [that] somebody that lives a lifestyle like that is going to depict my dad."

But after further reflection, he began to see Allen's involvement might be God-ordained.

Some Christians might be offended by Allen's role, Saint realized, but "I thought, 'What happens if I stand before God someday and He says to me, "Steve, I went out of my way to orchestrate an opportunity for Chad Allen to see what it would be like to live as your father did."' And then I could picture Him looking at me and saying, 'Steve, why did you mess with my plan?'"

We need to quit getting hung up on the stupid, pointless details and start focusing on what's important--not a Hollywood kind of important, but a God kind of important.

Five missionaries went to Ecuador to share the love of Christ with a tribe that was slowly destroying itself. And though the tribe destroyed these five men, Christ's love ultimately saved the tribe.

I'm going to go see it. I hope you do too.