Recently I've been hearing a lot about this movie coming out called "The Golden Compass". I don't have a tv or get the newspaper and don't really listen the radio so newswise I'm relatively far behind the curve. In light of that I've been hearing about this mostly through the conservative christians in the church I've been going to as well as facebook groups bearing the titles liks "Boycott the Golden Compass", "DON'T support the Golden Compass" or "Boycott the Golden Compass: An attack on Christianity" asking for my support.
I never really agreed with this sentiment towards the movie, but I think I finally pinned down the core of the issue for me. A lot of people that I've talked to or heard from who are upset about this act almost as if this movie is a surprise. As if it is a shock that someone would oppose Christ and his message. And it seems to me that as a follower of Christ, we should be the least surprised. Jesus promised this kind of stuff, Peter and Paul both went through it and promised it as well.
It's not the feeling of surprise that gets me, but it seems like a lot of believers are feeling threatened by this movie (and that's all it is a is a movie). I don't know if they've read the bible or not, but satan himself can't destroy God's kingdom, let alone an atheist children's author. And if you're not able to take a step back from your faith and wrestle with it, then I think you've got bigger problems than an anti-God movie.
One of the big beefs I've been hearing about this is how it's marketed and aimed at kids. Sure, this may not be something you want to sit your kid down in front of and leave it at that. But I think it's a great way start dialogue with your kid (especially if your kid already know Jesus) and start letting the kid grow their own faith. People put the Narnia stories up on their pedastol because they are "christian", but really the Narnia stories are in the same boat as this compass deal, they're all just stories. Narnia can't and should not replace the Gospel. We worship Jesus, not Aslan.
As christians, we have the advantage: we know we will be challenged, and we know who wins in the end. With those out of the way, perhaps retaliating isn't the answer. My two cents: don't worry about the movie, or it's message. It's nothing new. Use it as a discussion point with your neighbour. Use it help your own faith grow. Anti groups and boycotts put walls up between us and the people we are to minister to. That's what satan wants, walls, not movies, but walls between people and Jesus' love.
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