Who Qualified This Curriculum?
Monday morning is the time I set aside to read the mail that passes across my desk during the week. In all honesty, a great deal of the letters and catalogs I receive wind up in the garbage before I break the seal. Yet on some days, my curiousity gets the better of me and I open things I know will make me cringe. Today was one of these days.One does not have to survey the evangelical landscape long to discover that no true safeguards exist to monitor the publishing of Bible study curriculum. Indeed, it would be near impossible to create a system within publishing houses to filter out substandard materials. Yet the lack of discernment displayed by some well known publishers is truly staggering. The decision-makers in these companies should know better.
The day is coming (and is here) where the only qualifier for Christian publishing is to have a scripture verse somewhere in the text. It does not matter if that verse is a trivial part of the study; it is equally unimportant to examine the author's exegesis of that verse. The only thing that matters is the marketability of the product.
This is the only explanation for why a major publishing company has deemed director Ridley Scott worthy of leading a Bible study. In a new series entitled "God and the Arts", Serendipity House is putting forth a new curriculum based on watching Hollywood films. Groups are encouraged to meet to enjoy dinner and a movie...and then discuss Biblical truth found within these movies. In the first installment, Finding Jesus in the Movies, members are encouraged to sit and watch as Ridley Scott "teaches" members about the Bible through his movie "Gladiator." (Note: Ridley Scott is not a part of this study...I refer only to him as a teacher in the fact that his "artwork" is to teach people gathered for a Bible study.)
The inherent faults with this idea are too numerous to mention, so let me just note a few:
1.) Though it is not stated, the primary "textbook" for students is a secular film instead of the
word of God. All our society needs is another excuse to abandon the primacy of God's word
to seek for truth in other sources.
2.) As much as the author of this study tries to inject illustrations of Biblical truth into the film,
the primary message of these films is not Biblical. "Gladiator" is primarily about a man who
lives to exact revenge for the atrocities committed against his family. This is directly
opposed to what scripture teaches on this subject.
3.) To sit around and discuss what truths we see within a particular film clip is highly subjective,
and causes people to view truth as experiential rather than objective.
These are just my initial thoughts...the problem goes so much deeper. I guess it simply pains me to see our convention fight for the inerrancy of the word of God only to deem that this inerrant truth is not worthy of our primary focus. With that being said, it is our responsibility as Christians to pray for our brothers in Christ as they select and print curriculum for our churches to use in discipling members. In love, we must seek and encourage our publishing houses to search out writers who love the deep things of God.
posted by Eric @ 7:34 PM
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