Several years ago, a young writer in Hollywood was asked to adapt the Gospel of Luke into a screenplay for Warner Bros. He agreed, was paid a meager sum for his work, and went on his way. That script became "The Jesus Film," and it has gone on to become the most viewed film in all of recorded history. The screenwriter's name was Barnet Bain.
Later in his career, Barnet Bain met Stephen Simon, and they formed a production company, "Metafilmics," with the sole purpose of making spiritual films for a broader audience. Their first endeavor, "What Dreams May Come" was a modest hit. But it rode on a wave of similar films, including "City of Angels," "Meet Joe Black," "The Truman Show," and "Contact."
What is the appeal of films like these? Why do the studios keep making them? And why do they consistently find an audience? Because they all deal with what I call the Ultimate Issues: Life, Death, Heaven, Hell, Sin, Redemption, Free Will, and Divine Sovereignty.
At our last meeting of THE DECODER RING, we watched "What Dreams May Come" and marveled at the astounding visual effects in the film, and the beautiful 19th Century-inspired paintings. We struggled through the heavy emotions the actors portrayed on screen.
We discovered that the concepts and visuals in the film stemmed from Dante's "The Divine Comedy," the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, and the spiritism of the novel's author, Richard Matheson. And we learned that the most direct influence on the film came from its two producers, Barnet Bain and Stephen Simon. At the end of our screening we took a refreshingly long time to pray for everyone involved in the film, especially for these two men, who have seeking hearts but have been led astray.
People look around at their all too brief life on this planet and wonder why they are here, who God is, and what happens to them when they die. They might even look to movies like this for answers. It is my hope that by comparing the incomplete and inconsistent messages in this film with God's Word, that we can gird ourselves up in the truth, and help them to know Jesus.
Despite the beauty, emotion, and tragedy of "What Dreams May Come," the film does not proclaim the real truth about God, his plan for our lives, or the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. What it offers is an earthbound heaven, a silent and distant God, and an uncertain eternity.
My prayer is that we bring friends and neighbors who are seeking God to our screenings. That we honor the filmmakers by giving their work the best presentation possible. And that we use the words of the Bible along with the points of connection in each film to "gently instruct" (2 Timothy 2:25) people who want to know Him.
THE DECODER RING isn't a "saints only" club. It's for everyone. I pray God will continue to use this movie ministry to reach out to the Industry, that we consistently pray for people in the entertainment community, and that we become firmly rooted in author and finisher of our faith, the one and only Lord Jesus Christ.
See you next time!
