You want a character debate, Bob?

THE DECODER RING made a triumphant return last Saturday night! With all the issues, crises and controversies bombarding us these days, we were reminded how important it is to let God do the leading.

We watched "The American President" and were swept into the high profile world of politics. A popular president is up for re-election when he shakes the status quo by dating a lobbyist and refusing to engage attacks on his character. He's a widower, raising a daughter on his own, and is likable, friendly, and smooth. But as the attacks come from his political opponent, the issues all boil down to character.

We delved into the inspiration for the movie (the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal), and the intentions of both Director Rob Reiner and Screenwriter Aaron Sorkin, who make no secret about their Liberal political affiliations.

I wanted to steer away from politics (which just tends to make people angry) and center on the one scene in the movie that almost seems like an afterthought. On their third "date," the woman the president is seeing comes to visit him at the White House. He tells her about his plan for their relationship: "We're going to slow down." When he turns around, she is standing next to the bed, wearing only his shirt. After some clever dialogue, they kiss and sleep together (off-screen).

Just as this scene ends, the movie cuts to the president's political opponent, who in a disparaging tone, sternly promotes "family values." This scene typifies two things in our culture. One, that premarital sex is now considered a given. And two, that people who speak up for modesty and character are dismissed and/or negatively portrayed in the media.

Now my original plan for the study was to focus on what the Bible says about sexual purity and his parameters for physical intimacy. While that is certainly an important topic, God had other plans for the evening.

We evaluated selected scenes from some of Mr. Sorkin's other works, all of which center around characters identifying themselves as believers in Jesus Christ. Despite how these characters are treated in the narrative, it's obvious that the conflict between Christians and Politics is foremost on Sorkin's mind. What's curious is how in his later projects he gives Christian characters ample screen time to defend and express themselves.

The Lord took hold of the evening and guided us to focus our prayers specifically for Aaron Sorkin, that he would be saved and his incredible talent would be redeemed in service to the Lord.

Do not despair. God is moving in Hollywood. The cultural climate is revealing where people stand on a variety of issues. And God is still in the business of changing hearts and minds. Remember,

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise,
as some understand slowness.
He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish,
but everyone to come to repentance.
2 PETER 3:9

Amen. See you Saturday, October 25th at the next DECODER RING!