There’s an old saying, Everybody likes to complain about the weather, but they don’t do anything about it.
Well, this idea is also true about the mass media – a lot of people like to complain about it, but few people do anything about it, including politicians. This is not true, however, of the staff and supporters of MOVIEGUIDE? and the Christian Film & Television Commission?.
For 21 years, we have been working diligently to redeem the values of the entertainment industry and the mass media, to take back territory for God from the Adversary, Satan, who has long tried to control that industry so that he can corrupt the thoughts and behavior of millions of people and turn them away from the love and mercy of their Creator.
God commands mankind in Genesis 1:28 to establish benevolent dominion over the earth and turn the wilderness into a garden for our descendants. This is exactly what we have been doing at the Annual MOVIEGUIDE? Faith & Values Awards Gala and Report to the Entertainment Industry, which will celebrate its 15th year this Tuesday evening at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif.
The Gala has had a tremendous success over the years.
Last year, more than 125 top decision makers in Hollywood were among the 450 celebrities, religious and political leaders, and entertainment industry workers attending the event.
Since we began the Gala, the number of movies marketed to families each year has increased to 100 movies or more. Also, the number of movies with positive Christian content that lift up Jesus Christ instead of cursing Him has increased from only 10 percent to 50 percent or more.
As the apostles and disciples of Jesus Christ showed in the first and second century, and as William Wilberforce and his friends showed in the last century when they reformed morals and abolished slavery in England, a few good people can change the world. To quote Edmund Burke, “Evil will triumph if good men do nothing.”
Why have we had such a tremendous impact with so few soldiers?
Well, to return to the garden metaphor, creating and taking care of a garden, especially a spiritual garden, requires some pruning, prayer and lots of love. It also requires the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
As Jesus Christ told his followers in John 15:1-6 and 9-12, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. . . . As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”
Thus, when all is said and done, all the success that we have had in Hollywood with MOVIEGUIDE?, the Commission and the Faith & Values Awards Gala and Annual Report belongs to God. It is He whom we serve.
Thus, my word to you today is not only to join us in taking back Hollywood for God and Jesus Christ, but also to use the love that is in Christ Jesus (the true vine) to take back territory regarding other issues, such as the fight to redeem the values of the Middle East, land of so much strife and consternation, and the fight to stop abortion, socialism, radical feminism, moral relativism, and secular humanism, five of the greatest evils defiling this wonderful land that we call America.
If William Wilberforce could reform his society, then so can we reform our society. The lives, health and well-being of our children and grandchildren demand it.
Related special offer:
Order Ted Baehr’s “MOVIEGUIDE?: The Family Guide to Movies & Entertainment” at WND’s online store.
Ted Baehr and Tom Snyder are founder and editor, respectively, of “MOVIEGUIDE?: The Family Guide to Movies & Entertainment.”
