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First Look: Christian Leaders Speak Out About The Noah Movie
After my original blog post recommending Christians see Paramount Pictures upcoming movie Noah, and subsequent interviews in the national media, the studio called and asked our production company, Cooke Media Group to create a short video feature with Christian leaders talking about the movie. All of these leaders have seen the film, and after the short video, keep watching for a series of quotes about the film from additional respected pastors and ministry leaders:
Great video Phil. I’m really looking forward to seeing this.
Great stuff!! Cant wait to see it!
Amazing video. I hope believers and non-believers will give this movie a fair chance.
Nice video, very inspiring. Can’t wait to see the movie.
Thanks for making this video Cooke Media. But my problem, as a Christian woman, is why was it so unbalanced? You made sure to include a plethora of male perspectives, and only ONE woman on camera, versus the 8 or 9 men interviewed. Then in the quotes at the end of the video you only included 3 female quotes (one of which was Karen Covell who already appeared in the video earlier). Last time I checked ‘Noah’ wasn’t just marketed at men, and neither is Christianity! This is the problem with a lot of people complaining about Christianity being “outdated”, because the “old white male” mentality exists heavily in religious circles. Perhaps you should be thinking about the other half of the population of the world and recognize that there is an inherent problem within film and TV because men like you don’t care to see how unfair and unbalanced it is. I hope your next video where you show a range of quotes and whatnot from various “leaders” will include far more women. That is all.
Great question, and we didn’t select all of the participants. I do know many more people (both men and women) wanted to be interviewed, but because of the deadline we couldn’t work out the schedule. But your point is always a concern and very well put. Thanks for posting!
Thank you for the response, I really appreciate it 🙂
cool… I want to go see the movie now… Thanks for posting this… I have linked to the video on my Facebook and Twitter. Let’s get the word out…
As long as they maintain the biblical truth, then I will not judge till I see the entire movie, God allow characters in the bible to be whom he wanted them to be, we cannot add what God has not presented.
Have already said several times I can’t wait. I. CAN’T. WAIT!!
Phil, nice job! The critics were wanting to throw the whole thing out for a few deviations. Can’t wait to see it!
Here’s another good perspective on the movie I hadn’t seen before:
http://thefederalist.com/2014/03/21/8-reasons-the-faithful-should-get-over-themselves-and-give-the-noah-movie-a-chance/
Great promo. I’ll be seeing it at the premiere in Sydney this Thursday evening.
“Noah is the least biblical film ever made. I don’t give a F**K about the test scores“ ~ Darren Oronosky, Paramount Producer of Noah
Actually William, his quote about it being the “least Biblical film ever made” is actually a misquote. The director said “the least biblical biblical film ever made” as in new, different, expectation breaking, not a sandal-and-donkey movie like we’ve seen in the past. He said this in a New Yorker article – the original source. That’s hardly the same thing as the incorrect quote attributed to him. His quote about the test scores was about wanting to make an original film, not something cookie-cutter or that everyone was expecting.
Nonsense. Any man who openly blasphemies the Name of God as this man has done in both this movie and his previous works of disgrace is the very reason we Christians are told to have NOTHING to do with these workers of wickedness. Phil, I heard you, during a radio interview, admit that Aronosky was “upset” when he made that quote. Now is not the time to water-down the implications of this movie for babes in Christ or non-believers who will be “taught” a twisted version of God’s absolute truths in the Genesis account.
I assume you know it “blasphemes” because you’ve actually seen the movie?
Phil? have we ever met face to face? I do trust that you exist. If then, trusted Christian leaders who have seen the movie are warning against it – we should be taking careful heed of their warnings. Detractors of this movie, which include me, are more concerned with our Lord and Great God and His doctrines of Truth being twisted and perverted by the likes of godless unregenerate haters like Aronosky. By the way, the Genesis account has never been about saving the animals but rather, saving those whom follow after God rather than this wicked world. Thank you for allowing me to post… time to get back to engaging the lost – by keeping the cookies on the bottom shelf where the kids can get at ’em.
I appreciate you posting, but it sounds like you haven’t seen the video above and watched the quotes after it’s over of the respected Christian leaders who are supporting the film and encouraging Christians to see it. You might give that a look…
And, whom are these “respected leaders” you speak of? The folks at NRB? You? Me? Ray Comfort (Who disdains the misrepresentations you are embracing)? How about THE Leader Himself, the Captain of our Faith – Jesus Christ. Was it not He who warned His children about joining in with the workers of inequity? Perhaps it’s time for you my friend, to come out from Hollywood’s moral morass and put your producing talents to work glorifying the Christ versus the man, Aronosky. (James 1:27) … time to get “unspotted” by the things of this world. Just saying…
Good thing Joseph didn’t listen to your advice… 🙂
Check out the video and see who the leaders are for yourself. Focus on the Family, American Bible Society, The Salvation Army, just to name a few…
You’re using circular reasoning to get around the obvious Phil. Joseph did NOT go to Egypt willingly (to engage the lost). No. He was forced there by the hand of God. As far as modern day “church leaders” are concerned; they are NOT the superstars the Apostle Paul said we are NOT to follow but rather, those teachers who handle the Word of God with maturity AND discernment – knowing the difference between good and evil…. It is very troubling to me how the modern day media moguls (christian and non-Christian alike) are going to justify misrepresentations of the Bible. No. I am going to forego this godless movie and instead, read the Genesis account of Noah and flood for myself. And then… I am going to go out and get Ray Comfort’s version of Noah… at least, he is making an effort to retain the Gospel in the story of the flood.
Cool. You do what you think best. I have no beef with that. In the meantime, hundreds of very serious believers are working everyday in that place you despise trying to make a change from within. Please consider praying for that effort.
I have a constant burden for true believers working in such a godless environment. Nevertheless Phil, no change will ever happen from within the ranks of Hollywood – for Christians are NOT called to that task. We are though, called to preach the Gospel of Christ to the lost (even in Hollywood) that they might repent and believe upon the One who is coming to judge this world according to His Righteousness. Noah’s flood was a warning to the whole world that God’s patience for willful disobedience is finite. He is calling individuals to repentance… not Hollywood’s movie making machine. (Jude)
I’ll be sure and alert all those Christians that you don’t approve of their calling. Thanks for posting William!
I think William should stay in the shallow end of the pool and focus on the lost in Corvalis, Washington.
Man, under that logic, Paul should have stayed out of the areopagus in Athens (much less have pagan philosophers memorized).
Read the rest of the story… Paul suffered horribly for going into those places – he did NOT participate in their hedonism.
No doubt. But, he did engage them intellectually and contextualized the Gospel for them. He quoted pagan philosophers in 17:28 (Epimendes) and 17:29 (Soli the Stoic) in order to bridge the gap for them. That is not participating in hedonism, but it is going into the marketplace of ideas of the Pagan world armed not only with the Gospel, but armed with a knowledge of what they think.
I am in both Corvallis, Oregon and Washington, DC 🙂
“We are though, called to preach the Gospel of Christ to the lost (even in Hollywood) that they might repent and believe upon the One who is coming to judge this world according to His Righteousness.” ~ I am praying for your committing wholly to the work of God and not man.
WIlliam, I respect your desire to honor God, but he DOES call us to be witnesses within Hollywood. I was hoping that your next line was not going to be “Why you Hollywood Christians eat with tax gatherers and sinners!” We don’t change the world from without, but from within. It is the sick who need a doctor, not the healthy, how then can the sick receive the Love of Christ if you do not live with them and give them the cure? John 17:15–19 “I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.”
actually, you won’t change the world at all…the “world” is an evil system and it will never be anything BUT evil and unregenerate….you can only impact it or impact people in it so that they can be drawn out of it, but youll never CHANGE the world….to think you can falls into this little heresy called dominionism…
Setting to one side some of the debate that has taken place
regarding the Noah film
(which I am yet to see, so cannot comment),
may I ask, William, if you feel so strongly that Christians should not work in media to be salt and light, then why are you reading Phil’s blog? Surely you have better things to do – like picketing screenings of supposedly blasphemous films with placards reading “Down with this sort of thing” and “Careful now”
(Father Ted style).
Seriously though, I must tell you that quite frankly I find your assertion that Christians are not called to media monumentally ridiculous. I assume you think this because Hollywood sometimes produces movies you
consider morally
questionable. Yes, that’s true. But there are also movies (in all genres – including horror, just to really put the cat among the pigeons) that glorify God and are, as the Bible says, noble, lovely and true. If that is your logic, no Christian should work in the
medical profession either, since doctors sometimes perform abortions as well as healing the sick. Heck, there are morally dubious elements in
practically every profession. Should we all become Amish?
As a Christian called to the media, I can tell you that I am always deeply, deeply disappointed by the unsupportive
attitudes displayed by
some Christians towards those in our profession. Many of this ilk seem to
regard media professionals as the lowest of the low (the pecking order beginning with church ministry of course, then vocational work like teaching,
nursing and so forth, then business and media right at the bottom of the pile).
In fact, it was attitudes like those you have displayed on this blog that kept me away from Christianity for so long, before God powerfully saved me. Now I have
a relationship with Jesus in spite of the presence of such attitudes.
This is not the 1st time for major organizations to embrace something before they understand all of the details involved with a controversial movie, book, or quote.
Actually – all these leaders saw the movie and know the controversy very well. My problem is all the critics who HAVEN’T seen the movie. A little dishonest, don’t you think to raise such a stink about something you don’t know anything about?
it just sounds stupid…..I have two words wrapped into one for brand related reasons when it comes to actually seeing this thing: REDBOX
I am a Christian more so a follower of Rabbi Yeshua the Hebrew Messiah. the Christian institution has been broken throughout the years with fanaticism and extremism. we are called to love one another, it says it in every book whether you’re a Christian, Muslim or Buddhist. the fact that we as people have turned an institution of love into a cynical guideline has completely driven us away from the original message of love one another unconditionally no matter who what when where or why . this is just a movie, this movie is not going to alter history in any way, it is just a movie if the ignorance of people is permitted to think this is going to change the Bible in any way that my friends is the absolute problem go see it as a beautiful movie know the message from the Bible but leave it there, if you want reality turn on your TV set at home and watch Dance Moms or honey boo boo or duck dynasty there’s some reality scripted mind you but when we go to movies we went to be dazzled by imagination so from one person who has a heart full of love I implore you to take that stance calm down and enjoy life and love one another stop judging people that makes you more broken than anyone who hasn’t found a mustard seed of faith
What of our love for God Himself?
i’ll go see it but i did NOT like the lady’s comment “Any good movie has to deviate from the book”
I understand your position JJ, but what she was trying to say is that you can’t turn a book into a movie with adaptation. In this case, if they didn’t take creative license, it would only be a 10 minute movie because the story is so short.
Thanks for the comment!
Let her post for herself what she meant. You cannot speak for her. She knew this video would be under controversy, if she meant something else, let her speak.
Yikes. Ease up a bit Lightseeker. I produced the video… I know exactly what she meant because she told me.
No, that’s what you did by trying to support your work by trying to speak for someone else who made a very bold statement when it comes to the Bible and it’s followers.
Lets all just get hysterical here… It’s a MOVIE. Watch the video. It’s not hard to understand exactly what she meant. 🙂
I do agree with you that the story of Noah, without creating a fictionalized account of what happened between the lines, would be incredibly short. However, the book of Genesis is a rather telling book on God, the creation and beginning of the world, humanity, civilization, etc. There are many wonderful stories within Genesis that tie together well enough in the Bible. Why then could they not title it Genesis, and adapt it as accurately as possible to the whole book. Or call the movie something unrelated to the Bible, and so be fine in writing a movie that IS unrelated to the Bible except for a catastrophic flood, and a few peoples names, and some heavily modified representations of who and what they were, and the events surrounding the flood. Instead they did as they did for good reason. Cash. And a better reason, they listened to their father and wrote something to honor him (John 8:44)
This video was just picked up by Time Magazine: http://time.com/35667/noah-movie-religious-leaders/
Oh yeah, Time magazine legitimizes everything. You must be truly desperate to rely on Time for support in Biblical matters….
Glenn Beck from TheBlaze was invited by Paramount to a private screening. He says it was absolutely horrible.
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/03/24/beck-saw-noah-over-the-weekend-and-hes-calling-it-the-babylonian-chainsaw-massacre/
Apparently Glenn Beck’s influence isn’t as big as some think:
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/box-office-noah-friday-matinees-691984
Really? You wanna go there? That’s a pretty stuck-up, condescending statement from a guy who has about 0.01% of the influence that Glenn Beck has. I had never heard of you until today.
It’s rather cleverly disingenuous, don’t you think, to categorically dismiss any argument, no matter how reasoned, simply because that person hasn’t personally seen this travesty of a movie? How much are your buddies in Hollywood paying you to market this garbage? Because we all know that without an unsuspecting Christian crowd naively plunking down their cash to see this thinly veiled piece of extreme environmentalist propaganda, this movie will crash and burn, and it deserves to, on the basis of its dishonest advertising, absolute butchering of the story, and in many cases the complete departure from the doctrinal truths of the Bible about who God is and the nature of man’s relationship with God and with the animals. Worst biblical movie ever made. I use that term “biblical” loosely.
It’s not about MY influence, it’s about the numbers in that link I posted. Glenn said Christians wouldn’t turn out, and exit polling shows they came in droves.
That’s what’s so infuriating. These people are led to believe that this is a movie about the story of Noah in the Bible, when it’s only a melodrama loosely based on Biblical figures, with aliens thrown in.
Actually, Paramount never marketed it as a Bible movie – hence the “inspired by” disclaimer. And on my original blog post I said it didn’t line up with the Biblical account at all. So no one was led to believe that. I think it was just assumed by people who didn’t read about it first.
Actually, everyone else on the planet who didn’t happen to read your blog, or others like it, WAS led to believe that it was going to be a movie about the Biblical story of Noah. The previews and posters gave that impression too. What else should people assume?
Where is the sound?
I say let the BIBLE speak for itself and what IT SAYS…That is whom the Lord esteems is the one that esteems HIS WORD!!!! GOD said the traditions of men nullify the word of God!!!! Here is how I would apply “CREATIVE LIBERTIES” to the Word of God as far as the scriptures go! See Revelations 22:19 (which says) And if anyone removes any of the words from this book of prophecy, God will remove that person’s share in the tree of life and in the holy city that are described in this book. NLT And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. KJV There is a liberty in CHRIST…But it has NOTHING to do with changing the WORDS OF LIFE…JESUS CHRIST said HE did NOTHING of HIS OWN INITIATIVE John 5:30…Wow if the SON OF GOD lived this way I would say we are to do the same by His Spirit, but unless one be born of HIS SPIRIT you can not understand the Spirit of God!!! His Mercy is available to the one that cry out to Him!!! One Must Cry out!
Er…I think you could be quoting Revelation slightly out of context. The verses you quote specifically refer to adding text to the actual book of Revelation, not to creative licence taken in a Hollywood film.
As far as I know, Darren Aronofsky hasn’t printed versions of the Bible with added text in the book of Revelation (or anywhere else for that matter).
You are not to add to the Word of God in anyway or take away from it in anyway…er…you can take your chances with that but the prophets of old would stand up and rebuke in regards to the Spirit and Word! We see this with Peter in chapter 8 to Simon and Paul with Elymas/Bar jesus in Acts 13…you have to test the spirits…and this is what those that have ears to hear and eyes to see are called to do…if you see it is as JUST THE book of revelations than that is what you will answer to before the Lord….but I say it is the WHOLE OF GODS WORD…TAKE UP THE WHOLE COUNSEL of HIS WORD!!! The Lord is to be honored and feared…this is the beginning of True Wisdom…He speaks of the last days and the false prophets and false apostles that will arise we are living in these days!!! We must discern the spirit and rightly divide the Word of Truth…We must respond by the Spirit of the Lord and not after the flesh!!! To one walking with the Spirit of the Lord to alter something in regards to HIS HOLY WORD is dangerous and a NO NO!!! Over and Over we see in the Word the Lord giving exact instructions and over and over we see those that took their own liberties suffer the price! Leading people in Christ astray is such a fearful thing to me!!! The Word of the Lord is true and endures forever and not one jot or tittle from the law shall pass until all is fulfilled! I do not want to add or take from it…a allegory or reference of ones realm of expertise or culture in telling a story aside from the Word to explain something is one thing..but to change the Word of God and His People and their stories as described to us in the Holy Word of God is all together another dangerous matter!! It is a narrow way, the Word of God says and few there be that find it!!! It is by salvation in CHRIST JESUS and following His doctrine of the Spirit (Romans chatper 8) not another jesus that one is set free!!! I do not want to take ANY liberties with that from any of the books of the bible, old or new testament!
Fair enough, but I still maintain that producing a film based on the Bible with some creative licence does not constitute adding to or taking away from the Bible. Or preaching another compromised gospel for that matter. A film is not a sermon.
I agree with Simon! Sandy, no offense, but you’re going a little too literal with what the scriptures are saying. Think about how many times the Bible has been re-written since it’s original origin…(KJV, NLT, NASB, etc.) and all of them read slightly different… is that not the same as what you are implying? They’re not changing the meaning, they are changing how you understand it. I think artists and directors are entitled the same liberties. They’re not changing the meaning, they’re just interpreting it differently. I think some Christians just want to complain about everything, stop being so cynical and thinking so negatively. I think this film is awesome and I cant wait to see it. In fact, I know people who don’t even believe in God who are excited about this movie… so why can’t we rejoice in that? Praise Him that a Hollywood director and an All-star cast is putting Noah’s story into mainstream media!
But that’s the problem. This is not at all Noah’s story as accounted in the full bible, this only takes what we know of Adam and Eve, God, Noah, and many other factors just from the book of Genesis, and even THEN what they have taken they have in turn horribly warped from what the Bible tells us. They’ve gone way too far from the meaning of not just Noah’s life, but the book of Genesis. It is an atrocity.
And the various rewrites of the Bible do not vary as much as you imply. Just go to http://biblehub.net/
They offer wonderful side-by-side comparison of all the translated versions so you can see for yourself.
Amen.
Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 9:10
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
…And finally some Ecclesiastes to show what I think of this movie…
Ecclesiastes 1:2-3
2 “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher, “Vanity of vanities! All is vanity.” 3 What advantage does man have in all his work Which he does under the sun?
And the cherry on top:
“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that
proceeds out of the mouth of God,” (Matthew 4:4)
This movie is a distraction created for wealth, nothing of God, and nothing more.
I believe that even those selling things outside of the church in Jesus’ time were doing no different. They were preying on people for their own wealth above and before the Glory of God.
The quote “Any good movie has to deviate from the book” came directly from one of the commentators in the above video. Again, time for you to reflect, turn that mirror around and compare what you are leading in comparison to what the Bible says.
any Christians suffer persecutions in their daily walk with Christ. This should not be surprising. Jesus predicted it for those who believed in Him (John 15:20) and the Apostle Peter told the church that they should not be surprised when they suffer insults because of their faith in Christ (I Peter 4:14). What is surprising is that other Christians receive persecutions – and some of the fiercest at that – from other Christians. This ought not to be so.We are told to put on the whole armor of God and to protect ourselves from spiritual attacks (Eph 6:10-18). The only offensive weapon mentioned is the sword which is the Word of God. This weapon is intended to fight off spiritual attacks from wicked spirits but all too often believers wield this weapon against other Christians, however this is not the intended use for this weapon. The last thing that Christ would have us to do is to attack other Christians using the Word of God (Bible). Yes, we should challenge false teachings and false gospels when we see them and the Bible tells us that there will be many of these in the last days, but we are not to attack each other over non-essentials. When Christians fight with each other over things that are not central to the gospel of Jesus Christ (Calvary, Jesus atoning sacrifice, etc.), then we send a strong message to unbelievers – that we can not even get along with each other. Where is Christ in that!Read more: http://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/christians-persecuting-other-christians/#ixzz2ygWstv5lell said, by jack wellman
Jesus Christ is the only one to be honored – not our “callings” or the “callings” of our friends. True Followers of Jesus Christ – know these things. As Salt and Light to a fallen world – we are compelled to speak truthfully of the Gospel even in environments outside church walls. We are NOT told to participate in the debauchery of unregenerate fools. Even the Apostle Paul was beaten to a bloody pulp by the very ones he tried to reason with. Christians are called to be “the reward of His Suffering” not, as the world is. Want proof? Read about our brethren in the first seven chapters of Revelation – and, specifically those who lost their vocations because they refused to contaminate the Christ testimony by compromising their works. My heart is saddened by your willingness to compromise your Lord’s testimony by associating with heretics and their false portrayal of our Great God and Lord.
It is almost certainly pointless to argue with you, but you are in essence accusing Phil Cooke (and other Christian media professionals, such as myself) as participating “in the debauchery of unregenerate fools”. Can you really presume to know precisely what the call of God is on our lives, and whether or not we are “compromising” our works? My instinct is to ignore your comment, or to treat it with sarcastic contempt, but instead I will simply tell you it is unfair, untrue and hurtful to me, and to those who share my vocation. Please consider very carefully what you are saying before posting here again.
Simon, my issue is simple; Aronosky is using the Hollywood Movie Making Machine to turn out a different gospel than that which is already established in God’s Word – specifically the Genesis account. Even sadder are those “Christian Leaders” whom have lent their “names” to false representation of God’s record – and take pleasure in doing so. It’s always difficult being a true believer in a godless culture – and, you will have to settle that issue between you and the Lord Himself. Just know that there is biblical precedence for choosing Christ over livelihood. This film is heresy, produced by an unregenerate heathen who mocks the Name of our Holy God – Jesus Christ. Figure it out…
Firstly, I don’t accept that you can call the film heresy as you haven’t seen it. For the same reason I cannot defend it as I haven’t either.
Leaving the film aside, I made the unusual step in my earlier comment of actually remarking about how unpleasant it is to be have one’s vocation/calling disparaged by other Christians who frankly ought to be supportive. The language you used was inflammatory and frankly offensive. I daresay Phil wasn’t particularly bothered, but I just thought you might like to know in spite of our thick skins (you need them in this industry) we are human too. We expect opposition from some quarters but to get it from fellow believers is always particularly galling.
Please perish for lack of knowledge, which seems to be your case Simon. William, I’m with you, this film is a heresy.
I assume you say that because you’ve seen it?
Brenda, your lack of wisdom is clear. To know God is to know God. Wake up before your time is up.
Time to reflect on yourself and what you are doing to lead others to Christ. These days are days of Noah.
The ship is not on water but your own soul and body.
How poetic! 🙂 thanks for that “The ship is not on water but your own soul and body”
Simon, you can feel free o run amok with all the creative license in the world but there are serious (dire actually), implications for messing around with God’s word. Ive only been a Christian for about 5 and a half minutes (what im saying is that I am just a baby) but I can discern a worldly viewpoint a mile away. Stay firmly in the Word for risk of being deceived… God said that in these the last days, that even His most elect will be. Sandy and William are spot on. Thank you to you both.
We are all children in the eyes of the Lord. Even those that have walked with the Lord for nearly a thousand years (as with Noah), he still faltered and gave in to drunkenness in the latter half of his life (though take that account from the Bible, in the book of Genesis. Do not go by what was shown in the movie, as they didn’t give a proper account at all). Bless you Sister and welcome to the most difficult, but most rewarding path in existence, it is full of snares but let God carry you when you grow weary or wounded, and He’ll make sure you make it through alright 🙂
I don’t think that you, Phil Cooke, or any other contemporary Christians in media are intentionally out to corrupt or misinterpret God’s word.
But I can ask you a question (I’m non-confrontational, so I’m not writing to attack you, or your faith, this subject has just been a point of interest for me in the past).
Does God need us to reinterpret the Bible, in order to teach others His works, and then the teachings of His Son, the Living Word? Do you believe that the Bible is perhaps antiquated, and so left wanting for the modern Christian?
Don’t take that wrong. I consider The Pilgrims Progress an absolutely amazing work, that isn’t written in the Bible, and yet I believe it has a way of reaching people in a way perhaps the Bible may not. Also, I loved the fictional books by Christian author Frank Peretti. Yet there is a clear distinction in those works by Christians, and this movie. Specifically, they were allegories to Christian life, using fictional characters and accounts that were drawing heavily from the teachings of the Bible. This movie seems to be something different altogether. It takes the name of the Biblical story as it’s own. It draws on only very few details from the bible, very, very few details, and then inserts things that actually go directly against what the Bible teaches us of the world at that time, of the people of that time, of the angels, of the demons, of Noah, of Adam and Eve, of the Garden of Eden, of Lucifer, of the Nephilim, of the ark, of God… need I go on.
I have to admit that I think this movie has as much reverence for the Word of God as did the movie Life of Brian. (but that is just a personal opinion, so I should stop)
Yet I wonder when I hear things, read things, and watch things that strike a wrong chord in my heart. As this movie most definitely did on many points.
If I have doubt, then I ultimately stick to the Bible as the only work of truth, and the works of mankind as just that, even with divine inspiration, still the works of mankind. And since we are as God has said, creatures of two natures, with God the Father of New Life, and Satan the father of our old lives (John 8:44), can even you trust that you may not be mislead? Or that other Christians of great accomplishment and renown are not also mislead?
Didn’t Satan even appear to Jesus, the Son of God, and try to tempt Him to sin?
The Bible teaches us in the histories of some of the greatest men of God, there is often duality.
Even though they are crowned kings by the grace of God, as with Saul and David, granted amazing power through the Spirit and given the very vision of God before them as with Moses, or granted great strength as with Samson, or even granted great wisdom as with Solomon, they still managed to fail in faith, to be tempted by sin and corruption, often by the simplest things, like a nagging wife as with Solomon falling into idolatry, or the desires of the flesh as with Samson and David leading them from temptation into sin, or faltering in trust of the Lord, as with Moses.
I know I can’t claim to be faultless, because I often falter, and must pray for forgiveness when I do stray, (much more often than I’d like). But perhaps this is not the same with all Christians, perhaps some truly are faultless before God, it is not my place to say. I have no right to judge you or any other. And neither does Mr. Bateman have any right to judge you for that matter.
The following quote isn’t from the Bible (from Shakespeare I think). But if the Lord is within your heart, then “to thine own heart be true.” And ignore the judgement of others, because there is only One with the right to Judge us all, and He knows your heart better than any other.
Those that are perishing must call out in MERCY to the MOST HIGH…He is MERCIFUL and LONG SUFFERING…and REPENTANCE MUST TAKE PLACE!!! These false watered down tickle your ear twisting the WORD OF GOD DOCTRINES will not ENDURE FOREVER and will NOT CAUSE ONE TO STAND IN THE DAY OF PERSECUTION only those WISE VIRGINS FILLED WITH OIL AND THE SPIRIT AND TRUTH…THE LOVE OF CHRIST are willing to LAY DOWN THEIR LIVES FOR THE SAKE OF THE GOSPEL!!! It is the vessels of HONOR the Spirit of Elijah upon the True Servants of the MOST HIGH GOD!! I DO NOT WANT TO LOOK TO HOLLYWOOD for a rendition of my LORD AND JESUS CHRIST…I want to see people come out of her and her whorish ways AND BE FREE!!! How many young girls SUCH AS, MILEY, Britney Spears, Whitney Houston, Jessica Simpson, Katy Perry, etc…etc…that supposedly came from Christian homes and THEY turn out being used as slaves to a demonic industry that enslaves THEM and the masses!!! That is only preparing people for a anti-christ agenda for the most part…the LORD never needed a televsion to speak to HIS PEOPLE…CASTING A FALSE VISION ALRIGHT…HE SPEAKS DIRECTLY FACE TO FACE WITH HIS PEOPLE just as HE DID MOSES, FACE TO FACE, HE KNEW HIS WAYS NOT JUST HIS ACTS…HE IS STILL THE SAME YESTERDAY TODAY AND FOREVER…This is not a RANT but a once LOST SHEEP that has been REDEEMED BY HOLY BLOOD RANSOMED OFF THE SLAVE BLOCK OF SATAN AND THE WORLD…It is the VOICE of ONE CRYING OUT PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD MAKE READY HIS COMING READY YOUR HEART WITH CLEAN HANDS FOR THE BRIDEGROOM TO COME…Will the LORD MOVE IN THE MIDST OF HOLLYWOOD OR ANYWHERE FOR THAT MATTER FOR A LOST SHEEP YES I BELIEVE AND KNOW HE WILL, BUT HE WILL THEN DRAW THEM OUT OF BABYLON AND HER FALSE IDOLS…REPENT FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS AT HAND IS NOT JUST WORDS IT IS A CALL TO THOSE PERISHING AND WITHOUT CHRIST OR WITH A FORM OF GODLINESS BUT DENYING HIS POWER…DEAD WORKS…DEAD FAITH!!! ONLY THOSE THAT KNOW THE LORD HIMSELF FACE TO FACE SHALL ENDURE TO THE END HERE IS THE PATIENCE OF THE SAINTS IN CHRIST JESUS!!!
Amen!
MAY THE LORD HAVE MERCY AND OPEN EYES, RAISE THE DEAD (THOSE BLINDED TO TRUTH VOID OF UNDERSTANDING AND HIS SPIRIT) AND AWAKEN THE WORLD TO THE TRUTH FOUND IN JESUS CHRIST THE SON OF GOD THE LAMB THAT WAS SLAIN THE WAY THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE!!! HAVE MERCY LORD WE ARE BUT DUST AND WITHOUT YOU AND YOUR SON WE ALL WOULD PERISH!!!
Whew. Hope you feel better now Sandy. You also might turn off your CAPS LOCK button on the computer. 🙂
Yes I am fired up because our God is a Consuming Fire!! 🙂 FIRE deserves ALL CAPS 🙂 Praise the LORD and Blessed BE HIS NAME!!!
Come on, tell us the truth; you are high =)
Amen…So be It.
Oh yeah. Well i can do this too. some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
I see both sides of this coin. Phil has a perfect point and so does Glenn Beck, who called the movie dangerous. I think Hollywood knows how important the Christian genre can be, but there is no gray area when telling a Biblical story. Christians view these movies as a possible way to evangelize. Hollywood sees a way to increase profits. Both sides can win here. I’m not a fan of Noah, as God’s Not Dead was a better film overall. My 2 cents.
I saw the film last night and I loved it, those on either side of me both had different opinions to me and to each other. We all saw it quite differently and perceived parts of the movie as completely opposite in some areas. I find that really fascinating. My opinion (for what it’s worth) is that it is a great movie to give you a hunger to go back and search the scriptures, to look with fresh eyes and to have some robust and great discussions with others (Christians and non-Christians alike) around what you took from the movie, around God, and around how we see God. We have a screening tonight to a cinema full of Christians that will be followed by a Q&A session with some Christian Leaders. I can’t wait, it sure is going to get interesting! I reckon we all just need to stay respectful of one another and listen to other perspectives, maybe even a little bit more than we try to push our own.
Well said. I like your comment most. I only just saw the movie. I was absolutely furious because of the deviation from much of the scripture and the corruption of how the movie portrays Noah, which goes against what scripture teaches of Noah’s nature and actions. But you’re right. The Bible clearly states to respect the beliefs of others. There are other verses though that are very much against this film. But non-believers would love it or hate it regardless of the truth, only God can open their eyes to truth if that is what they seek in their hearts. And having a film that, even for reasons of outrage, may have caused many believers, and perhaps some non-believers to pick up a bible, is ultimately a good thing.
I saw the movie last night. Ari, you and your crew did an outstanding job. Dark, gritty, foreboding, challenging creative storytelling. Thank you for taking the story of Noah out of Sunday school all cute and grey beards and bringing us a vision of God’s justice for adults that challenges and captivates.
While I know it wasn’t a literal word for word and a lot of creative license was used, for me the one story line which was of immense interest, but wrong, was that of the sons and their future wives which ran through the later half of the movie. In contrast to what the bible which says they came out of the ark with their wives. I loved it overall and appreciated that it was entertainment though and know that for most people who don’t have a faith that fact isn’t relevant.
Thanks once again, super movie!
“Any good movie has to deviate from the book” The Bible is very clear…do not deviate, do not add. Noah was not just a good man. He was a man who followed in faith(Hebrews 11:1)
There was not a king or ruler who was battling with Noah. Think of modern cynicism towards prophets and those who build nuclear shelters, buy years worth of food and live each day like it was going to be their last. This same cynicism was very alive during Noah’s time period. So scoffing and mocking was all Noah got…not a battle. Men and women were too involved with power struggles, getting drunk, stealing, and worshiping forms of their own gods to take notice of man who was building a huge ship in a land that had no rain. If you want a good sense of Noah’s time I suggest you read the book “After the Flood” by Bill Cooper.
Loved the movie. The story of Noah in scripture leaves enough unsaid for imaginations to run wild. The creative license of the filmmakers is a normal outcome of asking “what if…” I am still musing today about the alienated son, the father who wonders if he heard God correctly, the meaning of the snakeskin wrapped around the arm, and the watchers’ redemption. I am relishing the depictions of covenant renewal, of the father’s blessing, of impartation of life, and in familial love and conflict.
Thank you for not trivializing a creator who’s intentions of creation matter and whose violated purposes are judged and renewed. Thank you for real human drama of people caught in a plan that is impossible to carry out and not quite what they imagined.
I caught the nuance of a man who is brought through a tragedy and is grateful but tormented enough to drown himself in wine. The movie had layers and flavors and fruitful inquiry into God and man and ultimate redemption. Go see it people and receive it before you judge it.
Goodness, people get up-in-arms about things they haven’t seen, don’t they?
There’s a biblical word for this: gossip.
I remember all the controversies, years ago, about movies like The Life of Brian and The Last Temptation of Christ. Christians who had not seen those films, campaigning with all their might against what were, relatively speaking, gnats. The placards I saw, reading things like “This Film Destroys Our Faith!” were terrible over-reactions and made the faith-community look petty and reactionary. How sad.
Let’s put aside gossip, folks. I’m not saying you have to see the film. I am saying don’t get so steamed up about it if you haven’t seen it.
“Fallen Angels” aka demons helped Noah build and defend the arc? Yea, okay….smh