The Bible says “though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand” (Luke 8:10) An unsaved person without Christ in them, would never understand the stories in this movie.
If I watched this movie before I was saved, I would have had the world’s perspective and thought they were ‘crazy.’

I want the faith of these children. The gifts of the spirit seem to divisive to some, but, why not pray for the gifts, seek for yourself, ask God to reveal the truth about them and let that stand?? This walk is amazing. I know the before and the after. Thank you, Jesus, for the after.

P.S. Charles Spurgeon said that if you weren’t compelled for others to be saved, then he doubted you were saved at all. Those who are forgiven much…..love much. True Christians are humble in heart, full of live, full of grace and they walk in power (tongues and all…)

Blessings in Christ our Lord!

Thanks so much for your comment and the email you sent me personally to notify me. I think I would’ve found the comment eventually (I subscribe to all my own comments like the ego-surfing blogger I am via coComment), but I really appreciate the honesty and integrity you’ve demonstrated by taking the trouble to notify me personally, and for deciding to apologize to Becky Fischer.

It is an amazingly rare thing to see mere words actually change a person’s opinion and it speaks highly of you that you considered what I wrote, took it at face-value, and decided to change your mind. I’m not sure I can take much credit for it, though, since I only reported what I saw in the film, but perhaps I was also responding to the Spirit’s nudging to check your link out and then to respond.

Thank you, again, for taking the time to think and to respond.

Regards,

Rich
BlogRodent

Re-reading my post, I guess I realized that I focused my anger and embarassment toward the wrong party. I was just about to write an update to my post when I received your comments. Thank you. I went to your website and read your long post. I need to apologize to Becky Fischer. My reaction shouldn’t have been directed toward her – it should have been toward those who made the documentary. I guess, in simplified terms, I am just tired of Christians being made fun of – and I’m tired of Christians putting themselves into a position to be made fun of.

Thanks for linking to my guest commentary over at MinistryToday. I agree with you about the central teaching of the Gospel and the primacy of the great commandment. But I wouldn’t want to cast aspersions at Becky Fischer and claim that she’s “crazy people” or that she totally misses the point. For example, here’s an excerpt, shown in the film, where she talks about sin to the children:

“See, we’re talking this week about how the devil uses tactics to destory our lives. The first tactic that he uses is to tempt you with sin. You see when you first start out as a kid–particularly, cause that’s when all this stuff starts (she holds up a small stuffed lion)–when you start out as a kid sin just doesn’t seem like that big of a deal. It looks kind of fun in fact, warm and fuzzy. But sin is designed to destroy you. And you feed this baby long enough and he’s going to grow in your life until you got yourself a tiger by the tail … (now she swings a large stuffed lion by the tail) … and you don’t know which end is up and what used to seem very innocent now controls your life.”

I frankly don’t have a problem with her description of the insidiousness of sin. And, hopefully, it drove a message home to the kids. I think she’s right.

I also wouldn’t want to claim that Fischer and her staff are not teaching children to love God with all their heart and to love their fellows, too. I see absolutely no evidence of hatred on the part of Fischer or the children anywhere in this documentary. Indeed, the sole source of vitriol in the documentary comes from the Methodist commentator, Mike Papantonio, and his call-in guests.

Now, I’m no apologist for Becky Fischer. I don’t align with her 100% theologically, and I have some concerns about some of her camp’s practices. But I think she loves Jesus, and she truly loves children. The film misrepresents her–as it does all Christians, really. She has her place in the Body and I welcome her. I think she is doing a service for the Church. After all, as Paul said, Christ is preached. And the children in her camp come face-to-face with that reality.

Regards,

Rich
BlogRodent