I saw this movie during the opening weekend and like many in the theater I sniffled, cringed, gasped, and cried through most of it. I found it to be a film of beauty, truth, and amazing sacrifice. It will more than likely be a movie that I own one day and unlike some recent movies with Christian themes, this movie was very well done. It was a movie I could be proud of, as a Christian. Do you want to know something else? None of that changes in my mind just because I know that the lead actor Chad Allen is a gay activist.
If you followed the news surrounding this movie you will remember that about a week before the movie opened the controversy began. Christians all over the country were up in arms over Chad portraying such a godly man as Nick Saint and while I readily admit that at first I was a little dissappointed I quickly got over myself. Others however, did not and while I am not fit to judge anyone, part of me wants to shout, “Get over yourselves!”
James Robinson and I agree and though he wrote this article several weeks ago I read it only today.
When Homosexuality and Christianity Collide
by: James Robison
One of the world’s greatest examples of love and forgiveness comes to life this week through the film, End of the Spear. The movie accurately depicts the story of the supernatural transformation of one of the most violent, savage groups of people in the world. Fifty years ago, five missionaries peacefully made contact with this group, the Waodani tribe of Ecuador, and were brutally murdered.
This week, I spent two days on television talking with Steve Saint, whose father initially located the tribe and piloted the airplane that took all of the missionaries on their final mission, and the film’s executive producer, Mart Green.
In the years following the tragedy, Steve and his family experienced such amazing grace that they were able to forgive their father’s murderers. They moved to the Waodani lands to live among these “savages” and show them a better way to live. At the time, half of Ecuador’s indigenous people, including children, died early deaths because of the tribal violence. Steve and the other missionaries poured out such love on these people that they abandoned their brutal ways. The story of this life-changing love is beautiful and moving. End of the Spear is a must-see, not only for Christians, but for all people.
Yet prior to this weekend’s nationwide release of the film, a controversy has arisen around the lead actor. Chad Allen, whom many will recognize from the television series Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, is openly gay. He could even be considered a homosexual activist.
Steve Saint and the other movie producers did not know this when they cast Allen in the dual role of father and son Nick and Steve Saint. Just before principal photography began in the jungles of Central America, they were informed of Allen’s lifestyle. They faced a difficult decision: remove their chosen actor from the film because of his unbiblical sexual activity or show him the true meaning of love through the powerful film and personal interaction. After much prayer, Steve Saint and the film’s producers decided to keep Allen in the film and share with him their faith in Jesus Christ.
Allen responded to their openness and kindness, diligently and faithfully portraying the missionaries in the film, and responding to the filmmakers’ positive witness. By the end of the filming, Steve and others on the set thought that Allen’s lifestyle would be different. However, after several months back in the United States, he was once again publicly advocating homosexuality.
This, of course, is troubling to those of us who want to promote End of the Spear and its positive message without endorsing the off-screen behavior of the lead actor. I knew of this potential pitfall prior to interviewing Steve Saint and Mart Green on our television program, LIFE Today.
While I firmly believe the homosexual lifestyle stands contrary to the teachings of God’s Word, I also believe that such situations give Christians the opportunity to practice what we preach. We all have weaknesses. We all struggle with sin. And while we never condone sinful behavior, we will only see people freed from the sins that imprison them when we reach into their lives and show them truth and love.
None of us will find help or experience freedom from recurring immoral practices until we recognize our need for it. Few will ever seek help if they believe it will result in condemnation.
Like the father of the prodigal son, who briefly chose a life of rebellion, selfish indulgence and depravity, we must receive our lost sons with open arms. Take note, the prodigal did repent. He had a change of heart that led to a change of ways and a change of direction. He left his lifestyle and humbly sought forgiveness from his father, who embraced him not as a servant, but as a son.
This change of heart is our prayer for Chad Allen and every person who lives in bondage to some human weakness. Judgment and punishment are not what we desire. Jesus said, “Let him that has no sin cast the first stone.”
There are no qualified stone-throwers reading this article.
Steve Saint said, “My father would have never been like Chad Allen, but I hope that Chad will some day be like my father.” This type of love transformed a Godless tribe and it possesses the power to transform anyone, including homosexuals. Rather than chastise or ostracizepeople for their sins, we must show them a better way to live, so that like the Waodani tribe, they will eagerly change their ways.
The only thing that I do not agree with is the statement made by Steve Saint, “My father would have never been like Chad Allen”. It is only by the grace of God that Nick Saint did not struggle with homosexuality. It was not because of who Nick Saint was but because of who his God is.
I don’t think it was just a coincidence that the producers of the movie did not know that Chad was gay before he took the part. I think it was all apart of God’s sovereignty. Chad took part in a movie that was soaked in the Gospel. He portrayed a man who died for the sake of the gospel. Truth is not returned void, people! Who knows what the Lord did in the secret reaches of this man’s heart while he was filming this movie and what did the Christians do…we boycotted it! We should never step foot in another movie theater in order to save ourselves from hypocrisy! I guarentee, that had Chad Allen simply been a man who lived with his girlfriend the controversy wouldn’t have even been a blip on the radar.
Should we have a righteous anger toward the sin that infests this world? Certainly, but let us not forget that part of that sin once resided in us and were it not for that sweet amazing grace we would be in the same state as our world. We need a better balance of Grace and Truth and the best example of this combination is found in Jesus. We need more of Him and less of ourselves. We need to remember that He died for Chad and others like him as much as He died for us. We have ALL fallen short.
In the meantime, I pray that the seeds that were planted in the life of Chad Allen would flourish and that our Savior would reach down from Heaven and claim him for His own just as He did with Nick Saint, Jim Elliott and the other courageous men who died in the jungle of Ecuador.
