CHRIST FOR PRISONERS WEEKLY BULLETIN
Sunday, December 9, 2007

This is from the Southeast Christian Church website. Thought you would find it of value.

The Golden Compass
by Jennifer Metcalf, Creative Communications Assistant
Southeast Christian Church

There’s been a lot of hype about a new movie being released in December. If you’re at all connected to cyberspace, then you may have heard of it. If not, check your inbox, there’s probably an e-mail waiting for your attention that’s been making its rounds. The Golden Compass is set to be released December 7 and stars Nicole Kidman among other notable actors. The book is based upon the trilogy of books, His Dark Materials, by author Philip Pullman.

While not yet released, here is some of the information that has been gathered about the movie and the author himself.

The movie is about a young girl who sets off to rescue children who are kidnapped by an organization called the Gobblers. The rescue turns into an epic adventure to save two worlds, one in which people’s souls take the form of animals, or “daemons.” According to Pullman, these “daemons” help a person grow toward wisdom.

“The trilogy of books, especially the third volume, promotes atheism and denigrates Christianity,” said Kiera McCaffrey, director of communications for the Catholic League. “The problem is that kids may see the film and ask their parents for the books. We would advise parents not to take their children to see the film, and certainly not to buy them the books. The danger is that parents will not realize, from the film, what Pullman is promoting. Pullman’s trilogy shows a world where there is no God.” (citizenlink.com)

Pullman’s trilogy describes “a battle against the church and a fight to overthrow God,” BBC News reports. A British newspaper, The Guardian describes the books as “metaphysical fantasies encompassing parallel worlds, the death of God and the fall of man…” Pullman states in an interview posted on his website, “I don’t know whether there’s a God or not. Nobody does, no matter what they say.” (ccvonline.com)

The American Family Association, a pro-family group, is alerting Christians to the potential dangers of this film because of Pullman’s anti-Christian motives. CNSNews.com reports that leading atheist writers and intellectuals are engaged in a “scientific” quest to destroy organized religion, particularly Christianity. (onenewsnow.com)

As you decide whether or not to see this movie this holiday season, keep in mind that it has been termed a watered down version of the book. As followers of Christ, we should seek to practice a daily dependence on God’s Spirit to enable us to do what is right. Is seeing a film that is said to denounce Christianity right? And, at the very least, is it worth the price of admission?

Philippians 4:8: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

Note from Pastor Dave: We all need to be aware of the onslaught that the enemy [the devil] is mounting against the Christian family. One of his most effective weapons is the media of movies and Television. Read the following Psalm and think on what it is saying:

Psalms 101:1-8 (NKJV)
¹ A Psalm of David. I will sing of mercy and justice; To You, O Lord, I will sing praises.
² I will behave wisely in a perfect way. Oh, when will You come to me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.
³ I will set nothing wicked before my eyes; I hate the work of those who fall away; It shall not cling to me.
⁴ A perverse heart shall depart from me; I will not know wickedness.
⁵ Whoever secretly slanders his neighbor, Him I will destroy; The one who has a haughty look and a proud heart, Him I will not endure.
⁶ My eyes shall be on the faithful of the land, That they may dwell with me; He who walks in a perfect way, He shall serve me.
⁷ He who works deceit shall not dwell within my house; He who tells lies shall not continue in my presence.
⁸ Early I will destroy all the wicked of the land, That I may cut off all the evildoers from the city of the Lord.

Psalms 101:1-8 (RVR)
¹ Salmo de David. Misericordia y juicio cantaré; A ti cantaré yo, oh Jehová.
² Entenderé el camino de la perfección Cuando vengas a mí. En la integridad de mi corazón andaré en medio de mi casa.
³ No pondré delante de mis ojos cosa injusta. Aborrezco la obra de los que se desvían; Ninguno de ellos se acercará a mí.
⁴ Corazón perverso se apartará de mí; No conoceré al malvado.
⁵ Al que solapadamente infama a su prójimo, yo lo destruiré; No sufriré al de ojos altaneros y de corazón vanidoso.
⁶ Mis ojos pondré en los fieles de la tierra, para que estén conmigo; El que ande en el camino de la perfección, éste me servirá.
⁷ No habitará dentro de mi casa el que hace fraude; El que habla mentiras no se afirmará delante de mis ojos.
⁸ De mañana destruiré a todos los impíos de la tierra, Para exterminar de la ciudad de Jehová a todos los que hagan iniquidad.

Eighteen Personal Vows of David

1. I will sing of mercy and judgment (Ps. 101:1).
2. Sing to the Lord.
3. Behave wisely in a perfect way (Ps. 101:2).
4. Walk in my house with a perfect heart.
5. Set no wicked thing before my eyes (Ps. 101:3).
6. Hate the work of backsliders.
7. Not permit the work of backsliders to cleave to me.
8. Not fellowship with a perverse heart (Ps. 101:4).
9. Not know a wicked person.
10. Cut off slanderers (Ps. 101:5).
11. Not tolerate the proud.
12. Will regard the faithful (Ps. 101:6).
13. Permit the faithful to abide with me.
14. Permit the perfect to serve me.
15. Not permit deceivers to dwell in my house (Ps. 101:7).
16. Not permit liars in my sight.
17. Destroy all the wicked (Ps. 101:8).
18. Cut off all wicked from the city of the Lord.