Miscellanies 14: Should Churches Promote Movies?

I was recently approached by a promoter of the movie The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry with the request to promote the movie in the local church I serve. I haven't viewed the movie yet. It may be very well done. But I wanted to share my response to the request to promote the movie.

I first wrote:

Thank you for taking time to write Twin Oaks PC about this. You are obviously excited about the movie and tenacious in promoting it. That is commendable. However, it is my understanding that this sort of thing falls outside the singular mandate Christ gave his church. He has called his church to be about the work of extending his kingdom by the teaching and embracing of the doctrine of the Gospel, the administration of his ordinances, and the performing of public worship in purity (Westminster Confession of Faith, 25.4). The production or viewing of movies, while wonderful means of common grace (I enjoy movies often), are not included in this mandate. Therefore, I would have to decline your request to promote this movie as a church, using resources given for her special redemptive work.

Nonetheless, I would be willing to view it and give you my feedback, if you'd like.

The promoter then graciously offered me a free viewing online and respectfully asked me to clarify the reasons why I thought the church should not be in the business of movie promotions. I responded again:

My unwillingness to lead the church in the promotion of a movie like the Sperry movie (I would distinguish it from video recordings of lectures or sermons) is this: The church's mandate is to preach the Word, administer the sacraments, and exercise church discipline (basically stated in WCF 25 and 30). These are sometimes called the three marks of the church. It is through these three means that God gathers and nurtures his people from among the nations. Since the making and promoting of movies like the Sperry movie is not included in this mandate, it should not be done by the church.

Individual Christians may make, promote, and enjoy movies as they live out their lives in the common realm (i.e. the world). But according to Scripture, the sacred realm (i.e. the church) is distinct from the common, the distinction being governed by the three marks.

There is, of course, some overlap between the sacred and common realms. They are distinct but not separate. For instance, teaching elders may surely, with Christian prudence according to the general rules of the Word, make use of common things in their teaching, thus sanctifying them unto God's service. This happens every time we consecrate bread and wine for the Lord's Supper or when preachers illustrate their text using personal anecdotes. Also, movies might include themes, messages, or scenes from the sacred realm. I see this most often in wedding and funeral scenes. These examples are, however, quite different from the church as the church actually making and/or promoting things which are essentially common (e.g. bread, wine, a book of personal anecdotes, movies, etc.). I believe it is incumbent upon every officer of the church, and particularly her teaching elders, to be very careful not to blur the lines between the sacred and the common.

I hope this is helpful for you. I would be happy to continue exploring these issues with you. Let me know if I can clarify any further.

I shared my response with my friend Jared Nelson to see if my thinking was on target. He summarized what I was trying to say very well writing:

I’m taking it that your main point might be summarized as: As an individual, I might see a movie and recommend it to friends. But when functioning in the role of a minister, I will promote and require my people to attend to the preached word, the visible word of the sacrament, and prayer but will not promote or require a movie (or tv show, or yoga position or cola product) for their spiritual formation.

Exactly!