God-vertising?

Here's a passage from an article about the increased interest of film studios in "catering" to the Christian demographic. Probably not all that shocking, but I'm feeling a little uncertain about the willingness of some pastors to "market" films from the pulpit:

When the church is united behind a film, “it has a pretty profound effect,” Cannon says. “That’s why people are paying a lot more attention to the mega-pastors. When you’ve got thousands of people who listen to you every week, when you can rent out entire theaters, you’ve got a powerful voice.”
Indeed, studios are finding that ministers who preach to flocks of 5,000 or more a week can be as powerful a marketing tool as a slick advertising campaign...

...Joe Bubar, a minister at the Scottsdale (Ariz.) Bible Church, welcomes being Hollywood’s hot new demographic. His church rented five theaters during the opening week of “Narnia” and urged its 5,500 members to turn out in force.
He believes churches welcome faith-based films as much as Hollywood welcomes faith-based money.

“We’re looking for things that help us deliver our message,” he says. “And, particularly with younger people, movies do that. We welcome movies with a positive message.”

Gumption vs Perseverance

There is an interesting debate going on at elnellis concerning the place of social and political involvment among Christians in the cause of social justice.
Here are a couple of great quotes from one of my favorite films "The Mosquito Coast" (based on the book by Paul Theroux) . I think many aspects of "Father's" attitude are reflective of the American worldview. Feel free to react.

"Father hated [Christian] missionaries because they taught people to put up with their earthly troubles..."

"No one who has the slightest spark has to endure a moment's oppression in this world."

God as Excuse

I recently watched the story of Father Damien in the film Molokai. His demonstration of Christ- like love was astounding.

What struck me was that one of the greatest mistakes Christendom has made over the years has been to overemphasize the deity of Christ. In this way, we have for centuries excused ourselves of following his example into the more heinous acts of mercy simply because we are men and he was God. Maybe his deity is theologically crucial but his humanity is practically more so.

(You can see in this picture the leprosy that disfigured and finally killed Father Damien after years of "imprudent" contact with the people of Molokai.)