What do you think Paul meant when he wrote (or rather, was moved by the Holy Spirit to write) in Ephesians 5:11–”have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness but rather reprove them“?

What did David mean when he wrote in Psalm 101:3-4–”I will set nothing wicked before my eyes. I hate the works of the wicked, it shall not cling to me?”

What did Peter mean when he wrote in 1st Peter 2:11–”Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul?”

What did these men and so many others mean when they told us to avoid partaking of the same evil things of the world? See, the problem with the Postmodern/Emergent school of thought is that we can’t minister to the world if we don’t do the same things they do. We can’t be “relevant” unless we look just like them. Um, actually, we are NOT supposed to look like the world. 1st Thessalonians 4:4–”This is the will of God-your sanctification.” We are to be different from the world, because we are not of this world.

You said, And stop calling the majority the “lowest denominator”? Because that’s a morally sound phrase. Why not just call anyone who doesn’t yet have faith mentally retarded and be done with it. /rant

Because the majority IS the “lowest denominator.” What did Jesus mean when He said, “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:13-14). The majority of people in the world hate God, will continue to hate God, and will never want to stop hating God.

One more verse for you. What did James mean when he wrote James 4:4–”Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God?”

B). I haven’t viewed this garbage to determine it’s quality of characters and plot, nor do I care to concern myself with it. I don’t need to drink a cupful of Liquid-Drano to know it’s physically bad for me anymore than I need to watch this trash to know it’s spiritually bad for me.

“Oh and maybe by being seen to actually attempt to understand the world through an opponents eyes could lessen the damage done to modern society by secularist churches that appear to actively push away those trying to learn about faith.”

Please point me to any instruction, example or precedent in Scripture where we should expose ourselves to the moral filth of Hollywood to “understand” the culture (it’s like rolling around in the mud to “understand” the pig). Everything I see tells us to avoid sin, not to conform to the world. Be ye separate! Why is that such a hard concept for people to grasp today.

- The Pilgrim

That said you also forget that CT is a magazine; as a previous poster pointing out they have done some extremely good articles in the past. If you want those to continue then they need to keep profits and that means pandering to the mass market. Oh and maybe by being seen to actually attempt to understand the world through an opponents eyes could lessen the damage done to modern society by secularist churches that appear to actively push away those trying to learn about faith. Blinkered vision does nothing but stagnate society, whether religious society or otherwise. I’m not advocating the film or the excuses I’m just putting a point across.

And stop calling the majority the “lowest denominator”? Because that’s a morally sound phrase. Why not just call anyone who doesn’t yet have faith mentally retarded and be done with it. /rant

In your opinion what would constitute “a strong enough fault to demonize Christianity Today”?

I mean, they dispense favorable “reviews” of movies that would in all truth have been considered stag films at best or snuff films at worst a few decades ago.

I think most informed folks would agree with your assessment that CT is so market oriented that there is little difference between their publication and so many “secular” or “worldly” publications thus further blurring the line between the world and the church.

And last but not least America’s leading “Christian” magazine has, in fact, turned to promoting mysticism, contemplative prayer and other New Age, anti-Christian practices.

Don’t believe me? See for yourself.

No my friend, if CT had suddenly written an out of character article, or if somehow the editorial review process had missed a glaring omission then Christians such as myself would be more than willing to forgive and move on, yet like any individual organizations have a “personality” as it were. And in God’s order there are really only two possible personalities for organizations to reflect; the personality of the One True and Living God as He has revealed Himself within the Holy Bible, or the personality of Satan which is wholly opposed to Him.

I don’t think we need to venture many guesses as to which of these two personalities CT consistently manifests regardless of their rhetoric or moniker.

In Christ,
CD

“But as much as Brokeback Mountain is being touted as a groundbreaking movie for its depictions of homosexuality, it is populated with people with conventional attitudes about homosexuality. And though it’s presented as a story of thwarted love—of ache and longing and regrets—it’s also ultimately a story about the relationships that shape us … for better and for worse.”

And here I was (silly me) thinking that Christianity Today just now sunk to a new low. Boy, was I two and a half years too late with that estimation!

- The Pilgrim

- The Pilgrim

Just a friendly reminder from someone who knows what he is talking about—David. Psalm 101:3&4.

I couldn’t agree more!

For a good while now, most churches have been pandering to the lowest denominator — what would unbelievers coming to the church like to see or hear, rather than actually sticking to what church is really about, i.e. where members of the Body of Christ come together to fellowship and worship God.

I see this as just another lame attempt by a Christian organization to show the world that “hey, we are hip too, and we know what’s going on!” when we are specifically called to be NOT of the world though we are in it.

Too many churches are putting entertainment over worship to fill the pews, others will appease illegal immigrants to fill the pews, and now Christians magazines will become like the rest of the trash rags to sell a few more magazines. Only in numbers will Christians be able to demand what is needed.

Christianity Today just duped all of their readers. Who buys their rag? Christians, and they kicked their audience in the teeth buy trying to appease another demographic. I will no longer buy Christianity Today unless they get back on the path.

Grace & Truth,

Joe Caruso