For Steve and Jeff,

Jeff wrote: I think that David is pointing to a very real danger here. It is not that movies and dramas are necessarily wrong in themselves  

David: Agreed, in and of themselves they are not wrong.  However when you start to mix them with the GOD ORDAINED MEANS OF PREACHING then they DO become wrong.  Steve keeps referring to stories.  Stories are preaching!!  The stories you read in scripture, are STILL SCRIPTURE!  I think that Steve, you are awfully close to pragmatic theology, -- whatever works, is fine.  I guess I'm just an old crusty Calvinist on this issue who sticks with the reformers on this one.

Jeff wrote: However these things are never enough. They never satisfy and so we have to do more and more and soon preaching IS seen as boring and oldfashioned.

David: Exactly!  This then goes back to the question that wasn't taken seriously or was ignored, which is, why NOT just replace preaching if movies work just as well?  We are OBVIOUSLY a visual society, where reading and true thought are replaced with amusement (which means, literally without thought a muse).  I will continue to contend that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God, and that a movie, no matter how well it's done, no matter how accurate it is NOT THE MEANS GOD HAS ORDAINED.  Romans 10 worked fine for Paul, and it works fine for me.  

If people want to do puppet shows, fine.  But once the novelty is worn off, you'll still be left with what has been ordained, tried and trusted, good old fashioned preaching.

David