Saved!

Whether or not this movie takes potshots at Christianity is not really the most relevant question here. While it may be hard to separate the two, what it really does is skewer the “Christian subculture” that exists in the USA. It’s healthy to laugh at ourselves, and criticism is a good way to force us to examine our priorities and actions. For example, here are some valid questions brought up in Saved!: Should we really try to make Jesus look cool? Are the superficial games of popularity in high school something followers of Christ should be playing? Are non-believers “projects” that we convert to make ourselves feel better? Do parents and leaders have an obligation to live by higher standards because they are being watched by youngsters? How valid are outward appearances in judging our walks with God? How should confessed sin be treated in a community setting? Applying biblical perspective to these questions can be helpful in examining the “kingdom” we are creating and fostering here. Perhaps the outrageous caricatures and spoofing can actually be used constructively. For example, the next time you attempt to exorcise demons from one of your friends, maybe you can skip the step of making them listen to the entire Elms album on your iPod and converse with them instead. [MGM] DV

19 : Obscenities
2 : Nudity / Sexuality
100% : Spiritual Relevancy

This DVD review was published in the Jan/Feb 2005 issue of HM Magazine. Order the Print Version of HM for tons more reviews of new DVDs.

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Comments

By Woody

I love you guys and I understand that people grow at different speeds in different areas of life. Now, with that being said I have to say that when we as Christians feel we have to make everything in our culture "Christianized" on one level or another it burdens my heart. Your own review tells this story:
19 : Obscenities
Scripture says "out of the mouths of Christians come praising and cursing, my brothers, this should not be."
2 : Nudity / Sexuality
Scripture says "let there not be even a HINT of sexual immorality."
You might say that you aren't the one conducting these acts but scripture also says "Take no part in the sins of others."
Again, I love you guys, but when are we as Christians going to answer the very question in your review: "Should we really try to make Jesus look cool?"
Let's face it we don't justify movies like these because we think they will help our spiritual growth. We justify them so we don't miss out on the "things of this world" that our fleshly nature still craves.

I'm no Saint, just another sinner trying to make it, Woody

By ChristGuevarra

I find your review of this movie definately appealing. Not because it "justifies it" but because it offers insight as to what kinds of questions the movie poses. As for it's "obscene content"........

A soul-less medium is just that.

Let's not take scripture out of contexts eithers. "Cursing" is not the same thing as being crass with language.

Also, it is not what goes into a person that defiles him. It's what comes out. A person who understands their strenghts should walk secure in that. If you a weak person, don't see it.

By SKwiRL

Well, I haven't seen this movie yet, but I want to. I'm ready for the Curch to stop expecting the world to like us. This thought pattern is stupid and wrong, the world WILL hate us. It's not our place to entice the lost to come to our side, the Holy Spirit does that. In all honesty, if we tell the truth of the gospel instead of using the FAITH outline, we run the risk of scaring away people. Heaven forbid we tell them to hate their parents (I know that means that my love from God should make my love for my parents look like hate, but Jesus didn't explaine when He said it did he?) I'm glad this movie is out, I hope it moved the Curch to be insulted by its own actions. We need a change.

By Bonnie Sue

I agree with this review too. I think the movie was an important shoulder-shaking- stare-in-the-mirror-and-play-back-the-
tapes kind of movie. It left me with an almost sick to my stomache feeling, in fact I had trouble sleeping after watching it. The truth is we are humans and we do very human things. I just hope we can use this to wake up from everything and change our ways.

By The Theory

this was one of my favorite movies last year. funny as crap.

By lauren

i loved this movie because it made me think. sometimes it took it too far, but unfortunatly it makes good points. i say kudos to the makers for being brave enough to make it. they had to have known the christians would pray against them or something. i got the point, this is how they see us, so lets get out there and change it.

By Eric

this movie owned. too bad most of my conservative friends were horribly offended. oh well.