The future of evangelical media

In a society where politics and the government play a significant role on the free flow of information, it is surprising that more evangelical investments are being made in Hollywood than in Washington, according to political analyst Michael Lindsay.
This trend is made obvious by the increasing success of Christian films such as Veggie Tale’s The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything: The Movie and C.S. Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia. But Godly images have not always been the fad. Directors and producers are gradually discovering moviegoers’ desire and acceptance of unpredictable content.
Inside Edition made an unlikely comparison. It said, “Christian is the new gay.”
Though it may be offensive to evangelicals, the statement comes from legitimate observations.
While homosexual relationships can be dated back to Biblical times, gay and lesbian actions were viewed as sinful and socially unacceptable, not fit for the media. However, time bears witness that the current population of the current age either tolerates or accepts this behavior, including some religiously affiliated groups.
An example is television’s popular sitcom Will & Grace in which the main character plays a gay man. Additionally, movies cause audiences to see homosexuals through a softer lens like as Sweet Home Alabama where actress Reese Witherspoon’s close male friend becomes interested in her ex-husband, implying his bisexual tendencies.
After research on public figures of faith, author, sociologist and scholar Michael Lindsay said evangelicals, like film producers, are “attempting to normalize” the unlikely.
While political activists seek to make religious changes on the steps of the capitol building, consumers will find that the most drastic movements will be made in the media as Christians continue to be engaged in producing edifying and attractive entertainment for secular and faith-based audiences alike.
On the other hand, the actors and actresses of featured films are often put on a pedestal, behaviors closely monitored by society. Directing the role of the Messiah in The Passion of Christ, Mel Gibson took up a large social responsibility. Consequently, the actor later became the topic of heated debates after he displayed himself in a manner not quite “what Jesus would have done.”
Chair of the university’s communication and media studies department at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, Dr. Joseph Tabarlet said the films will not go unnoticed.
“There are a lot of groups trying to get Christian messages in movies and eventually they will have some success,” he said. But the professor said it is a risky endeavor.
“Part of the problem with marketing a film with a really strong Christian message is that the message may be acceptable to some Christians and not to others,” Tabarlet said. “It is difficult to market a film to Christians without shutting some of them out.”
Overall, film watchers of our generation can expect to see many more “faith-based” movies released from Hollywood in the future, but their success is not a given.
Tabarlet said, “You can have a Christian message and that’s good, but that tends to narrow your audience.”
But then again, many people who do not support homosexuality watch movies with gay characters. Does that mean they are promoting the act of homosexuality?
The world of media is amazing and continues to be a subject of controversy. It will be interesting to see what Hollywood finds profitable in the near future.