#thecaseforchrist

Saw the movie; have to read the book! This man’s testimony is amazing!

... but not enough to change it.

I want to talk about "The Case for Christ". 

Allow me to clarify, the FILM "The Case for Christ" (2017).

Another movie night rolled around, and we couldn't find anything worthy to watch. I had seen a promo for TCFC. I had some nostalgia cookin - this was originally a book which I had read and liked a long time ago. The story is kinda in the title:

An investigative journalist sets out... really, in an atheistic manner, to build a case AGAINST Christ, but ends up becoming a Christian. A pretty cool story (real-life). Worthy of a movie, and worthy of Praphit's Movie Night. Problem was... it's only streaming on something called "PureFlix".

What the hell is PureFlix? I looked into it - well, at least I tried to. Most services, you can get a peek inside, before you go all of the way. PureFlix is heavily guarded. I tried to sneak in, but they were like "Getcho ass outta here!"

But, pretty much, it's all about good, solid, Christian, wholesome entertainment. We've all had those moments when we're watching some movie with kids around, and "oops, there's some cursing", or "oops, there's some violence", or "oops, there's a penis". Then, you try to hurry up and fast forward past the penis, but you hit the pause button by accident. Now, you’re panicking, so you accidentally throw the scene into slomo mode. You shout to the kids to shut their eyes (of course they don't), and somehow you press the zoom-in button (which you didn't know even existed), so now there's a giant penis swinging in slomo, in Ultra HD on your  screen, and everyone is screaming. You've ruined movie night! We've all been there. You don't have to worry about that type of thing with PureFlix. No shows like “Euphoria” here. I get it.

I just wanted to know what else is going on with them, and I couldn't find anything. I was angry. I wanted some TCFC.

I looked it up on Rotten Tomatoes - not great, not good, but not a bad rating. I wasn't expecting all that much. I mean, I think "The Passion of the Christ" was ranked poorly by the critics and only ranked something like 80% by the audience. The audience is Christian. We can't do any better than Jesus on the cross, people! I would have expected at least 95%. What were we doing there? Was it the violence? Should the Roman soldiers have toned it down a bit? Or was it Mel Gibson?? It was probably him.

I was even more angry now that I thought about this, cuz why DON'T I expect more from these types of movies?!

I have a joke that I tell among my peeps that Church is where creativity goes to die. And with all jokes, there's some truth there; with this one, it's all truth. But, why? Christians (my people) serve a creative God! Why isn't creativity embraced and cultivated more in the church? We could spend all day hashing that one out, but I'll say this - the enemy of art is aggressive structure. Of course we need certain levels of structure in life, but with art... let it be loose and free! Let art be edgy, if it wants to be. Let art push the limits, or go beyond the limits, if it wants to. It'll learn, it'll evolve, it'll mature, but let it happen organically.

If there are people out there who disagree with me (in the context of creativity in church), simply ask the "creative people" in your church (if you have any). Ask the young people in your church (if you have any). I'm willing to bet that they'll share my sentiments, with some more added, if you'd let them.

Now, let me get off my soapbox, and get back to PureFlix.

Like I said, I couldn't peek inside, BUT I found "PureFlix Insider" to help me figure out what this entertainment platform is all about. 

POSITIVITY: Sweet! Who could be against positive energy?? However, I did see some influence from Fox News up in there. Idk if Fox has a hand in financial support for this or something, but...

  Now, I'm not getting political; I'm simply saying there's an agenda there (like with all mainstream media). Having an agenda is fine, but for PureFlix (Christianity/ "Truth" /positivity)?? Idk. It made me think of a show idea, which I'm willing to host for you, PureFlix.

We could have a show where I read news articles, claiming to be the truth (from all cultures and political points of view), and when I find an agenda that has crept its way into the objectivity of the story, I call it out, and tell that story to get the hell outta here. Maybe we'll call the show "Go to Hell!" Think of me as your John Oliver :) It'll be the most dismissive show that’s streaming...  outside of this guy’s show:

(Ben Shapiro does not like She-Hulk. He needs you to understand that)

I also noticed that PureFlix is all about Prayer & Faith. Or course! Awesome! The pics I saw on there were kinda... white though. Maybe mix in a lil color. Just a note. I'm not insinuating anything. In fact, I’m trying to help you broaden your stroke to make more money. If diversity doesn’t come from the heart, it can at least come out of greed :)

I’m joking... (not really tho). I would hate for this post to be considered “woke garbage”. 

Then, I checked out the Movies/Tv - YES! however (again), kinda white. Where's Madea at? Isn't there a Mexican character on VeggieTales? 

 I think it's time for him to get his own show, don't you?

Don't be offended by me saying it's "kinda white" - I'm actually being kind when I say that :) And of course there's a place for that type of “culture” in Christianity (I mean that) and on PureFlix, but what about everyone else?

I'm here to help you, PF!

We'll  label all that stuff you've got on there as "Kinda White Though". Maybe we'll get a Tyler Perry or a Steve Harvey section of as well.

I'm thinking we could spice-up some of the content. I'll even use the bible for ideas, so some of you aren't triggered too much by my creativity.

The book of Hosea (in the bible). Here, there's the prophet Hosea, who's married to a prostitute named Gomer. That's a RomCom if I've ever seen one!

We could get a reality show about King Solomon and all of his many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, MANY, many, many wives (and side women).

There's "the woman with the ISSUE of blood" - look that one up, kids. In fact, we'll make it for kids; turn it into a cartoon.

Ooo, we''ll rock some Horror:

"Jason goes to Church" 

He's putting down the machete and picking up the bible.

or

Saw: Born-Again - 

This time, the Jigsaw copycats find Jesus, but take compelling people to believe a lil too far:) Don't worry, we'll blur out all of the good stuff - keepin it pure, baby!

Perhaps "Naked with Bathsheba"(I’ll let your imaginations run wild with what that show would entail) - that'll be for late night. Don't worry, PF. We'll have a quick warning on stuff like that - "Must be married and currently watching this with YOUR OWN spouse". Huh?? Yeah! I got your back, PF!

I also have some ideas for a LGBTQ section, but... you know... baby steps.

I'm offering my help for free (though an offering of a few million might better motivate me... just sayin). I'm here for you! And if you make TCFC 2, I'll even star in it (for kinda free/an offering).

Perhaps that investigative reporter is BACK, and finds me (a mad scientist who created time travel). We decide that the church needs some help from past Bible heroes to get things moving in the right direction again.

We bring back to the present -  Samson (for his super strength), King David (for his battle skills), Mary (mother of our Lord), Noah (power to build shit) and Gomer (powers of prostitution - which honestly, sounds like a great title for another show). Can somebody say "Universe"?? YEAH! I am your tool! Use me! Let’s stick it to Marvel and DC!