Tonight Lori asked me to rent her the film Fireproof. As I was picking it up off the counter, the guy working at video store said that he had to warn me about the film first before I rented it. He went onto explain that it wasn't just a movie, but a religious guide on how to live your life – and that some find that very offensive. To be fair, he was great about it, and also said tons of people love it too.
I simply followed this moment up with one question.
I asked him if he gave that warning out before people rented An Inconvenient Truth or any other film in the store that promoted a potentially offensive message on how you can choose to live your life?
He said, "No. I am just trying to help you."
I didn't tell him who I was or what I did, just that if I can be open to watching any other new release, then how could hearing about Jesus hurt my life?
He said, that makes sense.
- Rent a horror film where everyone dies – no warning.
- Rent a film full of sex and adultery – no warning.
- Rent a film full of deceit and corruption – no warning.
- Rent a film about trying to save your marriage with the help of Jesus – warning.
Interesting moment indeed.
Wow. That’s pretty amazing. I’ll see if it happens when I rent it, and I’ll be interested to see if it’s common or isolated to one store.
I would like to think it is isolated to that one employee of that one video store…….. but …….I have my doubts. Are Christians becoming a minority group? hmmmm….
Unbelievable!
I will share as well a similar experience. I go to my local big chain movie store. Walk directly to the movie Firestorm. Turn around walk directly to the cash. The lady looks at me with a strange face and says, “that movie is no good”. I already know what the movie is about and ask her why. She says “the acting is horrible and very low budget, it is not like Backdraft or something”. Then I said “what about the message?” She says “it takes so long to get to the message it is not worth watching”. At this point I think in my head “I wonder if she knows Jesus and if this is God’s way of testing me” I drove home with that thought and the movie wondering if I should have tried to ask if she believed in God, had faith, knew Jesus or something along those lines. I still wonder if that was my chance to evangelize.
I missed it if it was.
I have rented movies for a long time and this movie was the first one that unless I asked what the person thought of it I received an opinion/warning.
I don’t know if I can challenge anyone in the comment field of your blog Pastor Jason but if anyone does rent this movie and get similar warnings, can you seize the moment to drop a good word for Jesus?
I think I missed an opportunity.
Next time I hope I will have the courage to act on my heart.
Thanks