Call for Southern Baptists to Support Mickey

A few years ago, the Southern Baptist Convention led the charge in the Disney Boycott. Now that the boycott has been lifted, it's time to support what's right at Disney. Although I have not yet seen it, everything I have read about the film indicates that Disney has remained faithful to Lewis's vision of Narnia in their upcoming release (Dec. 9) of "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe." Lewis's stepson, Douglas Gresham, served as a producer/consultant for the film. You can read an interview with Gresham here.

I am hoping that Southern Baptists will show that they are just as excited about supporting what is good as they are in attacking what is bad. Here is their chance. It's one thing to kick Mickey when he's down, but what about giving Mickey props when he is in the right? If Southern Baptists are going to have a powerful voice in the cultural debate, it's going to have to be one that is just as loud with the encouraging words as it was with the calls to repentance.

The hope of this country is not in getting Hollywood to make Christian films. Contrary to what some believe, spiritual awakening is not going to come through heavier doses of Mel Gibson and Aslan. God has ordained the means of revival to be prayer, holy living, and Christ-centered, biblical preaching.

But as Christians we must be consistent. If we are going to seek to influence the culture through boycotts, then we must also be ready to applaud the changes or good that we see. The release of this screen version of C. S. Lewis's classic story is a test. Will Southern Baptists pass?