Actscelerate.com

bonnie knox

Old Timer, when you watched "War Room" did you get a sense of wrong teaching on prayer? (L)

[Insert Acts Pun Here] Posts: 14803 **9/9/15 9:59 pm**

I just read this opinion piece about "War Room."
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/eidos/2015/08/genie-jesus-and-the-war-room-problem/
I know you found the movie emotionally touching, but did it stand up to your scrutiny on doctrine. From the article, "It is a film with a bad view of prayer. I don’t dislike it because it is simple, but because it is simply unreal. We often pray and things go badly . . . not because God is not listening, but because God is bringing what is best for us in an eternal perspective in the constraints of a free will universe."

Old Time Country Preacher

Re: Old Timer, when you watched "War Room" did you get a sense of wrong teaching on prayer? (L)

Acts-pert Poster Posts: 15570 **9/9/15 10:56 pm**

bonnie knox

[Insert Acts Pun Here] Posts: 14803 **9/9/15 11:11 pm**

Thanks for your insight, Ole Timer.

mytimewillcome

Golf Cart Mafia Underboss Posts: 3658 **9/10/15 1:34 am**

I thought War Room was about OTCP launching missile strikes against Degree mills, WOFers Headquarters, and pink wearing worship leaders.

Old Time Country Preacher

Acts-pert Poster Posts: 15570 **9/10/15 8:28 am**

churchsinger

Very Good, OTCP

Friendly Face Posts: 412 **9/10/15 12:29 pm**

I love it when you let your intelligence flow through your words. Don't get me wrong, I love the vernacular your parody uses as well, but I do love intelligent, well-written conversation.

Old Time Country Preacher

Re: Very Good, OTCP

Acts-pert Poster Posts: 15570 **9/10/15 5:35 pm**

deltaman

Re: Old Timer, when you watched "War Room" did you get a sense of wrong teaching on prayer? (L)

Member Posts: 40 **9/11/15 9:25 pm**

[quote="Old Time Country Preacher"]

Mark Ledbetter

Responding to Reynold's critique and who is he anyway Bonnie?

Golf Cart Mafia Associate Posts: 2109 **9/12/15 12:05 am**

Having read the article I researched the author, John Mark N. Reynolds, and reading some of his other articles/blogs, he seems to have a burr under his saddle.

Some of the stuff he writes would resonate with OTCP (read: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/eidos/2015/09/standing-in-the-need-of-prayer/)

Apparently Reynolds is a very articulate Christian Philosopher and takes aim at cultural issues, especially relating to Christianity.

In the article cited he takes aim not only at War Room but other releases by the same presenters. He simply doesn't like the movies and is extremely critical of how they were written, the quality of acting, etc. (although he does cite War Room in a piece directed towards Hollywood: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/eidos/2015/09/hollywood-what-i-hope-you-learn-from-war-room/)

My wife and I saw War Room this evening and certainly found the movie to be impacting, emotional, and entertaining. Levity mixed with the serious themes presented helped. But, the actors were very good in extracting tears from the viewers.

In retrospect, having read the critical review, I an see how Reynolds might read into the movie the conclusions he draws. But, I believe he misses the point.

Central to the movie is its message and it is calling Christians (back) to pray, to enter their prayer closets, to surrender their lives to God, to activate His word in our lives through Bible Study and Prayer (I have to agree, however, if the only reason you read the Bible is to determine what blessings you can claim, you are motivated by something else than being God's servant).

Simple dialogue, simple acting, simple message. Will it work for the refugees in the Middle East, the woman or child finding themselves in an abusive relationship, or others facing spiritual and physical malady and malice?

Not always. Although God is sovereign He has chosen not to violate the free will of man. Not all hearts will soften to His overtures of goodness or the conviction of sin. And to castigate the War Room because it doesn't work every time for every body again misses the point.

Will Christians (re)turn to their prayer closets? Will they be moved to engage in intercession for others?

The seed will fall on four types of soil and depending on the type of soil it finds will determine whether it will bear fruit, and if so, how much fruit it will bear. (Matthew 13:3-9, 18-23)

At a time when American Christians need hope, encouragement, etc., War Room provides this. I encourage others to see the film.
_________________
God-Honoring
Christ-Centered
Bible-Based
Spirit-Led
(This is how I want to be)