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 On
page 6, we quote John Allen Chalk, preacher for the Highland
Church of Christ. Abilene. as he reviews the ‘X’ - rated
movie, “Midnight Cowboy.” His comments are copied, word for
word, from an article by Sam Pendergrast, in the May 22, Abilene
Reporter—News, headed “Minister Critics Reject Obscenity
Label for ‘Cowboy.’ We take the word of others when we say
the chief’ characters are a homosexual and male prostitute,
with “explicit scenes of both heterosexual and homosexual
relationships.”
John
Allen Chalk does not commend homosexuality — just the “true
brotherly love” he thinks the characters portrayed. He does
not commend the “explicit scenes” of what God calls “vile
affection” “burning lust” “Unseeming” and “defiling”
— for he says they are “unnecessary and, therefore, both
personally and artistically unacceptable.” He sees the movie
as a “socio-psychological commentary on basic human need —
religious need.”
I
admire bro. Chalk for the courage he displayed in frankly
stating his views on such a controversial subject — but there
my admiration comes to a screeching halt. His description of the
character ‘Ratso’ as “ a striking Christ—type
figure makes me sick at my stomach. My feelings are not helped
by remembering that a hippie school of
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modernists have tried to
cast Jesus in that role.
And
if you have read the slick- sheet pictorials and news magazines
of the past few years you know that the big “defense” of
pornography and obscene movies and plays is the “redemptive
qualities” these smut-peddlers claim to find in their plots.
We are asked to consider the “social message” or “artistic
value”; “just watch the hands — the story is in the hands.”
The story of what??
Jesus
taught “true love” for vile sinners (Jn. 8: 2-11) without
minimizing the sin, or casting the sinner as a “Christ -type
figure.” True gospel preachers today need not go to the sewer
for materials or examples by which to preach His message.
To
a much happier topic — we call attention to page 3, where we
print a third article by bro. Dan S. Shipley. We appreciate your
commendations of his articles in two previous issues.
Bro.
Shipley, now of Prescott, Ariz., has agreed to assist in writing
Plain Talk next year while I am in Australia for meetings, and
he is “breaking in” with some splendid material.
Congratulations, Dan!!
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