Countering the Insider Movement: a new film

The newly-released film 'Half Devil: Half Child' has been produced as a response to the tendency of Western missionaries and their organisations to compromise God's Word in order to reach those of different religions and cultures.

The Red Futon Film company has added a new production to its list of titles aimed at countering the so-called 'Insider' and 'Contextualisation' Movements. The latter are causing an increasing concern amongst those who wish to hold fast to God's Truth as it is contained in the Bible.

The pre-launch briefing from the makers of 'Half Devil: Half Child' states:

Throughout the last century, Christianity has grown dramatically in the 10-40 window. In Bangladesh, as Western colonies faded into history, young, dynamic leaders came out of Islam and into the Church. Bolstered by strong fellowship and an outspoken witness, Muslim-background Christians planted churches, started schools, translated resources and grew into a vibrant, visible, Christian church. But something else was lurking in the shadows.

Under the guise of contextualization, colonialism has evolved. Western missionaries are encouraging new believers to keep their faith ‘inside.’ Baptized Christians are going back to the Imams and back to the mosques. Rather than identifying themselves as Christians, they are calling themselves Isai or “Jesus” Muslims. Bibles are being produced that are omitting references to God as Father and to Jesus Christ as the Son of God. It is an idea that turns the gospel upside down, reversing what the Bible means when it calls people to turn to Christ and out of darkness and into the light.

No simple diatribe against accommodation, Half Devil Half Child calls the church in the West to remember who it is in Christ, a new creation that requires a wiser approach to missions and better use of our material blessings. This film challenges our taste for the comfort, ease and safety we enjoy. It identifies what drives a movement that creates invisible Christians for an invisible and ineffectual Church, to the glory of Islam. It is a call to recapture for the West what has been known for millennia – that the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church. It reminds us to let our light shine before men that they may see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven.

Opposed by Muslims and these “insider” Western approaches, faithful men, called from Islam to Christ in His one and only church continue to plant churches, preach the Gospel, train new leaders, and love their enemies. Hear them speak of their love for Jesus Christ and the freedom of His Gospel. Hear them confess their one hope in Christ and one life in the triune God. Hear them express their desire for the bond of brotherhood born for adversity, knit together in life and death. Hear the deep meaning it has for our lives in a majority world country and the Christian church as we know it.

Journey to Bangladesh and meet the men who tell a story of deception and confusion, and of true faith. Join these men who are giving all they have to reach their nation with the faith delivered once for all to the saints, and – once for all – to light the 10-40 window.

Earlier this year the Wycliffe Bible Translators found the organisation having to respond to concerns and allegations that the principles of accurate translation were being stretched to prevent giving offence to those of different belief systems.

Christians Together, 31/10/2012