This is a powerful and compelling documentary. Dan Merchant fearlessly tackles a controversial subject: have Christians been guilty of judgment and hate? What would happen if Christians spoke to gays in love and kindness, rather than speaking out against them with what the gays perceive is hatred?
Dan Merchant takes to the streets and wears buttons of all kinds, some Christian ones, and one which says “Vote Pro Choice” to simply get people to talk. He asks people what they think of when they think of a Christian and he receives all kinds of answers including the following words: forgiveness, fanaticism, compassion, snobby, hypocrites, theatrics, etc. Included in the many clips are Christian author Tony Campolo, Pat Robertson, Matthew Crouch and also people like Bill Maher and George Carlin. At one point Merchant sets up a confession booth at a Gay Pride meeting and confesses to gays that Christians have shown far too much hatred and judgment toward gays and that he apologizes for those who have hurt them. Most of the gay community accepts the apology.
This is one documentary that, whether or not you agree with its approach, will make you think and analyze whether Christians are successfully reaching the secular world or not. The viewer will learn of people who came from broken homes, only to find no solace in church. Yet the viewer will also see how that the choices of the people in the documentary influences where they wind up at. One young gay High School student named Roger is mentioned. He was urinated on by five boys in High School and he committed suicide that night.
Listen to comments by people like Bono, who says, “I was cynical not about God but God’s politics”. This film is intended for a mature audience and we award it our Dove Seal for ages twelve plus. There is the use of the expression “F’ing” by one person, without the word being spoken. This is the strongest expression spoken and we believe that this DVD is so important that this one crude comment should not prevent us from encouraging viewers to see this documentary. It will make you think. It will encourage you to ask questions and possibly to rethink your own approach to people you may disagree with. Dan Merchant says he is still a Christian today and has been since he was a teen. But now he is examining his motives and approach to others more carefully. We gladly encourage viewers to make use of this important DVD. It could be life changing.
