End of the Spear

We went to see "End of the Spear" Saturday night with Joel and Wendy. As far as Christian movies go, this was one of the best independent Christian films I've seen. Filmed on location in Ecuador and Peru the film combines beautiful cinematography with a well-written script that touchingly presents its message of forgiveness. The cinematography was really beautiful. The aerials of the jungle with Nate's plane buzzing close over the turquoise river, and the early shots of him and Steve in the workshop are very compelling . The violence, though difficult to watch, is shot in a tasteful manner that captures the drama and fear of the moment without being overdone. The End of the Spear follows the story of Nate Saint as he is searching for the Waodani people in order to save them from killing themselves off - and being killed.
"We don't have much time. The Waodani are killing too many people. The government will send troops down soon - we have to act now."
(Nate Saint to Jim Elliot)
Interestingly enough the movie emphasized this concern for the Waodani on the part of the missionaries, instead of a desire to convert them, which would have probably turned off the secular audience. That was one thing that bothered me though...I think the name of Christ needed to have a vital part of the story...that was the ultimate goal of these men. One aspect of the story really struck me...the Waodani's belief that a man's children should be buried with the father when he died. They often sacrificed their children in this way. It made me think of the way we're sacrificing the future of our civilization through abortion...killing the potential for the next generation to satisfy the "gods" of selfish desire or convenience. The story also tells us the Saint's story from the Waodani perspective following Mincayani, the warrior that killed Nate Saint, and his journey to reconciliation with his own conscience. After Nate and his friends are killed the story turns to the women -- white and Waodani -- who are used by God to show true forgiveness and introduce them to God's son. It is the women, who have little or no status in the Waodani culture, who are able to bridge the cultural gaps between the missionaries and the indians. The willingness of Rachel Saint and Elizabeth Eliot to go and live with the tribe that killed their family is simply unbelievable to the warriors - and it is this that ultimately heals the pain of the past. Here again, the missionaries are not portrayed as preachy but genuinely concerned. The only overt presentation of the gospel is made to the Waodani by a Waodani woman who had become a Christian. Joel and Wendy really seemed to enjoy the movie too, although Joel felt the music was trying too hard to manipulate the emotions of the viewer. I'll let him elaborate on his view of the story.

It was so much fun having them home...even though it was a short weekend. Their furnace quit on Saturday so they weren't able to get here until Saturday evening. After the repairman fixed the furnace...again...they decided they need to get a new one this spring. Oh the joys of home ownership! It was really fun having them go to our church and Sunday school class. They hadn't been to church with us in a long time so all our friends were really happy to see them! I think John was really nervous with them in our Sunday school class...he was starting the study of Romans and felt so humbled to be leading that group of young marrieds when so many of them are even more knowledgeable about the Bible than we are...especially Joel and Wendy! But I know God will use us despite our inadequacies...He doesn't call the equipped...He equips the called!