Both theologians and management consultants like to point out that it wasn’t raining when Noah built the ark.
They’re right, of course. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said of the Darren Aronofsky-directed film, Noah, scheduled to release in 2014.
The forthcoming movie starring Russell Crowe and Emma Watson was forced to suspend production in both Brooklyn and on Long Island earlier this week due to the arrival of Hurricane Sandy.
Unlike in the real Noah’s day, though, the Hollywood-produced ark was heavily damaged in the storm.
“I take it that the irony of a massive storm holding up production of Noah is not lost on Darren Aronofsky and Russell Crowe,” tweeted Ms. Watson.
That Hollywood is now beginning to more regularly tackle films based on the Bible is a good thing. But as Christians focus on the authenticity and accuracy of the script, as well we should, we might also want to focus on the impact that script will have on the scriptwriters and all the personnel involved with the filming.
What must it be like to be an agnostic or a skeptic on the set of a motion picture about the Bible and to be constantly swimming in the midst of Scripture’s truth?
In some ways, it reminds me of the Roman Praetorian guards who were chained to the apostle Paul. Paul tells us that his imprisonment was actually a joy – because in his guards he had a captive audience and enthusiastically shared the Gospel while chained to them in jail (Phil. 1:12-14).
A Hollywood set is no prison, but this story is still a reminder that God is always in pursuit of hearts, even those hearts that may be cold or indifferent to Him. Let’s pray for those making this forthcoming movie, that those who do not know Him will come to love the God who made them. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is a force that cannot be stopped because the Lord is always on the move and continues to show Himself to people everywhere, even on a fake ark in Brooklyn.
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