The anger that some Christians are expressing over the casting of an actor who is a homosexual in The End of the Spear is embarrassing. Chad Allen, who also advocates gay marriage, plays Steve Saint and Nate Saint in the film, which powerfully depicts the sacrifice of five missionaries among the Waodani tribe of Ecuador. Allen does a terrific job in the movie, which is a ground-breaking presentation of Christian sacrifice and reconciliation reminiscent of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
While we Christians may personally feel disappointed for Allen about his homosexuality and his vocal activism about so-called “gay-rights” issues, we can only praise him for the skill and passion he brought to the movie. And do we really want to discriminate against actors who are homosexuals? (What happens when they start discriminating against us?) Or do we simply want to get the best artists, regardless of “sexual orientation”? The latter allows us not only to make the best art, but to reach out to those with whom we disagree.
I hope and pray that this silly controversy will bring more publicity to The End of the Spear, which has been unfairly maligned by some mainstream reviewers. More people need to see this film, which provides all moviegoers–gay or straight, Christian or non-Christian–with a gut-wrenching opportunity to learn about God’s love.
