Living Out Your Faith in Today's Culture

Believe it to them seem to me what we like to join hands and we would pray that you know that the Holy Spirit would move through the assembly collect from my side through the camera and touch people's lives. And I just feel so privileged that I have been used in that way. Let's Roma Downey. She's an award-winning actress and producer and she's describing how her faith in God has been an integral part of everything she does and how she lifts today on Focus on the Family Roma Downey and her husband Mark Burnett are with us and encourage you to live out your faith in the same kind of way with courage and authenticity. Thanks for joining us today for Focus on the Family I'm John Fuller and hostess focus president and author Jim Daly John were one week away from Easter. The most significant day of the year commemorating when Jesus Christ rose from the dead and literally transform the world. As Christians, I don't think we can understate the importance of the resurrection, because it fulfills all the promises of God that he loves us and cares for us and that he wants to wash away our sins. These are wonderful truths that Jesus fulfilled.

And of course the best truth of all that we get to spend eternity with them.

I get excited that that it is not just the good news. It's the great news for humanity and it's easy for that message sometimes to get lost in this popular culture and all the materialism that we have, etc. we tend not to think about things of faith while working to concentrate on that today and that's why we have Mark and Ramon with us. They have a release of a new movie called resurrection, which comes out on discovery. Plus this weekend and it really is inspiring it is and I'm looking forward to talking with them about it. Market Roma welcome back to see. We miss you see the screen in the phone bill today. We really miss you. Well that is so sweet and we appreciate it and that man tell us just give us a quick overview of resurrection then I'm asking some questions about the culture and then will get back to this release of the greatest truth ever told.

But what inspired you to do resurrection.

Listen, we're all coming to one of the worst years that we have experience in pandemic and Mike and I in conversation with each other's that would be greatly were able to release a film that told the story of hope and charity. There's no greater hope story in the world and the story of the resurrection. So we we rest with our editors to put this beautiful phone together. We thought around Christmas time that perhaps he would still have the opportunity to get into theater and spent it became clear that was going to happen because in pandemic and some were delighted to partner with discovery plus which is a brand-new platform family-friendly platform and starting 27 March, but we are so glad for that opportunity for listeners to be able to see that and I should mention Mark Burnett is I didn't get your bio I'm so sorry for that. We got rolling. Mark Burnett is chairman of the MGM worldwide television group is executive producer of the number of major TV shows, you know them survivor shark tank the voice he's produced more than 3200 hours of television programming which regularly errors in more than 70 countries worldwide. Roma Downey is a producer. As I mentioned earlier, she's an actress, author, and is the president of light workers media, which is the faith and family division of MGM studios and probably best known still for her role in touched by an Angel and together they done so many different faith-based programming ventures, including the Bible miniseries, the son of God in miniseries A.D. the Bible continues which we talked about before. Jim yeah so let's go to this question. What motivates the two of you to do this. I mean, I know you have a strong faith but you're working in Hollywood, you probably think I got keep our my head low. Don't you say okay organelle use the best resources. The best actors in order to do this well and were so proud of you for what you've done there and you do it in such gracious ways. It's not a finger wagging way in any sort of way. What motivates you to speak about your faith the way that you do is look to get on the next and showed Shona side-by-side and it really is a good feeling.

It feels good. We have fun doing it is important we believe so. Genesis was once two things don't get married couple. Your marriage won't sublime the ridges of a farm production that was wrong because not sublime, thrive and said your career is a very good first assessable making Bible-based stuff will diminish your careers.

In fact, all this happened. We tried to gain some literally giving ourselves to base as improved on marriage and family lives and careers and so steep and true element to that. We know that we don't always understand need to completely understand how these things happen, but we know by giving ourselves to this happens you know market Roma what's so great about that that applies to anybody doing anything right if you have that faith in Christ. Go for it.

Don't hold back and trust him to give you that peace and that comfort but be out there for him right yeah absolutely lead to we, therefore, you know, and I think I learned back in my here is Jim working on to explain Angel and clipped the beginning, reminding me that night Alvarez and myself. We would always pray before we went to the central scene, which was we called the angel Revelation seen and it was the moment that we would let the person know we went undercover nurses or teachers. Whenever weeping, pretending to be. We where in fact Angel sleeping sent by the Almighty and we had a message and the message was always the same, and there is a God that he loves you, and that he wants to be part of your life, and over 25 million people would tune in every week for that message and our prayer was less of me more than you sent me more so Mark and I have taken that prayer also into the work that we created under light workers that they would be less of us and more of God in that same message that there is a God that he loves us that he wants to be part of our lives is embedded into all of these projects and so you feel the energy of that coming on the resurrection, because if ever we were reminded that there is a God loves us is seeing the story of Jesus play out on the screen to see him crucified, which is the start of our movie, but more importantly to see him rice and show that he was who he said he wants. That's what we celebrate.

That's what is so amazing about Easter Mark, let me ask you your kinda known as a risk taker, obviously. And there was a quote I came across that I think is so you you said not making a significant contribution are not stepping up when given the chance is the thing you fear the most.

You know so many of us need to hear that you know not to shrink back in the moment that God gives us again. Whatever the platform might be an II just want to hear directly from you that idea that you sometimes feel that if you end up short on that your disappointing. Perhaps the Lord what you say about its role your running tool dysplasia or running away from pain and decide what you'll notice that it was different in line was running away from pain, but what was that thing is a greater pain to me to dial stupid or greater pain to me to look back 30 years later regret I wasn't brave enough that I decided I was continually look, as the case file better than to get into my old age and that a new look at on that I should've done it – driven me completely shows up in highly successful ones that haven't looked put vessels on the line for the Bible of the resurrection. You really put me so will throw stones at you really that's okay will get that deal with that thought better that we can look back to know that I dislike we went for yeah and it's such refreshing kind of courage and Roma. Maybe I can direct this to you when you're working in Hollywood. A lot of Christians you know those convictional Christians you know were getting the feeling that were being beat up, and people don't appreciate what we stand for but I can't think of a couple that does this better than the two of you and I mean that sincerely your graciousness, the fruit of the spirit that comes out of you, love, joy, peace, goodness, mercy.

It's kind of sad that we as Christians don't use the tools of the Lord more often and I think the question I have for you really is just how do you go about doing that on a daily basis in an environment like Hollywood that doesn't really express appreciation for what you believe, how do you generate that kindness that generosity toward people that don't agree with you will know I mean I do not like in my daily practice. Jim like to start my day in prayer you know and really I love nature like being able to see the sky on the ocean. I know some greenery and so I did my best praying outside at the weather permits.

I really just try to center myself, and that in any given day, you know, one of my favorite parables is the good Samaritan. Funny you should mention you know what, how do we how do we move through the world so it always inspires me that you know that the guy was helped was the enemy guy you know not of the same trying and that extension of kindness was Christlike. Think he you know, and so we don't all week sometimes fall short and we did our best to try to be those people and that they would know us by our love not going to know us by our finger-pointing or not Chase. I'm nuts.

Not my job to tell somebody all for you know I to judge somebody just our job to love and try to be gracious and try to be kind and down and I have fundraising in Hollywood, the people are more accepting than you might think you know I think that kindness can really disarm somebody, you know, more so than anything else, more so than a tackle.

You know somebody says something and you meet with kindness just see you know people will set it back down.

They were going to come at you in the capsule culture exists is a little bit of the safety people very unlikely to publicly criticize you been? Now just as bad as criticizing something guy for being rice for different polity. The culture right now with below so I'm really feeling people are less likely to boldly gotten slight negative about Christianity. Christians and so that just byproducts of times gone by and we love doing what we do and I totally fall easy supernatural elements of this trying figure out when officially found the load listened you're supposed to figure out it just is not really realize that success go alone with no how do people find out movies to little does what we have done the gym. You know about Jesus all real characters resurrection smoothly fueled via Sahara of the disciples they didn't really think Jesus would get killed crucified was PETA deleted three times, only Joan was even there with his mother at the cross and so that showing that feeling feel it with full legs.

Thanks. Little boys should be seeing this movie.

These real people. I think people never been to church on the river the Bible watching resurrection see themselves as a real characters that that's an outstanding part of it and actually Mark that was my next question to you because you're a former military guy special forces. I mean, that's a man's job a man's man's job. I'm thinking of Peter in the garden and you both do such a beautiful job portraying the disciples in human ways and there's been some criticism about that but I think you've captured beautifully. Those normal human shortcomings which, in the garden with Peter and I strapped on up against those coming against the son of God, and I don't think he was going for the man's ear.

By the way what guy you know last year as a special forces guy. Do you think Peter was really going for his ear but you can really feel what they're feeling in that moment, and you've done a brilliant job with that you will it says that if you look at Jesus sent the books you will will mature in Scripture feedings that she said. For example, in the upper room in this movie when they'll get together terrified that and really what they want they believe some zealot in the movie says get out of Dodge. When looking for is the stone stayed nice and of course as we know he resurrects tension in that pilots in typhus. The priest believes resurrected sock was installed in the body is increasing because the show and so you decide to give money to the Temple gods to lie, to say the disciples stole the body of Christ. We resurrected which as you know is enjoying this moment's attention what's going on is the craziest time in Jerusalem that killed Jesus they think solve the problem but he comes back in the game on everything changed in this movie we cover Pentecost know many times you see Pentecost in the sky movies the moment when they pray in the Holy Spirit comes the flames come speak in tongues is absolutely amazing to him because special-effects you knowing this is what we can to fill technicolor with a great special-effects apartment in the circles of flames around their heads and suddenly the speaking languages. They didn't even know they need and they tumbled light into the street.

Another ready to do what he asked them to do, which is tell everyone you know spread the gospel everywhere spread good news is he said spread the green and you know in our own way languages filmmakers you know that we're trying to do what he asked us today through film, which is to spread the gospel and is another way some people learn better things anchor more in their cells when they see it.

I myself am a visual learner and when I take the images and the characters from the movies that we made and I go back into Scripture. I think some ways that it like this product line in a new way. You know it's like to pay attention to different things.

I hadn't even realized when I first read it. So that's been very exciting yeah night. You know, one of the things is you do a brilliant job of people feeling that we can see our own humanity in your storytelling and that's what hooks people the others and accessibility to the work that Mark Burnett and Roma Downey do their guest today on Focus on the Family were talking about faith and culture and were talking about their new film resurrection which is available this weekend on discovery plus and that we got some details for you at our websites and some resources as well is we turn the corner and enter this final week of the Easter season aroma, let me come back to there something that you and I both share and that was the death of our mother said a very young age and I I love that Scripture that says God is close to the broken hearted and saves those crushed in spirit. I think one of the things that is so refreshing about you is a high-powered couple is your humility about this with the way your expressing God's given us a platform working to use it for him, and if so, I think refreshing just to see people achieve a high level but give it right back to God. And I think if I can be so bold to say I think that's because of your brokenness. You didn't go from mountaintop to mountaintop and speak to that reality of humanity that this life is full of suffering.

Yes, it is indeed me when my mother died. Jim I was only 10 years of age and she was in her late 40s being sick just drop a heart attack and so it was just an utter shock that she know it was like the lights were turned in. The music stopped and if it hadn't been for my faith. I don't know how I would've endured. Honestly, I really don't know. So the promise that the resurrection process is the hope that I held onto my whole life that you and I thanked him and everybody else will get to be reunited once again with our loved ones and what day that will be and I decided back wanted to live my best life to honor my mom and my dad died when I was in college and so you know visited our home too early and too often, but I think you're right. I think it's a very thing that has hurt the ones that you have that your capacity for compassion grows, I think maybe a compassion for empathy of others may not often thought in all my years untouched by an angel that those with gifts that the angel I played needed and you know you can't help but think is God amazing. You know like the liberals in all the world that I would've ended up with that role, where I was actually able to use the hearts that had visited me to minister to other people.

Yes that's beautiful and I think that's so hard now with guess the selfishness that we have in the culture that when we experience the kind of suffering we don't see how God might use it for his good and you know it makes Romans very difficult to understand when it says uses all things for his good that mean that that's hard for us to believe but look at your own life and it's proven so Troupe let's turn to resurrection.

Specifically, when you look at the casting the shooting of it all of that you've done as John alluded to A.D. the Bible story etc. speak to the resurrection and the production quality of it. What you're trying to hit Wellesley in a legal often said that just because a film has safe content and just because it sounds well-intentioned. The film also has to be excellent quality and I think in the past, perhaps in our Christian community. We had movies come out and leap an approach can you support this filament, we see the family know that was well intended but the quality of film just doesn't isn't up to snuff, you know, we just don't think that's acceptable anymore.

This this movie resurrection coming out of Hollywood has to be as good as any marble move the Lord in the arena. We just wanted that we brought a marvelous team together. Jim you know takes a village to do anything and we have a wonderful cast wonderful crew wonderful sex decorations and costume designs and and all enhanced by the Huns them or learn about score in the collective experiences. Just a greedy melody plays out like a thriller with drama and tension and ultimately your heart sources completely inspirational and it is our hope that families maybe will start a new tradition for Easter from the comfort and safety of your own home to gather together to watch this beautiful Easter offering to maybe talk to family afterwards over a meal and it's a great entry point for can't see no one but just hoping maybe if they beginning of an annual tradition to what's resurrection for Easter and again. What a great reminder to let the culture know that Jesus is the greatest story ever told. In his resurrection is the greatest gift that we can imagine from God. Right at the end here Mark in Rome.

I think of the two of your your attributes Mark I think of you that old person lets out there and Roma.

Don't forget Mark.

Let's love everybody and I love that you both do that so well is such a wonderful combo that you both as a couple bring to the story your boldness and Roma that loving kindness that you have when you look at the outcome. On the other side of Easter what would you hope for that. People will walk away with after watching resurrection. I think you know we come to this terrible year and if you imagine for a minute when we were locked in our homes is kind to like were all hoping for that resurrection.

You know that what that feels like. When we finally were able to get back who will leave the when we finally were able to get back you know because we have to start unpacking that I think were all going to be very different. I think it's given this time, all to reflect and to really prioritize what's important in our lives, hoping that when people see this filming of this lovely ending to the phone, not a spoiler alert. I'm sure your listeners all know the story, but we remind the audience at the end that what began with just 12 people learn a handful of followers really is now grown to over 2 1/2 p.m. believers today and there's something I think so extraordinary to be reminded that were part of such a huge lot family and to remember that we belong to each other and you know there's just something so uplifting and comforting and that to me or Mark and Roma you guys again. I just so love and appreciate you. I wish I was walking through the front door so we could spend time together and I just I feel such a kindred spirit with what you're doing and how you doing at the way you love people. It's an inspiration and I'm telling you each and every listener. I mean this is living out your faith right in the boldest way possible with the most love that you can express to people. It is the message of the gospel what the market Roma do each and every day right there in Hollywood, rather than cash dispersions for that group. The community when we pray for them. Pray for the effectiveness of market Roma could have been that community as influencers for Christ and most of all, let's watch the movie and go to discovery plus and will post a link there that our website where people can connect so market Roma.

Thank you so much again for being with us for your bright smiles and for what you do every day in the name of the Lord. Thank you Jim ready when you return, please come visit us again. We love having you home your great guest was right for you is to let it out all right got guys can remember is is resident right by and as Jim said were to link over to some details about that discovery plus release of the movie resurrection by market Roma and a you can also call us if you'd like our numbers 800 K in the word family or stop by the episode notes to learn more, John. Let me also mention that we have a free booklet you can download it as well call coming home. It really explains what it means to become a Christian and here it Easter is the greatest meaning of the whole moment and we would love for you to consider. If you don't have a relationship with Jesus Christ start the discovery process. Find out why ask questions.

What is this about what were the claims of Christ in this booklet will help answer some of those questions and get you started in that relationship for eternity with Jesus. Tens of thousands of people of God.

This book will read it online and again at our website will have all the details in the link is in the episode you have a great weekend with your family and your church family to join us again on Monday for practical tips about making your marriage more joyful you think about it, friendship is the foundation of marriage you would be good friends.

If you're not playing together. You really friends, half of Jim Daly in the entire team here.

Thanks for listening to Focus on the Family I'm John Fuller back once more help you and your family thrive in Christ.

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