This page comes from the newsletter of Broadmead Baptist Church, known as The Record. The Record has been produced since 1934.
The Broadmead Cross
This cross, like all representations of the cross of Jesus Christ, symbolises his suffering and death for all humanity.
The arms reach outwards, like the arms of God, in love and forgiveness, gathering all suffering to himself
The space between the two upright members represents the fact that Christ is no longer dead. Beyond the cross there is the Resurrection.
The upright members point upwards to denote Christ's Ascension.
From The Record - Does **** Really Matter?
It is often said that times change and when it comes to the film industry, there is no doubt. If I remember correctly, it was in 1933 that a film was made of George Bernard Shaw’s play Pygmalion. It caused quite a stir, for it contained one swear word. If we look at our television programmes these days, to see which films are available, we are warned if they contain swearing, violence, sex or nudity. Have the film-makers gone too far?
There have been several excellent epic films, which have managed quite successfully to transport the audience into situations without the inclusion of excessive bad language or unnecessary violence: that was due to the excellence of the scriptwriters, directors and actors.
A recent article in the Radio Times raised the question of whether or not we should be offended by use of “foul-mouth drivel” in the media, but concluded with, “We waste too much time tussling over bad language when there are other, much more pressing, debates to be had, namely about the sadistic treatment of women in TV dramas. Swearing is just another distraction …”
The reason, so often given, for including swearing in programmes is that it reflects modern society (wasn’t there swearing in earlier days?), but do you want emotions expressed by bad language, or sentences punctuated by it, invading your home? This needs careful consideration.
The Revd Glen Marshall of Northern Baptist College in his Blog (also published in The Baptist Times) writes: “Part of the value of films is that they introduce us to the reality of our world, or at least the reality seen by film-makers and their audience of millions. At its best, film is unquestionably important art. You know, the creative production that helps us see deeper into our world … into the desires, longings and fantasies playing out in people’s hearts and souls.”
He goes on to say that if we love our world and those with whom we share it, we need a better comprehension of the realities, even if we find them unpleasant and offensive; that is if we are to reflect God’s unconditional love, even as Jesus did.
He concludes by saying, “Of course, watching films is no substitute for proper, flesh and blood, dirty-handed encounter with reality, but it just might help to introduce us to the world for which Christ died – the real world.”
JACK APPLETON, Editor
Last updated: 26-07-10