Speaking of 'radical obedience' and being "transformed" by Jesus Christ (Romans 12:2) into a "new creation" (2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:15), I forgot to share with you a documentary I saw a few weeks ago that reminded me of a modern-day version of Paul's conversion on the road to Damascus (Acts 9).
I've always told people that the best evidence for the existence of God, the reality of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, and the truthfulness of God's Word is a changed life. After all, when a person is saved, when they are born again, there will be a noticeable change in their life. I have something for you today that supports all of that.
Have you ever heard the story of General Butt Naked? I know, but please resist the urge to laugh or dismiss this account outright. I can assure you that that's a real title that was given to one of the most brutal murderers in all of Africa, and his story is compelling, and further evidence that God's Word can be trusted because I believe he's living proof that the Lord can change a life for His purposes (Proverbs 21:1).
The documentary I saw was called The Redemption of General Butt Naked and it won an award at the Sundance Film Festival in 2011. It's left people wondering if this is a case of true conversion or a con? I just happened to find it while channel surfing late one night and noticing the word 'Christian' in the film's description.
The Los Angeles Times wrote that it is "a compelling portrait of an extraordinarily complex personal odyssey, a film that explores both the power and the limitations of faith and forgiveness." Notably absent from that statement is any mention of the man's new faith in Jesus Christ, which now compels him to serve the Lord, much like Paul was compelled to do so following his unexpected conversion.
The film's creators have this description on their website...
So, what you end up with is a watered-down version of the Gospel for non-believers (because while they show a man on camera saying that Blahyi has been going around preaching repentance for sins, they never actually show Blahyi sharing the Word of God that explicitly), and a genuine testimony that will strengthen the faith of believers.
By the way, did you catch that one part of the film's own description? He "reinvented himself as a Christian evangelist" they state? The skepticism is profound. What a shame.
No matter though. Despite the fact that there will always be non-believers who will be skeptical of such a changed life, we know better, don't we? We know that there will always be those who will approach this documentary as non-believers, but who will leave with a seed of faith planted in their heart and mind.
Sadly, the lost world doesn't get that though. All they see is a brutal man who is trying to do all he can to give the appearances of being a 'changed man' so he can avoid a prison sentence. That's strange though too, because in one pivotal scene in the film (and I'm not giving anything away here so don't worry), Blahyi actually admits his sins before the authorities and is perfectly willing to accept any sentence that they give him as the pure will of God. Of course, that doesn't count for anything to the skeptics though.
At the end of the day, I suppose for them to accept that God is real and that He can change a life like, and that that's what true submission and service to Him (true Christianity) looks like, then that would force them to face the truth about themselves and their current relationship (or lack thereof) with the Creator.
Pray that this movie can serve as a witnessing tool for some. Pray that it will somehow contribute to the eventual conversion of lost souls.
In the meantime, I would highly recommend that you take the time to watch this documentary.
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I've always told people that the best evidence for the existence of God, the reality of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, and the truthfulness of God's Word is a changed life. After all, when a person is saved, when they are born again, there will be a noticeable change in their life. I have something for you today that supports all of that.
Have you ever heard the story of General Butt Naked? I know, but please resist the urge to laugh or dismiss this account outright. I can assure you that that's a real title that was given to one of the most brutal murderers in all of Africa, and his story is compelling, and further evidence that God's Word can be trusted because I believe he's living proof that the Lord can change a life for His purposes (Proverbs 21:1).
The documentary I saw was called The Redemption of General Butt Naked and it won an award at the Sundance Film Festival in 2011. It's left people wondering if this is a case of true conversion or a con? I just happened to find it while channel surfing late one night and noticing the word 'Christian' in the film's description.
The Los Angeles Times wrote that it is "a compelling portrait of an extraordinarily complex personal odyssey, a film that explores both the power and the limitations of faith and forgiveness." Notably absent from that statement is any mention of the man's new faith in Jesus Christ, which now compels him to serve the Lord, much like Paul was compelled to do so following his unexpected conversion.
The film's creators have this description on their website...
Joshua Milton Blahyi -- aka General Butt Naked -- was a ruthless and feared warlord during Liberia's 14-year civil war. Today, he has renounced his violent past and reinvented himself as a Christian evangelist on a journey of self-proclaimed transformation. Blahyi travels the nation of Liberia as a preacher, seeking out those he once victimized in search of an uncertain forgiveness. But in the end, are some crimes beyond the pale of forgiveness?
Dubbed "General Butt Naked" for fighting with nothing more than an AK-47 and a pair of leather shoes, Blahyi believed he possessed supernatural powers that made him impervious to bullets. The General and his army of child soldiers are said to have killed thousands during Liberia's horrific civil war. Following a dramatic conversion to Christianity, the General abruptly laid down his weapons in 1996, leaving behind his soldiers, his country and a war that would rage for another seven years.
Today, Blahyi is on a quest for redemption: facing those he once terrorized, preaching where he once murdered, and trying to rebuild the shattered lives of those he commanded during the war. For five years, filmmakers Eric Strauss and Daniele Anastasion tracked his often troubling path up-close, finding both the genuine and disconcerting in Blahyi's efforts. The film forces us to question the very nature of what true, meaningful reconciliation looks like in a country where justice has not been available.
At every turn, THE REDEMPTION OF GENERAL BUTT NAKED asks viewers to confront hard questions about both the power and limits of forgiveness in a nation searching for healing and justice.
Whatever you make of him -- liar or madman, charlatan or genuine repentant -- you will never meet another character as challenging as Joshua Milton Blahyi, General Butt Naked.Given the introduction I gave you, I'm sure some of you are thinking, "Ok, but where's the mention of Christianity? Of the power of Jesus Christ to save and then transform a life just like the Gospels assert?" Precisely. Despite power of the Gospel and Jesus Christ being the central message to Blahyi's personal story, the filmmakers decided to tone that part down even though they followed him around for a full 5 years.
So, what you end up with is a watered-down version of the Gospel for non-believers (because while they show a man on camera saying that Blahyi has been going around preaching repentance for sins, they never actually show Blahyi sharing the Word of God that explicitly), and a genuine testimony that will strengthen the faith of believers.
By the way, did you catch that one part of the film's own description? He "reinvented himself as a Christian evangelist" they state? The skepticism is profound. What a shame.
No matter though. Despite the fact that there will always be non-believers who will be skeptical of such a changed life, we know better, don't we? We know that there will always be those who will approach this documentary as non-believers, but who will leave with a seed of faith planted in their heart and mind.
1 Corinthians 3:7 (KJV) So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
Isaiah 55:11 (KJV) So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.It really is an incredibly moving documentary though, and probably had a greater effect on me due to my Christian faith. I mean, I can understand where he was coming from and why he felt compelled do try and make amends as part of his new life in service to the Lord.
Sadly, the lost world doesn't get that though. All they see is a brutal man who is trying to do all he can to give the appearances of being a 'changed man' so he can avoid a prison sentence. That's strange though too, because in one pivotal scene in the film (and I'm not giving anything away here so don't worry), Blahyi actually admits his sins before the authorities and is perfectly willing to accept any sentence that they give him as the pure will of God. Of course, that doesn't count for anything to the skeptics though.
At the end of the day, I suppose for them to accept that God is real and that He can change a life like, and that that's what true submission and service to Him (true Christianity) looks like, then that would force them to face the truth about themselves and their current relationship (or lack thereof) with the Creator.
Pray that this movie can serve as a witnessing tool for some. Pray that it will somehow contribute to the eventual conversion of lost souls.
In the meantime, I would highly recommend that you take the time to watch this documentary.
Share|
2 Comments:
General butt naked needs no forgiveness from God or anyone else.
This piece of garbage needs to burn in hell.
If God wants to forgive this mutant,its his choice.
God is able to change people-even the vilest sinner. Who are we to question the mercy and forgiveness of God?
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