Holy Rood Church, Swinton
A local church serving its community
Vicar’s Voice, July 2007
Dear friends
One of the films I have most been looking forward to seeing over the last few months is the latest instalment of ‘The Pirates of the Caribbean’, entitled ‘At World’s End’. It’s the final film in a Hollywood blockbuster trilogy starring Johnny Depp as pirate captain Jack Sparrow, with help from the actor Orlando Bloom as a fellow pirateer, and the beautiful Keira Knightly playing the love interest.
Last week, with an evening to spare, I finally managed to get to the cinema to see it – only, I'm afriad, to be sorely disappointed ! The first film in the series came out four years ago, and was witty, original, and full of life – swashbuckling escapist entertainment at its best. The sequel, a couple of years back, called ‘Dead Man’s Chest’, was a bit more laboured and confused, but still an enjoyable night out.
But with this third instalment, the ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ franchise seems to me, at any rate, be running into the sands. The film – for my money – is simply too lengthy and rambling, with a plot that defies logic, and with far too little of the humour and charisma that made the first film so much fun. There are still good moments and flashes of inspiration, but they are too few and far between. The brilliance of the original has slowly been lost in the sequels.
All too often, of course, we find ourselves in a similar position in the church. No-one who really reads the gospels for themselves can doubt the brilliance and compelling character of the original Jesus. People came out in their thousands to listen to him, and were prepared to give up everything – even life itself – to follow him. The encounter with the original Jesus was life-changing.
But the sequel to Jesus – the Church – has so often failed to live up the promise of the original. All too often, as we know, Christianity has been turned into ‘Churchianity’. The plot has become confused, lengthy and rambling. We still have our moments, of course, but we haven’t quite lived up to what we could be.
In religion, as with films, sometimes there’s no substitute for the original. If you want something inspiring, refreshing and life-changing, you need to go back behind the church to the original Jesus. You’ll find someone who was brilliant, challenging, thought-provoking, and authentic.
Whatever the quality of the sequel, I promise you this: if you truly encounter Jesus the original, your life will never be the same again.
My best wishes to you all.
Charles Clapham
Office Address:
Holy Rood Church
Moorside Road
Swinton
Salford
M27 0HJ