Controversy Surrounding "The End of the Spear"

For those of you who haven't heard........

The film, The End of the Spear is starring an avowed homosexual, Chad Allen, who is using his stardom in the film as a platform to further the gay agenda.

Larry King featured Allen on his program the other night, along with some others including Al Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Allen also appeared recently on the cover of the leading homosexual magazine, Advocate.

The buzz in the evangelical community is whether Allen should have been chosen to play missionary Steve Saint, son of slain missionary Nate Saint.

The Christian blogs seem to be divided. Michael Spencer (Internet Monk) doesn't think it's a big deal and explains why.

Tim Challies on the other hand, does. I tend to weigh in on his side, especially after reading his quote from Steve Camp,

If Dr. Piper [a prominent Christian teacher] went home to be with the Lord say thirty years from now and a Christian based film company wanted to make a movie about his life and ministry...would you want an actor who was also a gay-activist to play John's life story? What if Elton John were to portray Charles Spurgeon [a well-known very evangelical pastor in the 19th century]?

Or what if it was your life or the life of your brother or father that was portrayed by a homosexual activist? It seems a little bit more dishonoring when it is the life of someone you know and love.
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I would also add to Challies' commentary that there are many talented Christian actors in Hollywood who have the ethics and decency to turn down good parts because of their morality. Then when a part like this comes along, it's sad that it's given to a homosexual.

Should Christians go see the movie? Probably. It would be inspiring and perhaps a good evangelical tool too.