In ‘Disciples in the Moonlight,’ US Christians Are Persecuted and the Bible Is Banned

Given the runaway success of “The Chosen,” Winston said, it’s perhaps not surprising that the movie’s marketing seems to target theologically conservative Christians, specifically, rather than enticing a broader audience. English scholar and Christian film critic Kenneth Morefield, editor of “Faith and Spirituality in Masters of World Cinema (Volumes I, II, and III),” noted that many faith-based films have attempted to replicate the success of Mel Gibson’s 2004 film “The Passion of the Christ,” which “demonstrated to studios and observers alike that Christians were worth targeting in marketing,” Morefield told RNS via email.

The heroes in “Disciples in the Moonlight” hold to familiar evangelical Christian beliefs, such as that “all men are sinful and in need of a Savior” and “there’s one way to heaven, and that’s through the person of Jesus Christ,” per Varvel. The film’s “disciples” are willing to risk it all to prevent the Bible from being corrupted, as they view it, by those in power.

In one scene, the U.S. president is heard saying, “We saw the consequences of unchecked religious zealotry … We have purified this country from the archaic, hateful words of the Holy Bible and replaced them with an inclusive, welcoming text that reflects our current values and beliefs.”

Though the film isn’t entirely clear as to what motivates the U.S. government’s censorship, when asked about the worldview of the antagonists, Varvel said many would call themselves Christian.

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“Disciples in the Moonlight” film still. (Photo courtesy Pinnacle Peak Pictures)

“What I’m seeing happen, with progressive Christianity, with different denominations, is they are so inclusive of lifestyles, belief systems, that it doesn’t look like the call to be a disciple anymore,” he said. “It just looks like, let’s have everything that we want, plus Jesus … So I viewed a lot of the government and the opposition in that way.”

According to Morefield, when a Christian feels comfortable saying another believer’s differences disqualify them from the faith, “you’re in a very, very dangerous place, theologically and politically.”

This plays out in the movie, with the heroes questioning tenets of their faith at times — the reality of hell, for example, or the notion of sin — and being corrected by their fellow disciples.

Rhonda Burnette-Bletsch, professor of Biblical Studies at Eastern University, told RNS that, based on the trailer, the film reflects our current political climate, where “both sides” are taught that their opponents’ political victory will mean an end to their way of life.

“‘Disciples in the Moonlight’ is unrealistic in part because it ignores the fact that people from both sides of the political divide read the Bible, and it is a text that can be understood in more than one way,” she said.

But many of those who were part of the film say they want it to sow hope, not division. For them, the yearslong effort to bring the film to life was a spiritual process that reignited their love of Scripture; and the film’s release date — months out from a presidential election — is providential.

“The timing of this is such a God thing,” said Micah Lynn Hanson, a Christian actress who plays the character Rachel in the film. “I think it’s clearly something that will resonate with a lot of people, and I hope it challenges people to appreciate what we do have, and that we will fight to maintain those rights.”

This article originally appeared here.