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Lord,
Save Us From Your Followers (DVD)
Director/Scriptwriter: Dan Merchant Partial List of Interviewees: Bill Maher, Al Franken, Ann Coulter, Bono, Michael Reagan, Rick Santorum and Lou Campolo Thunderstruck Films Documentary Rating: PG 13 for themed material and language Running Length: 99 minutes The DVD of Dan Merchant’s documentary, Lord, Save Us From Your Followers is now out. Besides the film, there are two sections of Dan’s character “Stickerman” where he dons a white suit covered with bumper stickers having religious themes. “Stickerman” plays a prominent part in this film, and causes eyebrows to raise and plenty of conversation. From a distance, Dan would look like a walking advertisement at NASCAR. The film begins, and is interspersed with, animated talking heads of top political figures including George W. Bush. Religion can come on strong by scaring people, such as the “Left Behind” book series, in which you are sitting next to someone on a plane, turn around, look back and they are taken, but you aren’t. According to this documentary, America seems to be divided between those who believe in Christ--fervently---and those who either don’t believe in anything or are agnostic. In one serious and amusing section, two panels were formed of Liberals (barely believe in anything or nothing) and Conservatives (Christians). It was run like a game show and the Liberals won, not only hands down, but possibly feet down, too. It appeared that they could “read” the other side while the other side could not “read” them. Christians could not go outside themselves to see what was there. However, when the show was over, the groups met and talked. Dan Merchant tours the USA asking questions. In Minneapolis, Minn., he meets with Al Franken, a former comic, who has now been elected to Congress. In Biloxi, Miss., Merchant speaks with people who don’t believe that God punished New Orleans or that part of the country, as flood waters hit the good and the bad at the same time. Insurance companies even have a phrase that includes “Act of God." In San Francisco, and at Pride Northwest, Merchant interviews gay couples and in one section, even puts up a small confessional booth at a gay pride festival. Here, he confesses his sins, and those of other Christians, of not always respecting gay people. The reception of this confession, concerning then two people with earnest dialogue, is an eye-opener. Dialogue has been initiated and insightful comments exchanged. The film has a summation by comments from the Pope apologizing for past discretions by the Catholic church. The Oregon rock station KINK sends “Sheila” to go with World Vision to Africa for a fund-raiser on AIDS relief. The audience goes with Night Strike, a volunteer organization to help the homeless in Portland, Ore. What this shows is what is discussed in Pastor Rick Warren’s book, “The Purpose Driven Life.” The bottom line being---it is not about you, and the gospel of love is still alive and viable. Copyright 2010 Marie Asner 
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