An actor who took on the function of a pastor struggling together with his religion within the new rap movie “Left Behind: Rise of the Antichrist” stated it was ironic how he was solid within the function.
Figuring out himself as a lapsed Christian who left the Church however nonetheless maintains spirituality, actor Charles Andrew Payne instructed The Christian Publish about his upbringing within the Catholic Church and what drove him away from the establishment.
Within the movie, launched in theaters Thursday, Payne is a narrator in each scene and in addition performs pastor Bruce Barnes, who does not dwell as much as what he preaches from the Bible in the beginning of the movie.
Rising up, the 56-year-old actor attended church religiously. However the unfavourable experiences of the church drove him away. He recollects being turned off by the pastors he met, who he stated didn’t apply what they preached.
Now, he says he would favor to consider in God and spirituality with out the observance of a spiritual church to keep away from what he calls “sinful humanity” inside church buildings.
“I consider in the next energy,” he stated.
“Some individuals say ‘universe.’ Some individuals say ‘God’ — no matter you need to name it. And I perceive that there is one thing occurring on the earth that is greater and greater than me proper now,” Payne stated.
Payne’s remarks come as declining church attendance has affected many denominations in current a long time. The rising pattern of deconstruction from the religion has led some outstanding believers to declare that they’ve both left the religion completely or left the Church or institutional faith in recent times.
The actor detailed the key points within the church buildings he was concerned in that led him to depart and by no means return.
As somebody who grew up within the church, Payne stated it was pure for him to be closely concerned as a result of he was raised by his grandparents, considered one of whom was a religious Christian.
“The primary ebook I discovered learn how to learn was the Bible. However as I obtained older, I will freely admit I discovered areas I could not fairly purchase,” he stated. “Did I’ve religious leaders within the Church that I noticed weren’t essentially strolling what they have been preaching? Sure. And that made me somewhat disenchanted. So I left the Church, however not my relationship with God.”
“Particularly, church leaders who concentrate on fixed fundraising or reminding individuals to tithe or making an attempt to make them really feel responsible for not tithing sufficient, and so on., I discovered {that a} bit problematic. You do not know everybody’s state of affairs and it appears dangerous optically if you’re at all times asking for extra funds, after which after church, you drive off in your Mercedes.”
Payne stated the church buildings he skilled have been too centered on the fabric and never the religious.
“I haven’t got to be a part of the Church. I believe my relationship with God is my relationship with, you realize, no matter you need to name it. It is stable and powerful,” Payne stated.
“My relationship with the Church; not a lot. As a result of human weak point, human ego, and human opinion generally get of their method when the Bible must be the true religious message.”
All through the movie, Payne’s character struggles together with his religion as a pastor left behind on earth after the rapture – which causes a considerable amount of Christians, together with his complete household, to vanish from the earth to ascended to Heaven.
“I grew up within the Catholic Church. However one of many issues that resonated with me about this story and the pastor I play is that I am loads like him. I grew up absolutely believing. Then, I obtained to a sure age the place I finished and I requested. So now, I do not say I am spiritual. I say I am religious,” Payne stated.
“With regards to pastors and other people, I believe it is simply human nature to not at all times apply what you preach completely. And I would not be shocked if there are religious leaders who’re like Pastor Barnes, who speak the speak and do not transfer ahead. ec. I believe we all know the information. We have discovered many, many examples of this in recent times.”
Within the the rest of the movie, after the kidnapping, Payne’s character develops a brand new religion and begins to navigate life with others because the Antichrist has taken his place on earth.
“Pastor Barnes is left behind. And so, he is a type of who now faces a religious dilemma as a result of he is by no means been a totally purchased believer within the Scriptures and the issues that he preached. However now that kidnapping occurred, he is realized these items are true,” Payne stated.
“He is left behind. However he sees it as a chance for redemption and a chance for hope and a chance to work with the people who find themselves left behind now and discover his method, and that is sort of the story arc .”
Payne stated that though he has left the Church, he has learn the complete Bible on many events.
Enjoying the function of a pastor within the movie helped strengthen his religion in God. The movie additionally opened eyes to the problems with faith that naturally exist.
“Once you exit into nature, go searching you; you possibly can’t assist however notice that there’s a better divine presence in our world. However organized faith, to me, generally does not appear to embrace that,” Payne stated.
Payne stated his beliefs in regards to the Finish Occasions and whether or not there will probably be a rapture have not modified even after he performed the function.
“I’ve learn the ebook of Revelation. It is onerous to interpret. Will there be an Finish of Time? Are we residing within the Finish of Time? I am not knowledgeable sufficient to make that call. However go searching you. We all know that simply we got here via a pandemic that is not over but, nevertheless it’s nonetheless there. Take a look at the disruption on the earth as it’s and the way in which human beings are treating one another,” Payne stated.
“I can perceive why some individuals would say, ‘hey, you realize, this appears just like the Finish Occasions.’ However the Bible does not say when it is going to occur. So who am I to say it is going to occur? However is it a risk? I will by no means deny that it is very doubtless that one thing will occur in some unspecified time in the future.”
Left Behind: Rise of the Antichrist was written by movie producers Paul Lalonde, John Patus and Jessica Parker and directed by Christian actor Kevin Sorbo.
The movie is an adaptation of the newest installment of the “Left Behind” sequence, based mostly on the best-selling books by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins.
The movie will stay in theaters for a restricted run of 5 days.
Lalonde, the movie’s producer and co-writer, instructed The Christian Publish in an announcement that the movie relies on a “true story” that “merely hasn’t occurred but.”
“The present political, social and world local weather is creating an ideal storm for a good better revival of curiosity in what the Bible says about all of it,” stated Lalonde. “Nothing you see within the information is stunning in case you have the guidebook in hand.”
Director Sorbo, identified for his starring function as Hercules, will seem within the movie alongside Payne, Neal McDonough, Corbin Bernsen, Greg Perrow, Sarah Fisher and Sam Sorbo.
Kevin Sorbo stars because the character Rayford Steele, who was beforehand performed by Nicolas Cage, who starred within the authentic 2014 movie.
Payne stated what drew him to the function of Pastor Bruce was the dynamic of the function.
“Think about waking up within the morning and the individuals you like are now not there. It does not matter if it is faith or what have you ever; they’re gone. How would you’re feeling as a human being?” he requested.
“So that is the place I began; how would I really feel? I’ve obtained a spouse and two youngsters. If I obtained up and so they weren’t right here anymore, however I might be left behind, my coronary heart. [would] harm. I cried once I thought of it. How would I reply? How I might really feel, after which I transferred that and pushed that into the character.”
Nicole Alcindor is a reporter for The Christian Publish. She may be reached at: nicole.alcindor@christianpost.com.
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