Directors Of 'The Riot & The Dance' Reflect On Seeing Beauty Of God's Creation From A Unique Perspective

Co-directors ND Wilson and James Engerbretson reflects upon their adventurous production of one of the first faith-based nature documentaries, The Riot & The Dance, which took the groundbreaking position that nature exists to please God & man. They joyfully discuss their war stories in every dangerous environment available to them, and the incredibly overlooked aesthetic of godly nature documentaries.

Ironically, not seeing the true value in nature is the sad result of a godless outlook that our schools and scientific institutions give us. But this can be remedied, by seeing the touch of love and concern for us that Christ puts into his creation.

He truly is the Master Creator.

Have you ever watched a nature doc thinking it might fill you with the wonder of nature and creation, only to flick it off in disappointment? Me too.

I'm not sure if it was the nihilistic dog-eat-dog massacre you get while watching animals eat each other's organs, or the constant claim that animals only care for themselves (and getting their rocks off) that brings on the channel-turning knee-jerk, but I do confess that it's typically not what I was hoping to see.

Disappointing? Yes, because nature is actually incredibly beautiful.

So, if this is true, why are all the claims made about nature from the naturalists and biologists who make up the typical NatGeo doc team all working to show us the opposite? By the end of an hour of "man-in-bush captures mayhem" it makes me feel that nature is far more ugly than I previously assumed.

Well this doc is the exception.

You can watch it at Angel, on Canon+, or find other ways to watch on their site. Here it is on Angel.

The Riot and the Dance: Water | Watch Movie Online For Free | Angel Studios

Join Dr. Gordon Wilson as he travels the globe, seeking and celebrating God’s amazing creatures.

Angel Studios

Sure, animals still kill each other, at times without mercy. But they also end up being kind, funny, magnanimous, and brilliantly charming far more in this doc series. And more than that, you don't get the definitive claims that evolution is the only possible belief system we need to have.

You mean, MAYBE the earth isn't "billions and billions" of years old? You mean there's a slight sliver of a possibility that scientists could be... mistaken about things? Inconceivable!

It's like a reformed "Christian scientific community" could be possible? Wowser.

Yes it's true. And nail those 95 thesis!

Speaking of "reformed," ND Wilson is the son of popular reformed Presbyterian pastor, and theologian, Doug Wilson, from Canon Press (who is also a writer). The host of the Riot & Dance doc himself, Dr. Gordon Wilson, is Doug Wilson's own brother.

So, wow, they got a big family of wild artists and creators over there!

This is also why The Riot & The Dance also now appears on Canon Plus, the media arm of Canon Press. You can get the show there at Canon+ now, or at Angel Studios. Each new show will appear first on Angel's platform, due to Angel having distribution rights, it then returning to Canon Plus, later.

Go to Canon Plus here.

Canon+

Canon+

Or you can go to their site to find other ways to watch.

The Riot and the Dance

The Riot and the Dance

The Riot and the Dance— JOHN PIPER, author and founder of DesiringGod.org

They even sell educational curriculum on biology from the host, Dr. Gordon Wilson, here.

The Riot and the Dance: Foundational Biology

Biology is often a boring collection of facts to memorize, but it shouldn’t be. In this year-long course, Gordon Wilson gives students a foundational knowledge of living things, as well as wonder at our Creator’s handwork. This package includes The Riot and the Dance Student Textbook, Lab Manual, and Teacher’s Guide.

Canon PressGordon Wilson

So enjoy seeing nature as it was meant to be enjoyed, as a creation of God that we are tasked with managing and enriching. Understanding God's world is part of understanding God, in seeing His beauty, and in forming theories about the nature of the universe. Without it, we wouldn't be as blessed and as provided for by God, nor would we find even half of the profound majesty that God laid into the foundation of His creation for us.

“Have you entered into the springs of the sea,
    or walked in the recesses of the deep?
 Have the gates of death been revealed to you,
    or have you seen the gates of deep darkness?
Have you comprehended the expanse of the earth?
    Declare, if you know all this." – Job 38:16-18

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Did you enjoy this article on the making of a nature doc that actually reflects the values of nature's Creator? And did you enjoy learning about the creation of these works and the filmmakers who made it happen? Let us know your thoughts down below (with sub) or on our social media!