I watched a couple of animated family movies on YouTube yesterday. They were kind of fun. Corny. But fun. There were dragons and heroes, swords and goblins fighting over ruling the planet. A long time ago someone told me I shouldn't watch such unChristian movies but following that advice quickly faded away because I enjoy a good fairy tale. Besides, one of my own favorite fantasy, good versus evil, fiction pieces was written by a Christian. It's called "Lord of the Rings." There's another great series for children, too: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. It's full of magical beasts yet contains the fundamental Christian truths of faith, hope and redemption. The Lion is a metaphor for Jesus after all.
The Harry Potter books and movies have been condemned by people of faith even though they got children reading who had never read anything for pleasure until they were published. It was almost a witch hunt when the movies based on the writings of Dan Brown were released. Those condemned books helped set me on my road to faith before I came to the Lord. I began to seek my own Holy Grail but wasn't sure what that was. It was the beginning of a mental pilgrimage. God used what was at hand because He knew very shortly I would need Him more than I ever had. A life and death event was drawing near but He had long ago laid a plan to save me. Dan Brown happened to be a part of that plan, thank God!
We read the scriptures, using it as a great "How To" book but forget that it is full of the same sort of magic and mystery we love in our fairy tales. We become book bound, legalistic and religious Christians forgetting that even our faith is outside the realm of paper. Yet, within those pages, a young woman is used to miraculously bring the greatest Gift to mankind: God on earth. There are defeated demons, angel messengers, talking bushes, and people raised from the dead. There are prophecies about the future. Walls fall at the sound of a trumpet. Food falls from Heaven. Water flows from rocks. Oceans are divided. There is a set of invisible yet very real armor with a Sword to beat all swords. There are tales of principalities and powers outside the realm of our daily existence yet affect us in ways we often don't see until we are delivered of their influences with the wonderful words, "I forgive...forgive me." There is talk of the beautiful lands where we go after leaving this mortal place. How magical is that! It's an ancient, truthful saga of Good against evil that is relevant even today.
I think most of us enjoy a redemption story when the underdog takes on the world and wins. It could be a sports movie about a dog that plays basketball, or angels in the outfield, or fields of dreams. We love magic and miracles in any shape or form. The story line may be slightly different but guaranteed, its parallel is in the Bible somewhere. Maybe talking with our children about Mr. Potter and showing them who he is based on is a great way to open a dialogue about Someone much greater.
"When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him. And behold, a leper came and worshipped Him, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean." Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him saying, "I am willing; be cleansed." Immediately his leprosy was cleansed." Mat 8:1-3
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The Robes
"Coming up behind Jesus, she (the woman who had bled for 12 years) touched the fringe of His robe." Luke 9:44 And she was heal...
God is so gracious. He comes to where we are, and uses things and people that are on hand to bring us to Him, including things of the world, which are always under Him.
ReplyDeleteYet, as Christians we need to be more mindful of what we view. What we see with our eyes can cause us to covet, to sin. Remember Phil. 4:8 - "Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things." If things we watch, read or listen to can pass through these screens, then it will edify us.
At times it is too easy to justify what we do. Perhaps we should think "Would I watch this with Jesus? Would I read this to Jesus? Would I go there with Jesus?" Simplistic, but does give your heart a check!
Yes! And we are blessed by the Holy Spirit who will guide us or convict us when we stray. Listening to Him and obeying that quiet Voice is the only way we followers of Christ will ever be fully able to live beyond reproach. All this blog was meant to do was help others realize that the Lord is far more than just paper.
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