In the first article in this series, we reviewed the four elements of God’s Story: Creation, Fall, Redemption and Restoration.
Next, we looked at how filmmakers express their views of the world through those same four elements, using “Cinderella” and “Knocked Up” as examples.
Now we’ll examine how Christians can evaluate movies by responding to the worldview filmmakers present. We can do that with three “R” ratings: redeem, receive and reject.
Spoiler alert: This article discusses major plot points from Man on Fire and Pocahontas.
Interpreting Man’s Story
As we engage with stories, it is not enough simply to recognize the view of the world a storyteller offers us. We must also respond to it.
As a result, we will find that some parts of a story we can redeem, some we can receive and some we must reject.
Redeem
What aspects of a story tap into truths found in God’s Story without being entirely consistent with it?
For example, in Man on Fire, the hero spends much of the film violently torturing and killing people he suspects were involved in the kidnapping of an innocent young girl.
We cannot accept the idea that human vigilantes ultimately secure justice through violence. However, we can affirm the storyteller’s underlying conviction that the girl needs justice and that evil must be answered.
Therefore, we can redeem the film’s desire for justice. We affirm that justice must be done while pointing to Jesus as the One who brings justice in Redemption, upon Himself, and in Restoration, upon the wicked.
Receive
What aspects of a story are consistent with God’s Story?
Those elements we can receive and celebrate.
Again, consider Man on Fire. The hero ultimately cannot overcome evil with evil through his pursuit of vigilante justice.
Instead, he overcomes evil with good by voluntarily laying down his life for a little girl who cannot save herself.
In this case, we can receive the film’s view of Redemption. Victory does not finally come through fighting evil with more evil. Rather, it comes through the good of a powerful hero laying down his power and winning through weakness.
Sound familiar?
Reject
What aspects of a story directly oppose God’s Story?
Those elements we must reject, no matter how emotionally or artistically moving the story may be.
For example, Disney’s Pocahontas presents a view of nature that resembles pantheism. Rather than clearly distinguishing God from creation, the film portrays a spiritual presence running through the natural world.
Pantheism identifies the divine with the universe or sees everything as part of an all-encompassing divine reality. By contrast, the biblical Creation story distinguishes the Creator from what He created.
For that reason, we should reject the film’s view of Creation where it blurs that distinction.
Try the Three ‘R’ Ratings Yourself
Finally, think about the last movie you saw.
What story of Creation, Fall, Redemption and Restoration did it tell?
Which parts can you receive? Which should you reject? And what can you redeem?