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Wait and Hope - The Count of Monte Cristo

8/24/2020

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​Please note: The following text contains spoilers
 
Faria: God said, “Vengeance is mine”.
Edmond: I don’t believe in God.
Faria: It doesn’t matter. God believes in you.
 
In September 2017, I witnessed a narrow victory in a poll which was
supposed to help decide what to screen at a faith & film discussion group.
For the record, The Count of Monte Cristo won fair and square - and yet,
there was a revolt. The youth of my church demanded a re-vote, but I
wouldn’t budge, and they vowed not to turn up on the night of the film.
For some reason, they not only turned up, but came in their droves –
albeit resentfully, which they kindly informed me of. What followed was
the unruliest film screening I’ve ever attended. And yet, I couldn’t help but
grin from ear to ear, as each of the young people were audibly reacting,
in earnest, to the shocking twists and turns of this modern classic.
Their unexpected love for the film led to a rich Bible-based discussion –
my recent recollection of which has prompted me to highlight and
recommend this underappreciated film, once more.

​Adapted from the classic adventure book by Alexandre Dumas, The Count of Monte Cristo
follows the trials and tribulations of Edmond Dantes (Jim Caviezel), a French sailor who is falsely accused of treason by his best friend Fernand Mondego (Guy Pearce), in a ploy to take everything from Edmond for himself – including his beautiful fiancée Mercedes (Dagmara Dominczyk). Tragically, Edmond is subsequently sentenced to imprisonment within the island prison of Château d'If, and despite initially placing his hope and trust in God to sustain him throughout his imprisonment, Edmond’s faith crumbles. By chance, however, Edmond befriends a fellow inmate – Faria (Richard Harris), who is not only a Christian, but pledges to help Edmond rekindle his relationship with God and escape the island, with a view to leading him to buried treasure through which he will have the means to reinvent himself, as the Count of Monte Cristo. Burning with anger in his heart and desperate for justice (or is it just bitter revenge?), Edmond sets out to see Fernand and others, receive their just deserts.
 
There’s something undeniably cathartic about watching such a thrilling tale, in which an innocent man sets out to right a terrible wrong and succeeds in doing so. In a world as broken as ours, in which justice doesn’t always seem to prevail, or come when we need it to most, seeing Edmond force those who wronged him to face the consequences for their actions, is hard not to root for. Without question, Edmond is correct to seek justice as a result of his wrongful imprisonment, and for the subsequent pain and anguish he experienced throughout that time. And yet, this representation of the pursuit of justice is arguably problematic. For upon Edmond’s return to Marseille, he wastes no time in using his newfound wealth to deceptively create the character of "The Count of Monte Cristo", thereby establishing himself within the Parisian high society. From there, he furiously plots and schemes to ensure that those who conspired against him, will be caught in the act of their many ongoing sins and receive their downfall. All of this is achieved coldly, in that Edmond specifically tries to ensnare his enemies, rather than use the legal system of his day to receive satisfaction, for example. A once warm, loving and caring individual comes close to being someone he’s not, as his anger and desire for revenge at any cost, threatens to overtake his passion for true justice.
​
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​For a picture of justice in its purest form, we must turn to the Bible in which God outlines His perfect plan to restore everything to ‘the way it should be’. Edmond’s plan, whilst initially noble, is one which even he, with all of his wealth, struggles to bring to completion. It’s lengthy, messy and almost morally corruptive. At one point, his friend Faria tells him that “God said, “Vengeance is mine”, in order to persuade Edmond from being led down a dark path. For whilst Edmond originally seeks justice, his pursuit becomes that of vengeance, ultimately seeking to personally punish those who punished him. Faria’s word of caution to Edmond is wise, for justice in its correct, and purest of forms can only be achieved by God Himself.
 
How do we know this? Well, to do wrong in God’s eyes is to actively sin against Him and choose to side with evil, over the goodness that comes as a result of His holiness. When we choose to do what God doesn’t want us to do, we distance ourself from God and offend Him. But the Bible actually teaches that “everyone has sinned” at some point in their life and has done wrong in God’s sight. “We (have) all fall(en) short of God’s glorious standard” (Romans 3:23, NLT) and have committed offences against God, for which we must pay restitution. God demands justice for those offences, but the “payment for sin is death” (Romans 6:23, ICB) for all eternity, in accordance with God’s law. Living a sinful life on earth, therefore, means that we will live in separation from God, in Hell, which is the ultimate penalty. ​But there is Good News – whilst we have done wrong in God’s sight, God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to earth, to pay that penalty for us when He died on the Cross and rose again three days later:

“God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight…through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood… God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he makes sinners right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.” (Romans 3:24-26, NLT)

Despite all that we had done to Him, God made salvation available to anyone who would choose to follow and believe in Him, regardless of what came before. For “…to all who believed Him and accepted Him, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12, NLT). Such mercy and grace weren’t and couldn’t ever be earnt by us but was given freely because of God’s inherent sense of justice, embodied in the Cross: “For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us” (1 Thessalonians 5:9, NLT). Whilst our sin must have angered God, He did not and “does not want anyone to be destroyed but wants everyone to repent” (2 Peter 3:9, NLT). Edmond, however, initially seeks the total downfall of his enemies and it’s for this reason, that Faria warned him not to harden his heart. But in the moments where Edmond actively chooses to spare the lives of his enemies, he embodies that which God did so beautifully for us, when He spared our lives from eternal death and draws us to think upon God’s great mercies that remain available for us to access, even today.
 
Challenge:
 
Why not prayerfully invite a friend or family member who doesn’t yet know Jesus, to watch The Count of Monte Cristo for themselves? Use the film’s themes to ask them what they thought of the film, if they spotted any links to Christianity and what they might think of the Gospel’s response to this subject.
 
If you feel able to, ask them what they think about Edmond’s difficult decision not to take lives in his pursuit of justice and grant his enemies mercy? What do they think about God wanting to do the same, in choosing not to leave us to die for all eternity as a result of our offences, but sending His One and only Son as a sacrifice, so that we might be saved? Later, if they're open to hearing it, take an opportunity to share the hope of the Gospel message with them.
 
Prior to watching the film for yourself, however, take a moment to pray that God would speak to you through the film. If you feel comfortable, pray this prayer over all of your future, film-watching experiences:
 
Dear Lord, As I watch this film, I ask that you would be present here with me. Highlight to me anything within it that is honourable, anything that can be used in conversation for your Kingdom purposes. Amen.
 
The Count of Monte Cristo is available to rent through Amazon Prime Video and YouTube
​
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Love & Mercy For All – Just Mercy

8/17/2020

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​Please note: The following text contains spoilers
 
“I've learned that each of us is more than the worst thing that we've ever
done; that the opposite of poverty isn't wealth, the opposite of poverty is
justice; that the character of our nation isn't reflected on how we treat the
rich and the privileged, but how we treat the poor, the disfavoured,
and condemned.”

 
In January, an article from The Gospel Coalition recommended 
that Christians should sit up and take notice of three films, as a result
of “their moral clarity and courage”: Just Mercy, Dark Waters and A
Hidden Life
. Much to my shame as a so-called ‘film fan’, I ignored all of
them, making the excuse that they were ‘too serious’ to watch in such
a dour time as this. That is, until now, as I recently felt prompted to
watch and engage with Just Mercy (based on a true story), which is
powered and propelled forward by its righteous anger in the face of
pure evil, which is, tragically, all too prominent in today’s society:
systemic inequality which derives from racism. It’s for this reason that
the film naturally possesses serious emotional heft, moving me to tears as
​it neared its conclusion. In highlighting and speaking out against evil, therefore, Just Mercy is essential viewing. However, it’s the distinctly Christian response to the subject of mercy, deeply engrained within the film’s DNA, which is certainly worth exploring for evangelistic purposes. 

Adapted from his memoir, Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption, this legal drama follows the Harvard-educated lawyer Bryan Stevenson (Michael B. Jordan), as he travels to Alabama with the goal of defending those who are wrongly condemned and receive unjust sentencing from the American justice system. In perhaps what has become the most prominent case of his now-legendary career, Stevenson seeks to defend Walter McMillian (Jamie Foxx), an African American man who, despite proving his innocence, was convicted of the 1986 murder of Ronda Morrison, a white woman. In the face of great trials and tribulations, it’s the historic bond between these two men and Bryan’s decision to grant mercy and compassion towards Walter, which speaks powerfully to the saving character of Christ.
 
For example, through establishing early on that Bryan is a Harvard law graduate and has specifically chosen not to pursue a career in a prestigious law firm, but establish the non-profit Equal Justice Initiative, Bryan is noted to be fixated upon the plight of the needy and not those of greater social standing, or his own personal gain. Like Jesus, Bryan is compassionate, which prompts Him to act with merciful love and do his utmost to rescue these broken individuals. In every situation, Bryan grants such tender mercies to whoever needs it – of which there are many. Even when we first meet Bryan, director Destin Daniel Cretton donates an entire scene to watching him reminisce with a prison inmate who, much like him, grew up going to church. And for albeit a brief moment, this emotionally tortured inmate’s emotional burdens are lifted from him and he experiences joy. Many oppressed individuals cry out to be saved throughout Just Mercy and are almost always met at their greatest need by the ever-present Bryan, which reminded me of Matthew 20, when two blind men hear that Jesus is coming by and call out to Him:

“Son of David! Have mercy on us, sir!” The crowd scolded them and told them to be quiet. But they shouted even more loudly, “Son of David! Have mercy on us, sir!” Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked them.
​“Sir,” they answered, “we want you to give us our sight!” Jesus had pity on them and touched their eyes;
at once they were able to see, and they followed him.

Matthew 20:30-34 (GNT)

​Early on throughout the film, Bryan also hosts a series of interviews with prospective clients who are on death row and require legal aid – he listens to their stories intently, makes notes and shares in their grief by expressing his genuine sadness and care for their plight. We watch as Bryan visits Walter’s family, in order to not only gather further evidence and secure testimonies for use in court, but to console them in their time of distress. In meeting these individuals who require his help, Bryan’s understanding of this systemic issue deepens, and he comes to realise that these people are totally helpless in their plight and rely solely upon the mercy of others in order to save their lives. Whilst many of these inmates are established as innocent, the Bible teaches that we are in fact, much like guilty inmates on death row. For “everyone has sinned” and done wrong in God’s sight, “we all fall short of God’s glorious standard” (Romans 3:23, NLT) and thereby deserve to receive the “payment for sin (which) is death” (Romans 6:23, ICB), in accordance with God’s law. There is nothing we can do, in our own strength, to rid ourselves of sin and its effects – it stains and binds us in its grip. But God, in His great love for the world is merciful, and “gives…the free gift of life forever” (Romans 6:23, ICB) to those who ask for forgiveness from their sin, turn away from their old lives and come to faith in God. 
​
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Regardless of whether the inmates are ‘good people’ or not, Bryan doesn’t allow that to influence his overall decision of whether to represent them. At one point, Walter is embarrassed to reveal that he previously committed adultery, but this does nothing to dissuade Bryan from continuing on in the task he’s set out to complete – for the good of Walter and his family. “Whatever you did, your life is still meaningful and I’m gonna do everything to stop them from taking it”, he says to one inmate. This reminded me of God’s view towards us in 2 Peter 3:9 (NLT), in which it is written that God “does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent” and give their lives to Him. For whilst we are all guilty of sin in the eyes of the Father, God made a way for us to be granted mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ – God’s one and only Son who was given as the “…offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:21, NLT) when He died on the Cross and rose again three days later. At the midway point of the film, an inmate whom Bryan represents, tells the young lawyer: “You the only one who cared enough to fight for me”. This is also true of Jesus, the One who never wanted us to die in our sin but gave up His life so that we would live in freedom and relationship with Him – today and in eternity.  
 
Challenge:
 
Why not prayerfully invite a friend or family member who doesn’t yet know Jesus, to watch Just Mercy for themselves? Use the film’s themes to ask them what they thought of the film, if they spotted any links to Christianity and what they might think of the Gospel’s response to this subject.
If you feel able to, ask them what they think about God fighting for us and not being content with us perishing in our sin? What do they think about God wanting to grant them mercy, despite having done wrong against Him? You could then ask them what they think about how God loves them so much, that He still considers them valuable despite the way in which they’ve lived their life, in ignorance of Him. Later, if they're open to hearing it, take an opportunity to share the hope of the Gospel message with them.
 
Prior to watching the film for yourself, however, take a moment to pray that God would speak to you through the film. If you feel comfortable, pray this prayer over all of your future, film-watching experiences:
​
Dear Lord, As I watch this film, I ask that you would be present here with me. Highlight to me anything within it that is honourable, anything that can be used in conversation for your Kingdom purposes. Amen. ​
 
Just Mercy is now available to purchase on DVD/Blu-Ray or rent on digital platforms
​

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Huh, It Really Is A Small World After All – The Truman Show

8/7/2020

1 Comment

 
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​Please note: The following text contains spoilers
 
“We’ve become bored with watching actors give us phony emotions. We’re tired
of pyrotechnics and special effects. While the world he inhabits is in some
respects counterfeit, there’s nothing fake about Truman himself. No Scripts. No
cue cards. It isn’t always Shakespeare, but it’s genuine. It’s a life.” 

 
Nominated for three Oscars and ranked #172 on the IMDb Top 250, The
Truman Show
is a high-concept tale which remains just as poignant now
than when it debuted in 1998. For in true Simpsons fashion, even a film
as fantastical as this, appears to have predicted the future – from
​presenting reality as televised entertainment, to fuelling paranoia
surrounding widespread digital surveillance. But aside from being
shockingly prescient, The Truman Show is a rarely inventive story which
leads us to ask poignant questions about our place in the world, and God’s
attitudes towards us, His creation – all within a brisk 103-minute run-time. 

​Inspired by an episode of The Twilight Zone, The Truman Show runs with an outlandish premise, and drops the ever-excitable Jim Carrey into the mix for good measure as the eponymous Truman - a blissfully naïve insurance salesman who, unbeknownst to him, is currently living out his day-to-day on the set of a 24/7 television show, focussed solely upon his life. Overseen by the megalomaniacal director Christof (Ed Harris), this unprecedented production is (save for Truman) completely fake – from the job he holds down, even to his relationships with friends and his wife. Not content with manipulating the world in which Truman inhabits down to the last detail, Christof forcibly manipulates every situation in order to prevent Truman from leaving and experiencing life to the full. But it’s only when production issues arise (E.g. a spotlight falls from the sky) that Truman actually begins to question the true nature of his reality, and begins to wonder if he is in fact being watched, slowly realising that something is seriously rotten in Denmark…
 
The Truman Show’s concept is certainly mind-blowing, but this is also a rich tale which requires repeat viewings in order to spot little clues which not only allude to the reality of Truman’s world, but also help us to appreciate the less ‘flashier’ aspects of the film - namely, Ed Harris’ portrayal of Christof. As the driven, obsessive creator of Truman’s show, Christof wields complete creative control over the production and ultimately, Truman’s life. In one telling scene, He even refers to himself as “the creator”, which invites us to think of him as a god-like individual, especially when we learn that he can also control the weather over Seahaven.
​
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​In a sense, Christof is a visionary artist, yet his god-like ways are completely antithetical to that of the one true God. Whilst Christof has, in a sense, cared for Truman from the day he was born, he doubts Truman’s full capabilities and exploits him for financial gain. To him, humanity simply “accept(s) the reality of the world” that is presented to us, and Truman is apparently no different. Instead of offering the now-adult Truman the opportunity to venture out into the real world, Christof goes to extreme lengths to keep him within his prison. In one of the film’s most problematic moments, the extra who portrayed Truman’s father up until his on-screen ‘death’ in the narrative, breaks onto the set and is recognised by Truman. To prevent Truman from realising the truth about his existence, however, Christof orders the cast and crew to remove his ‘father’ and throws a variety of distractions in his path to stop their meeting. All throughout the film, Christof’s actions are deceitful and for that reason, he has far more in common with Satan than Father God:

“From the very beginning he…has never been on the side of truth, because there is no truth in him.
When he tells a lie, he is only doing what is natural to him, because he is a liar and the father of all lies.”
​(
John 8:44, GNT)

At every turn, Christof works tirelessly to keep Truman enslaved to the powers of the television network. It’s not only exhausting for him to be subjected to such abuse, but it’s also exhausting for us to watch too - especially when he comes so close to discovering the truth and then is forcefully redirected towards yet another artificial, alluring construct. But, just like Christof, Satan works to specifically prevent people from discovering the truth of the Good News – the antidote for spiritual, eternal death. We know this because Paul the Apostle informs us that our “minds have been kept in the dark by the evil god of this world”, who prevents us from “seeing the light…that comes from the Good News about the glory of Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:4, GNT).
 
The truth of this verse comes across most strongly, throughout Truman’s spirited attempt to escape Seahaven, which sees him commandeering a boat and literally sailing it to the edge of his world, crashing into the side of the dome which he calls home. Realising that his world is counterfeit and he is living within one gigantic lie, Truman decides that he will break free from his enslavement and enter into the real world. The fist-pumping moment is iconic, serving as a powerful reminder of the freedom that comes when God bursts the bubble on sin’s binding grip, upon our lives. But prior to this moment, however, Christof sends a man-made lightning storm to try to capsize the boat and prevent Truman from realising the truth. Exerting such dominance over Truman’s life is another cruel tactic of the enemy, who will do everything within his limited power to prevent us from following the Way. And whilst Truman finally leaves the dome with relative ease and defeats the enemy (so to speak), humanity is ultimately not strong enough to defeat Satan on its own. Rather, the Bible teaches that we have all fallen prey to the works of the enemy, when we make conscious decisions to align ourselves with darkness, thereby sinning against God:

​“…all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23, NRSV)

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In choosing to sin against God, we have ultimately followed a path of darkness which robs us of a relationship with God the Father now, and in eternity with Him. In our sinful state, we are “spiritually dead” because of our “disobedience” against God (Ephesians 2:1, GNT) and there is nothing we can do to correct our eternal trajectory. But, praise God, Satan was exposed as a liar and a thief when “the Son of God appeared…to destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8, ESV), by dying in our place, and rising again three days later,
having defeated the power of darkness forever.

Today, we can be forgiven and liberated from sin’s grip on
our lives, when we turn from our sins, trust in Jesus’ promise
of salvation and enter into a relationship with God, which gives
us the gift of eternal life. Christ alone is the One who exposes
the darkness and leads us into new life – one that’s never
marked by deceiving us or limiting the life we have, but
always promising that we will have life in all its fulness with Him.

Challenge:
  • Why not prayerfully invite a friend or family member who doesn’t yet know Jesus, to watch The Truman Show for themselves? Use the film’s themes to ask them what they thought of the film, if they spotted any links to Christianity and what they might think of the Gospel’s response to this subject.
  • If you feel able to, ask them what they think about the notion of God, brought up by The Truman Show – do they think that God’s character would be more in line with that of Christof’s (i.e. Satan) or, would he be different perhaps? You could then ask them what they think about God sending Jesus to be their Saviour – the One who fought for us so that we would be able to hear and accept the truth of the Gospel for ourselves. If they're open to hearing it, take an opportunity to share the hope of the Gospel message with them.

Prior to watching the film for yourself, however, take a moment to pray that God would speak to you through the film. If you feel comfortable, pray this prayer over all of your future, film-watching experiences:
​
Dear Lord, As I watch this film, I ask that you would be present here with me. Highlight to me anything within it that is honourable, anything that can be used in conversation for your Kingdom purposes. Amen. ​
 
The Truman Show is now available to stream on Netflix (UK), or purchase on DVD & Blu-Ray
​


1 Comment

Mission: Impossible, Made Possible – Greyhound

8/3/2020

2 Comments

 
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Please note: The following text contains spoilers

“Acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy path.”
​
Without question, Tom Hanks is our movie dad. From Big to Forrest Gump, Hanks
has always been there for us as the epitome of the affable everyman - one
who carries with him a sense of warmth that just makes you feel safe, whenever
he’s onscreen. Even if the situations in which his characters find themselves are
dire, he’s the one who ushers in peace, with his softly spoken voice and
thoughtful musings. He’s also just about the only actor whose presence can elevate
a film’s quality, and such is the case with his flawed WWII naval epic, Greyhound.
It’s seaworthy, but Hanks himself is the component which really keeps the
engine running, in his role as a ship’s captain, but also a committed Christian –
an unexpected, but welcome surprise.

Narratively speaking, Greyhound is almost as simplistic a war film as one
could imagine: Commander Ernest Krause (Hanks) of the United States Navy,
is tasked with spearheading a convoy of 37 Allied ships, as they sail for Liverpool (UK). It’s all about getting from point A, to point B without incident. However, in-between both points, lies the “Black Pit”, the Mid-Atlantic gap in which air support is no longer available to the Allies, and German U-boats prowl the ice-cold seas, like a pack of wolves. Against all odds, Krause must strive to protect every soul who serves under him – despite this being his first wartime command and the constant threats coming from some sinister radio transmissions…

Placing an emphasis on detailed procedure over character development, Greyhound thrills us with evasive manoeuvres and cacophonic barrages of artillery fire. But unlike Saving Private Ryan or Band of Brothers, however, the violence of Greyhound is largely displayed without injury detail. Instead, mournful attention is paid to the tragic loss of life, following each deadly attack. For example, when a Nazi U-boat is sunk after a dangerous game of cat and mouse, those aboard Krause’s ship rejoice over defeating their enemy: “Congratulations sir! Fifty less krauts”, remarks a young lieutenant. Krause looks over towards the sinking enemy ship, and says with genuine sorrow, “Yes, fifty souls”. It’s a small moment, but one which reinforced for me the notion of the sanctity of life, and ultimately God’s heart for humanity, in that “He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent” (2 Peter 3:9, NLT).
​
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​This aforementioned scene is made all the more poignant, when we consider that the cold, desolate location in which these men perished, is named ‘The Pit’, which draws comparisons to Hell. For example, Jesus describes Hell as a place of “darkness” (Matthew 22:13, NLT), which evokes a sense of solitude and confinement. And these men, despite being the enemy, are now tragically lost in the depths forever. Krause’s lament (albeit brief), embodied for me a glimpse of what I imagine to be the sorrow that Jesus experiences, when those who do not know Him, are eternally separated from Him – despite the Good News of the Gospel being made available to all.
 
But curiously, these same villains which pursue Krause’s ships are led by a slippery, menacing U-boat, with a wolf symbol, painted onto its hull. It stalks the convoy, appearing and attacking when they least expect it, or when the allied group shows a sign of weakness. This wolfpack tactic reminded me of the schemes of the devil, who the Bible teaches is a cunning enemy:

“Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around
like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8, NLT)

​This prowling adversary manages to confuse, distract and eliminate a number of ships from within Krause’s convoy at an alarming rate – but Hanks’ character, being a man of genuine faith, draws upon Scripture for practical guidance, when he reminds himself to “be wise as serpents and innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16, NRSV). He also prays for protection, before rising, eating and sleeping – E.g. “Dear Lord, let Your angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.” But despite every hurdle he faces, Krause powers on with selfless faith, doing everything in his power to save lives and complete his overall mission, even at a physical cost to himself – witnessed in his feet bleeding heavily, experiencing exhaustion and going without food. He even risks the overall success of the mission, when he chooses to save survivors from a sinking vessel, leaving the rest of the convoy vulnerable. In this way, Hanks’ character embraces the attitudes of Christ, as noted in Philippians 2:3-8 (NLT):

“Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being.
​When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross."

​Krause, despite holding such a position of seniority, ultimately chooses sacrifice over comfortability and compromise, not allowing his rank to interfere with what matters most. Only when the battle is won, does he finally go down to his quarters to sleep. And it’s because of his modest heroism and dedication to living out his faith, that the convoy ultimately succeeds in reaching its destination. He would not rest until the task was completed, just as Christ himself would not choose to leave all of us perishing in our sin, but came to this world, “not…to call the righteous, but sinners” (Mark 2:17, NIV) who were in need of His life-saving forgiveness. For “everyone has sinned” and fallen “short of God’s glorious standard” (Romans 3:23, NLT) for the way in which we should live our lives. In fact, the Bible teaches that we have actively chosen to do wrong in God’s sight. But He was unwilling to see us perish in our sin, for all eternity.
​
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So, God sent His one and only Son Jesus to be the One who could deal with the problem of our sin, by dying in our place, and rising again three days later, having defeated the power of darkness, so that we could be forgiven. When we turn from our sins, therefore, trusting in Jesus’ promise of salvation, we are restored to a relationship with Him and given the gift of eternal life. By the film’s end, Krause emerges as more of a Christ figure, reminding us of the Father tirelessly fighting for us in His masterplan of salvation. And whilst Jesus now resides in Heaven (his quarters, if you will), we can experience relationship with Him, today and for all eternity – we only need acknowledge Him as our King, Saviour, Commander.
 
Challenge:
  • Why not prayerfully invite a friend or family member who doesn’t yet know Jesus, to watch Greyhound for themselves? Use the film’s themes to ask them what they thought of the film, if they spotted any links to Christianity and what they might think of the Gospel’s response to this subject.
  • If you feel able to, ask them what they think they are worth to God – do they think that they’re important to Him, and if yes/no, why? You could then ask them what they think about God sending Jesus to be their Saviour who was resolute in His task to save and draw us to relationship with Him. If they're open to hearing it, take an opportunity to share the hope of the Gospel message with them.
 
Prior to watching the film for yourself, however, take a moment to pray that God would speak to you through the film. If you feel comfortable, pray this prayer over all of your future, film-watching experiences:
​
Dear Lord, As I watch this film, I ask that you would be present here with me. Highlight to me anything within it that is honourable, anything that can be used in conversation for your Kingdom purposes. Amen. ​
 
Greyhound is now available to stream exclusively on Apple TV+
​
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    Articles written by
    Scott Gentry

    ​scott@k180.org

    Cinema has been a huge part of my life for as long as I can remember. It's thrilled me, challenged me, and even been used by God to draw me closer to Him.
    ​
    Now, in every film-watching experience, I try to remember the advice of John Calvin, who said not to be dismissive of truth wherever it shall appear, which I can in turn champion and use for God's purposes.
     
    ​Inspired by Calvin's words, I was eager to begin talking about the 'good' that appears in film, so that others can not only discover it, but share it for the sake of the Gospel. It's for that reason that this blog now exists, and I pray that these articles will bless you in your evangelism.


    ​Scott's Favourite Films:
    - True Grit (2010)
    - Barry Lyndon (1975)
    - Once Upon A Time In The West (1968)
    -  The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)
    - On the Waterfront​ (1954)
    - Won’t You Be My Neighbor? (2018)
    - The Mission (1986)

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