​​This is very the essence of the Gospel message, demonstrated so beautifully (and unexpectedly) by even a young pig in his attempt to save this seemingly worthless, uncared-for dog. But in so doing, Babe does so much more than just save a life in the physical sense – this pit bull finally sees the error of his ways, seeks to protect Babe and, by the film’s end, becomes more than a simple, mindless killing machine. Yes, the pit bull might not outright apologise for his wrongdoing, but he clearly intends to turn away from it, which brings him hope for a new, different future. And we see something very similar in Christianity because Jesus came to die on a cross in our place, so that all who believe in Him might be saved from the sins of our past and the people we’ve become, to be changed into a “new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17, NIV). If we are in Christ, we become renewed people who are no longer dead in our sins and on a course set for eternal separation from Him. We’re no longer mindlessly wronging ourselves and others to satisfy the desires of our flesh. No, when we choose to respond to the saving grace of Jesus Christ (similarly to how the pit bull responds to Babe’s act of saving grace) by following Him alone, asking for forgiveness of our sin and turning away from our dark past into His light, we become spiritually renewed people who will show a distinct change in who we are to society: “(God) saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5, NLT).

Before accepting Jesus into our lives, we’re all a lot like that pit bull – driven solely by our sinful desires and blinded to the light of Jesus. But God, in expressing His great love & mercy for us by sending Jesus to save us, is the gracious beacon of hope which says that we need not continue in the path we’re on. Jesus’ sacrifice means that the price for our sin is already paid for – we only need to call on the name of Jesus to now find salvation in eternity, and the renewal of our minds today, in this life. Who’d have thought that a little pig could remind me of all of that? “That’ll do pig, that’ll do”.
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​At times, Get Low appears to be less interested in the motifs that it raises, than the curmudgeon at its core. For instance, director Schneider and his screenwriters (Chris Provenzano, C. Gaby Mitchell & Scott Seeke) often choose to revel in Bush’s unpredictable, eyebrow-raising tendencies - most notably his inability to smile for a photographer, and his admission that he no longer wears any underwear. But when the filmmakers attempt to get underneath Bush’s hardened emotional exterior and oddball nature, we find a man who’s longing to re-join society, after imprisoning himself within a place of solitude for forty years. He longs not only to be set free physically, but emotionally and spiritually. So, he visits a local preacher (Gerald McRaney), presents him with a large amount of cash and asks for a living funeral. Naturally, Rev. Horton is perplexed and asks Bush to explain, to which the old-timer simply replies: “(It’s)…’bout time for me to get low”. One would assume that Bush is referring to one’s physical and spiritual posturing before the Lord, when a person typically decides to surrender their life to God. He describes it as simply “(getting) down to business”, followed by presenting Rev. Horton with a balled-up wad of money and requesting that he provide him with a living funeral, in which people will be invited to share their thoughts and stories on Mr. Bush, unfiltered, directly to his face. 

​Rev. Horton naturally tries to dissuade Bush from permitting such gossip to spread throughout a house of God, and rightfully draws the old man toward the most pressing of matters: not what people say about Him, but what God will say about him when the judgement comes. “…what matters when you come to the end of your life is that you're ready for the next one. Have you made peace with God, sir?”, he asks. Bush, confused, protests: “I paid”. Horton attempts to correct him again:

Horton: “Well… You can't buy forgiveness, Mr. Bush. It's free. But you do have to ask for it.”

Bush: “Nothing in this world is free, preacher.”
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​In preparing to go on with his story, Bush stumbles – he’s unsure of how to go on with telling the truth. But he sees Mattie in the crowd, and he directs his confession toward her. He continues, speaks the truth, and soon finds an emotional release from the burdens of his mind and heart – seen in the joyful reconciliation between him and Mattie, but also in his physical appearance. He looks healthier, lighter – free. In that moment, Bush’s actions show the healing power of confession. It mends relationships around him and (to some extent) himself. For an act that he dreaded for so long, he never knew how liberating it could be to be released from such darkness within his heart. And this is what God wants for His creation. He longs for us to seek forgiveness and repentance first from Him (for the sake of our souls), and then from others: “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results” (James 5:16, NLT). Truly then, “Confession is good for the soul.” For if we, who have sinned against God and others, truly confess, and turn away from our sins with the help of our Father in Heaven, our souls will be mended and saved: “…if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved…” (Romans 10:9-10, ESV).

​The film isn’t clear on whether Bush sought out and received forgiveness from the Lord, but his story serves as a beautiful reminder of the freeing power of confession. It shows that the act of confession, seeking forgiveness and turning away from our sinful ways brings restoration between friends. But how much more important is it that we seek all of that from our Creator, God, who is supposed to be our closest friend? Ultimately, Get Low teaches that confession is good for us now, but biblical confession is essential for the soul now, and in eternity.

​Since the inception of the Faith & Film blog, I’ve frequently noted and maintained the idea that film can be used for evangelistic purposes – specifically by drawing out Christian themes from films, and initiating conversations about Jesus with our friends. And in this week’s blog, I felt prompted to explain my spiritual/theological rationale for this initiative by communicating its foundations in Scripture and offering advice on how to engage with films spiritually, to further encourage and spur you on for the task of evangelism, using film.

Since June 2020, I’ve continually written articles on 30+ films in the hope that I may equip others to share Jesus in this relevant, innovative, and exciting way. Naturally, some may be wary of this approach to evangelism. To some, it may seem as if I am “market(ing) the Gospel” in the same manner as “modern businesses” who wish to “sell their products”.[1] But I assure you, my intention is not to redesign, or shoehorn the powerful, lifesaving Good News into a universally ‘palatable’ format, which simply appeals to the masses. For you and I both know that the Gospel already boasts humanity-wide appeal: Romans 3 teaches that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”, and in Luke 19, Jesus came to “seek out and to save the lost”, which encompasses all of humankind.[2] Therefore, personally encountering Jesus, confessing that He “is Lord” and believing that “God raised Him from the dead” will be the only thing that saves us from eternal separation from God.[3] So, the Gospel message already addresses humanity’s greatest need and therefore, its potency has no expiration date and does not require me to ‘market’ it.

The challenge, however, arises in our God-ordained mission to alert people to what we know to be the truth. After all, Jesus commissioned his disciples and us by extension, to go and “make disciples of all nations”.[4] How are we to do that, then, if the Gospel message doesn’t always suit a “promotional plan” or causes offence because of the Cross?[5] Many have turned to culture as a means of introducing practices which entertain, do not easily cause offense and have wide appeal, to ensure that a non-believer’s interest remains steady. And suddenly, the Faith & Film blog begins to sound a lot like this. And in a way, it does. The blog offers a ‘seeker friendly’ blend of faith and culture which many are understandably wary of - for culture is often known and considered to be “hostile to the very ideas of truth and assurance”.[6] But in spite of this, we know that the Lord does not want “any to perish, but all to come to repentance”, so that they might be saved.[7] With that in mind though, it seems unlikely that the Lord would object to the inclusion of cultural relevance, in order to complement the work of evangelism.
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​Diana’s experiences with Maxwell call to mind for her the teachings of her aunt and mentor, Antiope, who taught her that the “truth is all there is” and “no hero is born from lies”. In a moment of clarity, Diana then realises that living in reality and thereby standing firm upon what she knows to be good and right, is to experience truth. Whilst she is unable to receive every desire of her heart (like so many others), she sees the great beauty and wonders on display in our world that are far better for us to long after and enjoy, rather than the destructiveness of selfishness and greed. In a sense, the film’s worldview isn’t entirely wrong. However, it’s understanding of truth is limited. For whilst the filmmakers appear to believe that the truths of this world are the bedrock upon which someone should build their life, how can we distinguish the truth from the lies? How do we know what is absolute truth that we are able to depend upon?

God, in His word the Bible, teaches that for all the perceived truths of this life, there is but one unmistakable, pure truth that we can (in a sense) put to the test: Jesus. Whilst others are called into question or disputed, He taught that “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one goes to the Father except by me|” (John 14:6, GNT). By this he meant that He is absolute truth within whom we can put our trust today and for eternity. Yes, some may not believe in Jesus and declare that He is a work of fiction. But He clearly said that if anyone comes to repentance, begins a personal friendship with Him and follows His teachings, “you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32, NLT). We will be able to experience Him today! Yes, Jesus is truth personified – the One who is uniquely able to help us experience a hopeful reality with Him, both now and forever, because He sacrificed himself on the Cross in the place of humanity. He made a way to save those whose lives were tainted by sin! And although He perished physically, He did not die spiritually and neither did His truth – for He rose again 3 days later to many witnesses, having defeated, and disarmed the power of death over our lives when He took it to the grave. In doing so, Jesus proved that He is truth and continues to do that today, when He beckons us to repent and thereby leave our sin behind us and come and follow Him – to experience His dependable Holy Spirit, love, joy, hope and peace. For those who love Him, “this truth gives them confidence (like no other) that they have eternal life, which God — who does not lie — promised them before the world began.” (Titus 1:2, NLT). Therefore, we need not look to the truths of this world, but to the One who wants you to know Him personally, today.

Challenge:

Why not prayerfully invite a friend or family member who doesn’t yet know Jesus, to watch Wonder Woman 1984 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 if they believe there is such a thing as absolute truth in today’s world – if they answer yes, how do they know that? Ask them to consider whether Jesus is could be classed as dependable truth in the everyday – regardless of their answer, ask them why they feel that way.

Take the opportunity to share the hope of the Gospel message with them, encouraging them in the knowledge that whilst there are lies in today’s world and we often find it difficult to distinguish truth from the lies, Jesus is truth that we can stand firmly upon in the everyday – in fact, He invites us to reach out to find Him and experience His saving power for ourselves today! So, why not invite them to turn from their sin, put their trust in Him and walk into dependable friendship with Him, today?

Prior to watching the film for yourself, however, take a moment to pray that God would speak to you through the show. If you feel comfortable, pray this prayer over all 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.
 
Wonder Woman 1984 is currently available to rent on all good streaming services.

Please note: The following text contains spoilers. Viewer discretion is also advised – Horton Hears a Who! is rated ‘U’. For more details on the film’s content from a Christian perspective, read Focus on The Family’s review from Plugged In:

https://www.pluggedin.com/movie-reviews/drseusshortonhearsawho/

I’m so glad that the story of Horton Hears a Who! exists – both in the form of literature yes, but particularly in regard to its cinematic & television adaptations. Not only is the tale wildly imaginative, but it carries messages worthy to be instilled within all of us. Without contest, however, my favourite of the book’s adaptations is 2008’s Horton Hears a Who! – it’s playfully zany, epic in scope, and thankfully retains the allegorical messages which are commonplace, in the Dr. Seuss oeuvre. Most notable is that of a message conveyed by Horton himself: "A person's a person, no matter how small”. And whilst the film’s strikingly simple messages have been interpreted by various people, in numerous ways, the fact remains that they have key links to Gospel Message which cannot be ignored…

Apparently eager to return to the wonderful world of Dr. Seuss, Jim Carrey energetically voices the eponymous, care-free pachyderm, whose misadventures lead him to experience what he describes as “an amazing cosmic convergence”: Someone from a tiny planet, situated on a speck of dust, lets out a tiny yelp. In attempting to contact its microscopic inhabitant, Horton makes the (audible) acquaintance of Mayor Ned McDodd (Steve Carell), who informs him that Horton is in fact carrying the entire city of Whoville and its inhabitants. Realising that the Whos are in grave danger, due to threat of the jungle landscape and some unsavoury characters, Horton is filled with compassion and pledges to make a home for their ‘speck’, atop Mt. Nool - the safest place in the jungle.

Whilst the story is fondly remembered for an overarching message that closely resembles the pro-life viewpoint, I’ve come to find that the relationship between Horton and Mayor Ned, functions as a worthy allegory for having faith in that which is unseen. From the very beginning, when Horton is first alerted to the idea that someone on the speck actually let out a sound, he struggles with the idea that such an anomaly could actually exist. This is fuelled by Sour Kangaroo, an uppity animal who refuses to believe that the Whos exist, because she “can’t see, hear or feel” them. But Horton reasons that there is indeed a small civilisation living upon the speck, because he says (and knows), “I heard you”. Without ever being able to see a single Who, Horton wholeheartedly believes they exist and that he has a duty of care to them and their world. Of course, our human minds would consider such behaviour as irrational, just as the fellow animals of the jungle do. But Horton knows in his heart what is true, and because he draws close to the voice, actually comes to learn of the Whos existence and the entire world inhabited upon the speck.

​And Mr. Mayor, in his desire to save the town, knew that they too were in need of a saviour. So, he continues to tell everyone of Horton’s existence, encouraging them to simply believe in and call out to him with a loud cry, so that they might be saved. And, by some miracle, they do – which enables Horton to point certain villains to tangible evidence, which proves their existence. Of course, humanity is not at all in need of trying to prove their existence to an almighty God. However, we are in equally desperate need of Him, within whom we can place our hope. Thankfully, we need not petition Him, for “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13, NLT).

Challenge:

Why not prayerfully invite a friend or family member who doesn’t yet know Jesus, to watch Horton Hears A Who! 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 film’s understanding of faith, and the characters themselves – do they develop some semblance of faith in something or someone, throughout the course of the film? If so, what does that look like? Might they have faith in something or someone, in a similar way to these characters? Ask them how such a faith influences their life.

Take the opportunity to also discuss with them the unbelief of various characters throughout the film, such as the Kangaroo. Ask them to imagine that they were in Horton or the Mayor’s shoes - if they didn’t believe you, what would you do? Have they been in that position before? If so, what did it feel like? Or have they ever been in the position of having unbelief towards something? If you feel prompted to, ask them at this moment what it is that might hold them back from believing in Jesus and why. Take the opportunity to share the hope of the Gospel message with them, encouraging them in the knowledge that Jesus wants to be in close, tangible friendship with them today because of what Jesus has done for us, by dying on the cross and rising again three days later, which defeated the power of death and darkness. Finish by letting them know that we need only put our hope and trust in Jesus today (even if the world berates us for it), so that we can be forgiven and receive the blessed assurance of salvation, that comes from a relationship with Jesus. Why not invite them to receive Him for themselves, today?

Prior to watching the film for yourself, however, take a moment to pray that God would speak to you through the show. 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.

Horton Hears A Who! is currently available to stream on Disney+ (U.K.)
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Following the signature introduction informing us that we are now entering an entirely different dimension to our own, the episode opens with dramatic urgency: small-time crook Rocky Valentine (Larry Blyden) is seen hastily robbing a pawnshop, and then attempting to evade capture from the police on foot, when the heist suddenly goes south. Under a hail of gunfire, Rocky dives into a nearby street, but finds himself cornered and is subsequently gunned down by the authorities (cue ‘fade to black’). Miraculously, however, he soon awakes in the same location we last saw him and in perfect condition. Except now, he finds himself in the company of Mr. Pip – a large, bearded gentleman dressed all in white. He politely introduces himself to Rocky as his “guide”, informing him that he is required to give him everything he could ever want. Naturally, Rocky is suspicious of Pip, but soon finds that the jolly fellow is in fact telling the truth, when he gifts him a beautiful apartment to call his own. Rocky still can't quite believe his luck (literally, too, when he begins winning every casino game imaginable), but eagerly requests that Pip bestow upon him money, women, fast cars and so much more – essentially, everything that his heart ever desired. And whilst Rocky soon embraces this life in the fast lane, something still doesn’t seem quite right:

Rocky: “What's going on here? Where am I?”
 
Mr. Pip: “Mr. Valentine, do you remember when we met earlier today? I told you I was in a sense, your guide and you said you needed a guide like a hole in the head.”
 
Rocky: “Yeah.”
 
Mr. Pip: “Well, as a matter of strict fact, you had a hole in the head only a short time before: a bullet hole.”
 
Rocky: “Yeah, that's right. The cops, they... Then I must... I must be dead!”
 
Mr. Pip: “Mmm-hmm.”
 
Rocky: “If I'm dead, then all of this, the joint, the clothes and the booze… I must be in heaven. Yeah! That's it! That's it! I'm in heaven, right? And you're my guardian angel, something like that?”
 
Mr. Pip: “Oh, something like that. Yes, Mr. Valentine.”
​

​Rocky is elated to learn that he ‘made the cut’ to enter Heaven, but is still a tad perplexed – how could a less than gentlemanly thief have everything he ever wanted, and make it into Heaven? Even he can’t seem to remember doing many or any good deeds at all throughout his time on earth, that could warrant such eternal bliss. In seeking reassurance from Pip that there hasn’t been some sort of mix-up with the almighty, Rocky is informed that there is a file kept on him in the Hall of Records, that would detail every action taken within his lifetime. At Rocky’s request, Pip leads him to the aforementioned hall, and then to a filing cabinet, from which he removes the file. Reading it aloud, Rocky soon realizes that his life was completely devoid of any good at all, for his file is simply a record of all that he has ever done wrong – and nothing more. Noticeably worried and confused, Rocky begins to panic. But Pip assures him that nobody could have made a mistake and that he’s exactly where he’s supposed to be. Whilst his fears initially subside, Rocky soon tires of being waited on, hand and foot, yelling: “If I gotta stay here another day, I’m gonna go nuts! I don’t belong in heaven, see? I want to go to the other place.” Pip, taken aback, flashes a wry smile, saying: “Whatever gave you the idea that you were in heaven, Mr. Valentine? This IS the other place!”. You didn’t see that coming, now did you?

At the top of this article, I mentioned that A Nice Place To Visit made the Christian in me both fearful, and simultaneously hopeful. Why might that be, you ask? Well, I was initially fearful because the episode prompted me to consider if God keeps a record of our mistakes, and in particular, my own. It’s a scary, heavy thought for anyone to consider, but consider it we must. For if God is all-knowing, then He is more than able to call to mind the wrongdoing we have committed against Him, and others. And in the Book of Revelation, that is revealed to be true, as it is written that our sins (the wrong we do in the eyes of a holy God) are recorded in a heavenly book and used to pass judgement upon us: “And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.” (Revelation 20:12, NIV). One could easily feel dejected at such news – knowing that God is completely aware of all our wrongdoing, both in the public and private sphere, but also of the sins we committed and can no longer remember. After all, nobody would like to admit their own wrongdoing and would much rather hope that their good deeds outweighed the bad. But the biblical truth remains that “everyone has sinned” against God (Romans 3:23, GNT), and in His eyes, “our righteous deeds…are nothing but filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6, NLT). But perhaps more serious is that the Bible teaches our “payment for sin is (eternal) death” (Romans 6:23, ICB), meaning that those who are sinful will be separated from such a holy God. Therefore, if we are judged by God’s complete record of our many sins (just as in the case of Rocky Valentine) then perhaps you and I are also due to receive eternal punishment?
​

​Well thankfully, there is Good News (hence my reasoning for being hopeful). Although our sins are both numerable and exceptionally evil in the eyes of a holy God, there is grace and mercy available to all. For to everyone who genuinely puts their faith, hope and trust in Jesus, the Son of God - asking Him to forgive them of their mistakes and turning away from them - will find that their ‘sinful record’ is wiped completely clean. But this was only made possible through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who was sent to earth to die for us on the cross, taking the penalty that we deserved for our many sins we had committed against God, so that we might be set free from death itself: “For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:21, NLT). Thanks to the sacrifice of Jesus, “if we confess our sins” to Him, “He is faithful and just and will forgive us (of) our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9, NIV).

Unlike the concept of God in this episode of The Twilight Zone, God in His great love for humanity chooses not to keep an uncleanable, glaring record of our sin, but has made a way for it to be wiped completely clean for those who seek His forgiveness: “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool” (Isaiah 1:18, NLT). Whilst yes, God has a clear knowledge of the sins we have committed against Him, He does not seek for us to be eternally condemned by the record of them. For “If you (God) kept a record of our sins, who could escape being condemned?” (Psalm 130:3, GNT), the Psalmist writes. Instead, God “forgives us…so that we should stand in awe of” Him (Psalm 130:4, GNT), turning from our wicked ways which only bring death, to then draw upon His love, forgiveness and mercy, which bring life everlasting. Heaven then becomes a destination that isn’t simply A Nice Place To Visit (something the Rocky Valentine character would very much like to do) or a place to dream of visiting, but it becomes a wonderful place that you and I can call home, with certainty, today.

Challenge:
 
Why not prayerfully invite a friend or family member who doesn’t yet know Jesus, to watch this episode of The Twilight Zone for themselves? Use the TV show’s themes to ask them what they thought of the episode, 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 episode’s understanding of what it means ‘make the cut’ and be accepted into Heaven. Do they think that God keeps a record of their mistakes on file somewhere? If so, how does that make them feel – anxious or afraid, perhaps? Do they feel that God might also keep a record of their good deeds too? If so, do they think that such good deeds might balance out the negative aspects of their lives, thereby providing them with access to Heaven? Be honest, if you can, in asking them if they think they’ve been ‘good enough’ to be accepted into Heaven. Regardless of their answer, be sure to then explain that nobody (humanly speaking) has ever been good enough to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, as our sins prevent us from getting there. But take the opportunity to share the hope of the Gospel message with them, by encouraging them in the knowledge that we can enter into Heaven because of what Jesus has done for us, by dying on the cross and rising again three days later, which defeated the power of death and darkness. Finish by letting them know that God has made a way for our ‘record’ to be wiped clean through the cleansing power of Jesus, and invite them to receive Him for themselves, today.

Prior to watching the episode for yourself, however, take a moment to pray that God would speak to you through the show. If you feel comfortable, pray this prayer over all of your future, film & TV-watching experiences:
 
Dear Lord, as I watch this TV show, 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 Twilight Zone – Season One, including the episode “A Nice Place To Visit”, is currently available to purchase through Amazon Prime Video, AppleTV and Google Play.
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