About a year ago in the context of my work I saw a clip from Facing the Giants. In this clip a young man, a leader of his football team, was asked by his coach to stretch himself, to go much further than he thought he could. After viewing that clip a member of our team commented that the movie, though produced by Christians, would be unfairly receiving a “PG” rather than a “G” rating. I sort of laughed to myself at the time that we somehow suppose that we are so pure of motive that everything we do deserves a “G” rating; or even that a “G” rating was good…as if “PG”, for “Parental Guidance” – a concept we esteem highly, was a bad thing. I guess it’s somewhat normal to try to apply “value” to every scale.
Today we rented and saw the movie.
Based upon the theological principles presented in the movie I learned two things; the first about me and the second about the Christology of American Evangelicals (at least as presented in the film):
The film’s main character, Grant Taylor and I have infertility in common. Well, the film never came right out and mentioned the S-word, but it was easy enough to put the pieces together that his doctor’s assessment was that Grant was not doing his part in the baby-creation department. What I learned (sarcasm alert) was that I have not yet turned over to Christ all that I should; Grant did and got his wife pregnant. If I was as good a Christian as Grant is my wife would be pregnant too – not just once but twice.
I also learned a lot about the nature of Jesus – His heavenly kingdom is really sort of a merit-based materials distribution system. When we do the right thing we get stuff, better stuff and more stuff.
In summation; the message of this film is that being ‘blessed’ means ‘getting stuff’ and that earthly ‘blessing’ is based upon earthly merit.
As a visual artist and as a follower of Jesus I’m appalled at the lack of devotion to craft, to quality and depth; as a mere Christian I’m appalled at the lack of sensitivity, the immature, selfish and materialistic theology demonstrated in this film.
