Redeeming Culture one Movie at a Time

Movies are cool. I can honestly say that I would rather watch a movie then read a book any day. I have been called lazy, uneducated, and down right uncultured. However, for the record, I have sat through the BBC version of Pride and Prejudice which was 4 VHS tapes in length and have seen all of the movies made about Charles Dickens and Jane Austen. I think I have memorized the Sound of Music, and I find myself whistling Fiddler on the Roof from time to time. I think I am quite educated and cultured on the classics that my critics grew up enjoying. But enough of that. I want to talk about man movies, 300 in particular. 

If you have not seen the movie 300, here is the summary:

Spartans= 300 go out to battle against the wishes of the gods

Persians= tens of thousands of warriors coming to take over Greece

King of Sparta= leads his men to battle and leaves his wife behind to rally the politicians

King Xerxes of Persia= really creepy man who is covered in piercings

Spartans kill tons of Persians but are betrayed by a creepy looking Spartan (I see a theme here)

Tons of battle gore and violence and everyone dies.

If you are not 18 then don't watch it. It is rated "R" for a reason. I have discretion in what I see but I do not like to judge a movie just by its rating or by online reviews. I always like to look at how the gospel story applies to any movie I watch. I can't do that by just looking up a review online from a Christian organization because when you watch a movie, it tugs at your emotions and grips at your fears. If I was to talk with a kid about a popular movie and how the gospel applies to it, he would immediately know that I did not watch the movie and I was just shooting back information. 

But back to 300. I was almost literally standing on the couch yelling "This is Sparta!" with the King and sniffling in the end when he was pierced with many sharp pointy things. Why? Because it painted a beautiful picture of courage, determination, dedication, discipline, leadership, and love. All of these things are aspects of the Christian Gospel. I am a leader in many different areas and am challenged to live as dedicated in those areas as the King of Sparta was with his 300 soldiers. If I was to be as disciplined and courageous in my faith as he was with a blade and shield then I would be able to trample the enemy. Christ did not retreat or compromise when facing the cross alone. He did what needed to be done out of dedication and love to the Father. Wow. 

Try it next time before you write off a movie as unholy, blasphemous, and from the devil. There are a lot of things we can understand about our culture so that we may be fully equipped to minister to the people living in it.