Difference between revisions of "Sermon for January 7th, 2018"
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Today begins a seven-week series on Faith and Film--specifically we'll consider eight films that came out in the past year, spanning a wide variety of genres and styles, and we'll consider the places where those films intersect with questions of faith, spirituality, and our own Christian story. | Today begins a seven-week series on Faith and Film--specifically we'll consider eight films that came out in the past year, spanning a wide variety of genres and styles, and we'll consider the places where those films intersect with questions of faith, spirituality, and our own Christian story. | ||
| − | + | Unfortunately, it's become popular in some churches to denounce "Hollywood" as a godless, immoral seducer of young minds, but I think that's giving Hollywood too much credit. Writers, directors, producers, actors--like storytellers of every age--are most inclined to tell the stories that people most want to see and hear. | |
| − | + | So while a great story can make us think or inspire us to change, more often our stories are simply a reflection of what we value, what moves us and stirs us, what hopes, fears, dreams we cling to, and what's on our collective minds in any given moment. | |
| − | + | In the 20th century, the famous Reformed theologian Karl Barth said that we should preach the gospel with the Bible in one hand, and a newspaper in the other. Likewise, Jesus himself preached using parables, stories that drew from the familiar elements, customs, and events of his own culture. | |
| − | + | If we, as 21st century people of faith, want to understand and engage with the world around us, if we want to understand ourselves and the neighbors we are called to love, then we must look to the stories of our day--the good ones, the bad ones, the great ones--not blindly and uncritically, but also not simply to judge or condemn. We look to our stories, our films to see, to recognize, and ultimately to share those places where God's story, where God's enduring themes of faith, hope and love shine through the silver screen. | |
| + | With that, let us turn to our first story: | ||
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[https://youtube.com/watch?v=paXQcEOUqAs Film Clip #1 - Trailer] | [https://youtube.com/watch?v=paXQcEOUqAs Film Clip #1 - Trailer] | ||
| + | ====Three Minute Film Synopsis | ||
| + | Wonder is the story of August Pullman (Augie), a young boy who suffers from Treacher Collins syndrome, which is a genetic disease that manifests in severe facial deformities, among other things. The film is based on a best-selling novel by the same name, and spans Augie's first year of Middle School. | ||
| + | The story begins from Augie's perspective, but ultimately broadens as we see the same events from the perspective of his parents, his sister, his classmates and others. We root for Augie, the main character, as he is bullied, as he struggles to make friends, and ultimately he grows, as he draws inspiration from those around him and inspires them in return. But what I love most about this film is that it treats all of its characters with dignity, sometimes reversing our expectations, pulling back the curtain to show us why people act the way they act, often surprising us with acts of vulnerability, forgiveness, sacrifice, and humanity. | ||
| + | |||
| + | There is a scene at the very end of the movie, at the closing assembly for Augie's school, where he receives his school's highest award. As the principal describes the character traits for which the award is given, we see flashbacks from the film where each of the characters--Augie's friends, his family, his classmates--have all exemplified these traits. As Augie makes his way to the stage to receive the award, his community cheers him on with a standing ovation, and we hear Augie's voice narrating the scene, saying that everyone deserves a standing ovation at some point in their lives. His triumph is everyone's triumph and vice versa. | ||
====And a Little Child Shall Lead Them==== | ====And a Little Child Shall Lead Them==== | ||
| − | + | Names are important, and often have significant meaning. This is certainly true in the Bible, and in most great stories as well. In this film, our protagonist is August Pullman. August is a Roman or Latin name that means to grow, to increase (think of the related word, to "augment). I suspect that his last name, Pullman, is exactly what it sounds like. Pull man. As Augie grows through his experiences, he pulls along his fellow man, so that everyone triumphs together. | |
| + | |||
| + | As students of the Bible, we should see some parallels with Augie's character and that of young David, in the Old Testament. David doesn't "look" the way people expect a king to look, but we are told that God judges us not by our outward appearance but rather by what's in our heart. This is a recurring theme in the movie Wonder. Augie, near the end of the film, bravely faces down a "giant" 7th grader, much as young David faces down the giant Goliath. | ||
| − | David | + | The relationship between Augie and his best friend Jack Wills is reminiscent of the friendship between David and Jonathan. |
| + | As David grows into a young man, he is rejected by King Saul and made an outcast, but eventually his heart and his character draw more and more people to his side, so that when he triumphantly enters Jerusalem, everyone triumphs with him. That, of course, is also the plot of Wonder. | ||
====Through a Glass, Darkly==== | ====Through a Glass, Darkly==== | ||
Revision as of 17:21, 6 January 2018
Contents
1 Samuel 16:6-7
6 When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is now before the Lord.” 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
Colossians 3:8-13
8 But now you must get rid of all such things—anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices 10 and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator. 11 In that renewal there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all!
12 As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. 13 Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
Faith & Film VI: Wonder
Today begins a seven-week series on Faith and Film--specifically we'll consider eight films that came out in the past year, spanning a wide variety of genres and styles, and we'll consider the places where those films intersect with questions of faith, spirituality, and our own Christian story.
Unfortunately, it's become popular in some churches to denounce "Hollywood" as a godless, immoral seducer of young minds, but I think that's giving Hollywood too much credit. Writers, directors, producers, actors--like storytellers of every age--are most inclined to tell the stories that people most want to see and hear.
So while a great story can make us think or inspire us to change, more often our stories are simply a reflection of what we value, what moves us and stirs us, what hopes, fears, dreams we cling to, and what's on our collective minds in any given moment.
In the 20th century, the famous Reformed theologian Karl Barth said that we should preach the gospel with the Bible in one hand, and a newspaper in the other. Likewise, Jesus himself preached using parables, stories that drew from the familiar elements, customs, and events of his own culture.
If we, as 21st century people of faith, want to understand and engage with the world around us, if we want to understand ourselves and the neighbors we are called to love, then we must look to the stories of our day--the good ones, the bad ones, the great ones--not blindly and uncritically, but also not simply to judge or condemn. We look to our stories, our films to see, to recognize, and ultimately to share those places where God's story, where God's enduring themes of faith, hope and love shine through the silver screen.
With that, let us turn to our first story:
====Three Minute Film Synopsis Wonder is the story of August Pullman (Augie), a young boy who suffers from Treacher Collins syndrome, which is a genetic disease that manifests in severe facial deformities, among other things. The film is based on a best-selling novel by the same name, and spans Augie's first year of Middle School.
The story begins from Augie's perspective, but ultimately broadens as we see the same events from the perspective of his parents, his sister, his classmates and others. We root for Augie, the main character, as he is bullied, as he struggles to make friends, and ultimately he grows, as he draws inspiration from those around him and inspires them in return. But what I love most about this film is that it treats all of its characters with dignity, sometimes reversing our expectations, pulling back the curtain to show us why people act the way they act, often surprising us with acts of vulnerability, forgiveness, sacrifice, and humanity.
There is a scene at the very end of the movie, at the closing assembly for Augie's school, where he receives his school's highest award. As the principal describes the character traits for which the award is given, we see flashbacks from the film where each of the characters--Augie's friends, his family, his classmates--have all exemplified these traits. As Augie makes his way to the stage to receive the award, his community cheers him on with a standing ovation, and we hear Augie's voice narrating the scene, saying that everyone deserves a standing ovation at some point in their lives. His triumph is everyone's triumph and vice versa.
And a Little Child Shall Lead Them
Names are important, and often have significant meaning. This is certainly true in the Bible, and in most great stories as well. In this film, our protagonist is August Pullman. August is a Roman or Latin name that means to grow, to increase (think of the related word, to "augment). I suspect that his last name, Pullman, is exactly what it sounds like. Pull man. As Augie grows through his experiences, he pulls along his fellow man, so that everyone triumphs together.
As students of the Bible, we should see some parallels with Augie's character and that of young David, in the Old Testament. David doesn't "look" the way people expect a king to look, but we are told that God judges us not by our outward appearance but rather by what's in our heart. This is a recurring theme in the movie Wonder. Augie, near the end of the film, bravely faces down a "giant" 7th grader, much as young David faces down the giant Goliath.
The relationship between Augie and his best friend Jack Wills is reminiscent of the friendship between David and Jonathan.
As David grows into a young man, he is rejected by King Saul and made an outcast, but eventually his heart and his character draw more and more people to his side, so that when he triumphantly enters Jerusalem, everyone triumphs with him. That, of course, is also the plot of Wonder.
Through a Glass, Darkly
Fantasy/Reality 1 Corinthians 13:12 "For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known."
