My wife and I recently watched Newsies, the 1992 musical based on the New York City Newsboys Strike of 1899 and starring Christian Bale.
While I grew up watching this movie, it was the first time Dawn had seen it, and we both enjoyed the thick New York accents, the witty humor, the triumph of the riffraff over the societal elite, and the rousing original music — that is, with the exception of "High Times, Hard Times," the song that actually won the 13th Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Original Song. There were two moments in that 121 minutes of entertainment that my mind stirred from its momentary vegging and made a connection to something greater than the story I was watching. First, I found an assertion by newspaper tycoon, Joseph Pulitzer (played by Robert Duvall), to be particularly relevant. In a warning to the newsboys’ rebel leader, Jack Kelly, Pulitzer declares, “The power of the press is the greatest power of them all. I tell people how to think, how to vote—I shape [this city’s] future”! Truly, that declaration stands today. Too many people today are contentedly told what to think by today’s media. This includes many Christians, who not only don’t think for themselves, but also rarely exert themselves to think biblically. John Piper has said, “As few things are as easy as thinking, few things are more difficult than thinking well.” Indeed, it is so difficult that many of us simply opt not to do it. And so, “the prince of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2) uses one of his many devices (2 Corinthians 2:11), the “power of the press,” to mold our thinking, and thus our deciding, and finally our living. Dear fellow believer, let us “prepare our minds for action” (1 Peter 1:13; KJV, “gird up the loins of our mind”) and let us “destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). To help train yourself to think well, let me encourage you to check out Dr. Albert Mohler’s daily podcast (and transcript), The Briefing. Second, one of the compelling elements of (good) video is its ability to transport you into the story, causing you to strongly identify with the characters and feel their emotions. This happened for me powerfully at the 1:32:03 time mark of the movie, and I found myself again looking beyond the drama I was watching to something larger and more significant. At that point in the movie, the newsboys have just printed their own paper, assembled a massive rally of people, and confronted their unfair and oppressive employer, who (it is implied) meets their demands. Jack Kelly departs his successful meeting with Pulitzer, and, to communicate the victory to the crowd, he hoists his young sidekick up on his shoulders and the two of them shout, “We won!” The multitude erupts into a joyful, ecstatic celebration! And, as my emotions stirred and my eyes welled with tears, my mind wandered to another celebration, dramatically foreshadowed by the one I was watching. This is the Story that all others point to; this is the Triumph that all others are longing for. This is the day—distant, perhaps, but certain—when the people of God (those who have by faith trusted in the salvation of Jesus the Lamb of God, who have experienced the full forgiveness of their sins through the One who died for them and rose again, and who have been everlastingly clothed with His blessed righteousness) will gather in mass and hear it proclaimed, “We won!” (Revelation 21:6; 22:3). Indeed, the newsboys won and their legacy was eventually remembered in more far-reaching child-welfare reforms. But their victory was bound by the contexts of time, economy, and culture. The victory of our Lord, however, reaches to the ends of the universe (Revelation 21:1, 4-5) and the extent of eternity (Revelation 22:3-5). The first half of 2014 has witnessed an increased share of Christian movies hitting the local theater. Predictably, these releases have created a lot of buzz in the evangelical community. For each of us, the Christlike virtue of discernment (Ephesians 5:15-18; Hebrews 5:11-14; 1 Peter 5:8) becomes vitally important as we evaluate the theological content, moral teaching, and evangelistic potential of these movies. Fortunately, each of us are able to "teach and admonish" ourselves and our brothers and sisters regarding these unique movies if the Word of Christ is dwelling in us richly (Colossians 3:16). In the list below, I've linked to several helpful reviews of some of these hottest movies. Whether or not you see these films, I trust we'll continue to think discerningly, walk distinctly, and live missionally. NOAH
SON OF GOD
GOD'S NOT DEAD
HEAVEN IS FOR REAL (and all other such books and movies on near-death experiences in heaven or hell)
I've found myself getting nostalgic lately. It started yesterday when a good friend came by my office to say goodbye. While I just moved into the area and was excited to be near to him, I recently learned that he had taken a ministry job elsewhere and would be leaving. During my high school years, he and I were at the same church, and we have a lot of great memories together. When he left my office yesterday, I found myself missing those "good 'ole days" and was reminded of all the other people that made those years special who are now scattered seemingly everywhere and far from me.
The reminiscence continued last night as my high school class discussed on Facebook the planning of our 10 year reunion and joked about our many stories together. Great people and great times! Those times are past now, and those people are no longer close by. It happened again this morning. As I read through my friends' walls on Facebook and as I began to peruse the Tweets of those I follow, I was reminded that dozens and dozens of close friends of mine are no longer in the dorm room next door or in my next class or just the town over. I love making new friends, but the nature of life is that one is often saying "goodbye" or "'til next time" to old ones. How thankful I am, then, for the reality of an eternal home in heaven! In that place, there are everlasting greetings, and never a parting call. In that place, all my friends will be gathered to enjoy eternal fellowship. In that place, earthly memories will fade into eternal realities. In that place, nostalgia will be replaced with full realization! So, perhaps God gives the spirit of nostalgia as a reminder to us that "this world is not our home" and that God is one Friend and Father who "never leaves us." |
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