Viewing Movies as Spiritual Formation
(taught at Mercer University’s McAfee School of Theology, Spiritual Formation class – I was a guest teacher in this class, invited by my friend Dr. Nancy Penton) – click here for another similar class I taught
I am so thankful again to my friend Dr. Nancy Penton for inviting me to speak to this wonderful class here at McAfee! It is an honor and a privilege to be here with you, and I thank you for this opportunity to learn and grow together in the grace and knowledge of the Lord.
My topic tonight is an invitation to viewing movies as spiritual formation. 20, 10, and even 5 years ago I could not have imagined myself inviting others to view movies with any kind of positive result, because during an informal gathering of believers from our local church in our home about 25 years ago, Paul & I suggested a movie that we had viewed some years earlier. As we sat there munching on popcorn, we grew increasingly horrified as scene after scene crept on the screen that included bits we’d either forgotten about or must have found less distasteful on our first viewing. But God redeems everything, even or maybe especially our broken places! In summer 2011, God put it on my heart to gather teens and adults together for the purpose of watching movies, thinking, discussing, praying, influencing culture, and impacting the world. We call it “Movie nights for thinkers and seekers” or, more informally, “Saturdays at the Sculleys.”
I screen hundreds of movies each year to find treasures that challenge or inspire or highlight a certain theme. It became apparent right from the outset that watching movies together can be a transformative experience. Jesus told parables. Movies tell stories, and as we all know, stories can have a way of getting down into our souls far deeper than mere information ever could. There’s something about gathering together a group to watch a movie – the experience of watching with other like-minded seekers and thinkers is quite different from watching a movie alone, or watching a movie to veg out. My life is transformed each and every time. We’ve hosted over 60 such movie nights so far, and plan to continue for a long time to come, God willing! Several movie nights are in development in other places around the world, and I bless you to use any materials on our website if you’d like to launch your own movie night!
A January 2014 study from Pew Research Institute said that in the previous year, 76% of all adults read a book. As seminary students, I’m sure you’ve each lost count of how many books you’ve read in the past year. I love books; my mom was a librarian and my dad was a professor so I’ve always been surrounded by books and can’t get enough of them. But apparently not everyone engages with books in our culture. Watching a story on a screen is a different story. A 2014 Bureau of Labor Statistics American Time Use Survey says that the average American aged 15 and older watches 2.8 hours of television per day. This includes news and sports and so forth, but the reality is that our culture is deeply attached to the big and small screen. I’m passionate about developing tools to help believers engage culture for Jesus! So that’s the story of how our movie nights began. I’d like to share with you tonight some of the lessons I’ve learned by viewing movies for spiritual formation.
All right, let’s dive in 🙂
- The Way
I chose this movie because it speaks to me of God’s invitation to each of us to have relationship with Him and with one another. The title of this film, “The Way”, refers to the Camino de Santiago de Compostela, or “The Way of St. James”, a large network of ancient pilgrimage routes that stretch across Europe and come together at the tomb of St. James in Santiago de Compostela in northwest Spain. The most popular route is about 500 miles long. Silence & solitude are by nature part of this kind of journey. A Scripture that relates to this film is Galatians 6:2 (NIV): “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
Film clip: Tom, the main character, is on a journey from isolation and grief to relationship and healing. He arrives in Spain to recover the body of his son, Daniel, who died while walking the Camino. He begins to walk the Camino for his son, in a way to redeem their difficult relationship. Despite his determination to make the journey alone, he reluctantly gains traveling companions along the way, and eventually realizes that he is walking this road for himself. In this scene, Tom meets Jack, a contemplative Irish travel writer who decided to walk the Camino to cure his writer’s block. 51:42 – 54:29 [2 minutes 47 seconds] (btw, “trope” refers to a figure of speech)
This scene doesn’t capture all of Tom’s healing journey. But thanks to his three accidental companions, he begins for the first time to realize that as he is walking his road, others are there, too. Tom realizes that he had avoided real relationships before by choosing busyness, isolation, numbness. He gradually begins to respond to the invitation into relationship extended to him by both God and others.
What I’ve learned: I’m learning to slow down and be present with others; I can learn from each person along the way; everyone has a story and few people take the time to listen or care – I am growing in my desire to really see each person and not just rush forward with my agenda and plans, but stop and listen and care; I guess you could say you know you’re a contemplative if this kind of journey appeals to you . . . several of my family members, including me, are making plans to go and are very excited about the prospect!
2. The Mission
I chose this movie because it was the first film my husband and I watched at the cinema after we were married in 1985. It deeply impacted us both and gave us a desire to be a part of that kind of faith community. A Scripture that shines forth in this film is John 1:5 (ESV) – “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
Film clip: Mercenary and slave trader Rodrigo Mendosa has killed his half-brother, and although found not guilty in a legal sense, was overcome by depression. A priest, Father Gabriel challenges him to undertake a suitable penance. Penance refers to repentance, and a desire to be forgiven. Although the entire Jesuit community has forgiven him, he has not yet forgiven himself, and does not yet know the forgiveness of the Guarani Indians, the tribe whose members he had kidnapped and sold. The penance he chooses for himself is to accompany the Jesuits to the top of Iguazu Falls, where the Jesuits had recently begun to live among the Guarani. He struggles desperately up the perilous rocks, dragging a heavy bundle containing his armor and sword. Notice the reactions of the Guarani – they recognize who he is, but they have also begun to turn to Christ. 39:03 – 42:30 [3 minutes 27 seconds]
What I’ve learned: I am deeply moved by the joyful comfort, welcome, and forgiveness offered by Jesuits and Indians together. Every time I see this movie, I am stirred with a greater desire to practice forgiveness, to pray (both individually and corporately), to give generously, to dwell in unity in a Christ-centered community. I’m learning that we can engage with God’s presence in every setting, whether in a prison, a jungle, a home, a church, whether rich or poor, educated or not. God is present with us, and He calls us to be present with Him and with others.
3. Of Gods and Men
I chose this movie because it has become one of my favorite movies of all time. A group of French monks live in community in a monastery in Algeria, loving and serving the community around them. This film beautifully portrays them in but not of the world, living a life of devotion to God, loving one another, neighbors, and enemies. The situation around them grows increasingly tense, and their peaceful routine of prayer, medical assistance, and community interaction is disrupted due to the activities of a violent Islamic terrorist group. A Scripture that speaks to the story in this film is John 15:9 – 13 (The Message) – “I’ve loved you the way my Father has loved me. Make yourselves at home in my love. If you keep my commands, you’ll remain intimately at home in my love. That’s what I’ve done—kept my Father’s commands and made myself at home in his love. I’ve told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature. This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends.”
Film Clip: Both the government and the terrorists are threatening them in their work of loving and serving all who are in need. Notice how the Christ-followers respond to the very real threats in this time of great peril. 1:30:01 – 1:33:39 [3 minutes 38 seconds]
What I’ve learned: This specific scene lives in my mind with Brother Luc leaning against Jesus, much as the disciple John did at the Last Supper. He receives very real comfort from the Lord and remains there until God strengthens him for what lies ahead. I have experienced this personally, and in times of great sorrow often lean my head against the breast of our precious Savior. In joyful and difficult times, the brothers sing their prayers to the Lord. This encourages me to remain hopeful and continue to praise God no matter what is going on in my life or in the world. If God is for us, who can be against us? The way the brothers make decisions about their community deeply impacted and surprised me. Each one is given the opportunity to speak freely, and no decision is reached without considering each one’s input carefully and with sensitivity. Great value is given to unity even in the face of disagreement. I learned a lot about loving others well from this film. They connected authentically with their community, even when it was uncomfortable, challenging, or downright dangerous. I want to be like these brothers when I grow up!
4. Chariots of Fire
I chose this film because it speaks to me of glorifying God with our lives and doing what He’s created and wired us to do. He calls us to faithfulness, to be faithful to Him and to be faithful to who He’s created us to be. A Scripture that illuminates this is Ephesians 2:10 (NIV) – “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Film Clip: Eric and his siblings were born in China to Scottish missionary parents. His parents and his sister Jennie were due to soon return to the mission in China. Just prior to this scene, Eric has accidentally missed a prayer meeting because of his running, and Jennie in frustration feels that he no longer cares about God. Eric invites her to go for a walk on the mountain with him. 58:05 – 1:00:12 [2 minutes 7 seconds]
What I’ve learned: I didn’t see the movie in a movie theater, but the year of its release, 1981, was my freshman year in college, so the cutting-edge synthesized Vangelis music is deeply ingrained into my being. Eric Liddell’s life and testimony have greatly impacted me, especially his statement, “When I run, I feel His [God’s] pleasure.” It challenges me to ask myself and others, “When do I / when do you notice God’s pleasure?” “What is it about the way God has wired me that He wants me to do for His glory?” I also appreciate the gentle, humble, and authentic way in which Eric interacts with others, whether family members, fellow athletes, coaches, workers, churchgoers, children, politicians, royalty, whomever God sends his way!
5. The Gleaners and I
I chose this film because it had a significant impact on one of my daughters and me, which lead to us getting involved with the issue of food insecurity in a way that I had never before experienced. This was the first documentary film I chose for movie night. The overarching theme of the movie is gleaning, which is “the act of collecting leftover crops from farmers’ fields after they have been commercially harvested or on fields where it is not economically profitable to harvest.” God has called us to bring justice where there is injustice. The United Nations World Food Programme states that 805 million people in the world do not have enough food to lead an active, healthy life. With so many in our world who are food insecure, learning about gleaning opened my eyes to a commonsense way to do something about it. A Scripture that jumps out at me in this regard is John 6:12 (NLT) – “When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, ‘Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.’”
Film Clip: In this clip we see a little of what goes on in the potato industry. 7:55 – 10:05 [2 minutes 10 seconds]
What I’ve learned: In doing research for the movie discussion guide I write for each film, I was shocked to discover this statistic. The UK’s Institution of Mechanical Engineers released a report in January 2013 (“Global Food; Waste Not, Want Not”) stating that between 30% and 50% (1 – 2 billion metric tonnes) of food produced around the world never makes it on to a plate. In addition, approximately 30% of vegetable crops are not harvested due to their failure to meet retailers’ standards on physical appearance. Up to half of the food purchased here is thrown away by consumers. As a direct result of this film, I searched for a way to get involved to do something about this injustice, and discovered an organization, “The Society of St. Andrew,” whose mission is to introduce people to God’s grace through meeting their hungers, physically, spiritually, in community, and in action. I’ve had the pleasure of participating in two gleaning events with their education wing, Harvest of Hope, and highly recommend them for groups of all ages and denominations. A group from our church is going gleaning again in November in Alabama!
6. Kitchen Stories
I chose this film because of its humorous yet touching look at human nature and relationships. Not everyone will appreciate the subtle humor or slow pace, but I find it to be one of the quirkiest films I’ve seen, and I greatly enjoy it! It challenges us to consider the nature of modern relationships where innovations in technology are leading to increasing detachment in face-to-face relationships. Here’s the IMDB summary of the absurd plot: “In post war Sweden it was discovered that every year, an average housewife walks the equivalent number of miles as the distance between Stockholm and Congo, while preparing her family meals. So the Home Research Institute sent out eighteen observers to a rural district of Norway to map out the kitchen routines of single men. The researchers were on twenty-four-hour call, and sat in special strategically placed chairs in each kitchen. Furthermore, under no circumstances were the researchers to be spoken to, or included in the kitchen activities.” In a very literal way, a Scripture that goes well with this film is Romans 12:2a (NLT) – “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.”
Film Clip: In this clip, we see Swedish researcher Folke perched on his umpire chair in the corner, as he has done daily for weeks. He marks on his clipboard every movement in the kitchen of his assigned Norwegian farmer, Isak. It’s apparent that there isn’t a lot of action in this kitchen! In fact, Isak has gotten so peeved by this researcher (in a time when distrust between Norwegians and Swedes was high) that he all but stops using his kitchen. In desperation, Folke has just dropped a package of special tobacco onto the table, possibly in an attempt to assuage his boredom, but also to reach out for some human contact. 35:30 – 37:15 [1 minute 45 seconds]
What I’ve learned: The humorous look at human nature in this film has helped me to remember that in every encounter I have with people, I am not supposed to be just an observer, but to get involved with their lives. The person we’re observing and possibly judging is likely someone God has sent to us for a reason. They may wind up becoming a very dear friend. The Lord has used this film to remind me to reach out a hand of friendship to those in close proximity, trusting that He has brought them into my life for relationship, not to fix or to analyze or to ignore. We show that we love God by how we love the people around us.
7. Bella
I chose this film because it paints a powerful picture of how, as the tagline says, one moment can change your life forever. It goes on to show what love really is, not just words, not just sentiments, not just hormonal, not just for a season – love is sacrificial compassion in action. A Scripture that sheds light on what happens in this film is 2 Corinthians 7:10 (NLT) – “For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.”
Film Clip: In this clip, José is showing his platonic friend Nina a car that has been stored in his parents’ garage for many years. In answering her questions, we see a flashback to when José had just signed a contract with Real Madrid (soccer club) and was, along with his manager, on his way to a media interview. 46:31 – 49:20 [2 minutes 49 seconds] What follows shows us what happens when both José and Nina choose the path of godly (and not worldly) sorrow.
What I’ve learned: This film inspired me to look for more opportunities to put sacrificial compassion in action, especially in helping someone make the choice for life, whatever that might look like. It also helped me to have greater compassion for people because we don’t know what their “one moments” were that changed their lives forever and caused them to be in the predicament in which we find them. I was also struck by the real life story of one of the producers, who is also the actor who plays José. Verástegui co-founded Metanoia films after experiencing transformation in his own life. “Metanoia” is a Greek word that means “repentance, a change of mind, change in the inner man.” Verástegui said of this film, “It is my hope that Bella gives those who watch it the spark to do the great things that God has planned for each and every one of us.” I appreciate this, and I hope that through encouraging others to become increasingly more Christ-like through viewing movies in movie night groups around the world, God may grace them with the spark to do the great things that He has planned for them!
8. Mr. Holland’s Opus
I chose this film because of the important message that our work is not our magnum opus. Love is. His opus turned out to be not the music he wrote but the lives he touched. A Scripture that encapsulates this message is John 15:13 (NLT) – “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
Film Clip: In this clip we see Mr. Holland, the school music teacher, after school trying to work on his composition, when he’s interrupted by one of his students, Gertrude. 30:28 – 35:02 [4 minutes 34 seconds] Did you notice how he formulates questions based on her communication, both language and body language?
What I’ve learned: This film encourage me to leave room in my life for interruptions. As a high school student, I drew up a study schedule for my days that crammed activity into every waking moment. God used his film to challenge me that it’s ok to make plans, yes, but expect God to direct and interrupt me with His divine appointments. This is another film that helped me to notice the people around me, listen well to their words, their hearts, their lives, and to ask strategic questions that will help them become all that God created them to be and do all that He created them to do.
Conclusion:
I certainly don’t recommend watching any or every movie for spiritual formation! But with discernment, there are many opportunities to let stories speak to us through watching movies, something that is almost universal in our culture. I hope that these few glimpses into some of the movies we’ve watched will encourage and challenge you. Next time you watch a movie, I challenge you to think about how God is nudging you, and then do something about it. It’s countercultural to watch movies for the purpose of transformation. Our culture has duped all of us into thinking that stories are simply a leisure activity, and stories in movies are best paired with popcorn and soda, lightweight nutrition at best. Jesus didn’t tell us stories to entertain us. His stories are far from lightweight. May we wake up to the power of story and consider which stories God wants us to show and tell to others, whether through watching movies together or some other way. As you continue along your journey with Jesus in the love of the Father and the power of the Holy Spirit, may He guide you and protect your hearts and minds, and use you to influence many to turn their hearts more towards Him.
I want to close by praying over you what is known as the First Principle and Foundation in Ignatian spirituality. Let’s pray.
