God at the Movies

This past weekend Amanda and I went on a date to celebrate my birthday. I was privileged to have a late lunch and take in a movie with my sweetheart. Our movie of choice was Les Miserables. Having seen the movie that came out a few years ago, I knew the story line but I was taken back by the musical version. As we sat there glued to the silver screen, several biblical themes came to the forefront and, since then, I have not been able to put them to rest.

First, the idea of justice verses mercy, personified by Inspector Javert and Jean Valjean. Both men claimed religious reasons for their actions. Javert reminded me of the Pharisees while Jean Valjean made me think of Christ. Javert wanted justice to be done at the cost of humanity, while Valjean was more worried about the person than the law. Too many times, I am so focused on doing the “right” thing that I miss the rights of the person. As a believer, I struggle to show mercy like Christ. This idea throughout the film revealed my sinfulness and focus on rules, not souls. I am to show the mercy of God in this fallen world, not demand justice that I myself cannot enforce or live up to.

Secondly, discipleship is seen in the life of Jean Valjean and Cosette. When Valjean follows through on his commitment to care for Cosette, he promises that he will always be there for her and love her. Later in life, Cosette voices those same words to her future husband. Our goal as followers of Christ is to make disciples. This is not a class you take or a number of books to be read; discipleship is walking together toward God. It is allowing Christ to shine through in our lives so that it will be reflected in those who we are discipling. Those we disciple will look like us. It is my prayer that I am leading people to follow me as I follow Christ (to take the words of Paul in 1 Cor. 11:1).

Finally, the theme of revolution loomed large in Les Miserables. These young men were captivated by revolution, not just for personal glory but for the betterment of their people and those who would come after them. Are we willing to give our lives to the revolution that God is creating though His Son, Jesus? Are we captivated with the ideas of the Kingdom of God, the redemption of man through Christ and the desire to see all nations turn to Jesus in repentance? If not, we are missing the whispers of revolution that is God-created and God-centered.

All this from a movie. God is so good to speak to us if we will only listen. Ephesians 5:16 tells us to redeem the time. We need to allow God’s redeeming desire to flow into all parts of life, even a night at the movies.