Daily Thought for Monday, February 21st

February 21, 2011

Movie Ministry (Part One)

(This like the Rock and Roll Series is not intended to offend but rather to use a little different tactic to provoke us towards greater strides in our spiritual life.)

Finding a Spiritual Message in “Lord of the Flies”

Today’s Thought:

“The human being says that the beast in him has been aroused, when what he actually means is that the human being n him has been aroused.” – James Thurber from “The Trouble with Man Is Man”

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; - The Bible (Romans 3:23)

Today’s Question

Did you know that a man or woman who says they do not sin is a liar and thus a sinner for the truth is not in them?

Today’s Spiritual Thought:

William Golding’s controversial book The Lord of the Flies was brought to the big screen in1963 by Peter Brooks and then was remade by director Howie Hook in 1990.

Why is this story controversial?

If you have not read the book or seen the movies then you do not know that this story is about a group of boys who are stranded on an island after their plane crashes.  The story line follows their behaviors as they attempt to organize and survive. However, and this is what makes this story so controversial, except of the main character Ralph and a reject of a boy called Piggy, the others boys unite behind a power crazed youth named Jack and the absolute worst attributes of their base human nature are reveled. 

Both big screen adaptations of this novel show brutality, aggressive behaviors leading to theft, murder and self-indulgence.

These films show the absolute worst aspects of human nature being played out in what is the result of what happens when these boys are left to their own devices to live and cope.

They became heathens, beasts and brutes.

What does this have to say about humanity from a spiritual perspective?  Basically this, if we are left to our own devices, without the intervention of a higher authority, we tend to be base, sinful and intent on indulging our sinful natures.

Remember, “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:” (Romans 3:10).

The movie ends with Ralph being chased by the band of boys who in their bloodlust are intent on killing him; but he is spared because as he runs out onto the beach a savior in the form of a naval officer is there and Ralph falls at his feet.

This can symbolically, in a spiritual context, represent us in our sins and trespasses being chased by the death that we deserve but when we fall at the feet of the Savior (Christ Jesus), there is hope and life.

What does this film have to say to us?  In short it reminds us that we are sinners in need of a savior and if we run to Him: He will save us and deliver us from the destruction and death that our sinful self is deserving and headed for.

Scripture tells us “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:9-10)

Are you still running from the wages of sin, which is death or have you bowed at feet of the Savior?

Embrace Him today He is the only hope for your life.

Today’s Verses:

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.  And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.  But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

John 3:17-21

Today’s Prayer:

Father, thank you that I am no longer running from death and a slave of sin, for I have been set free; I am redeemed and now I have the hope of life everlasting.

(Tune in tomorrow as we look for Spiritual meaning in ‘Little Shop of Horrors.’)