MJ and I went to see the film Noah last evening so I thought I would weigh in on the subject. I have seen several articles about the movie on facebook. I have also had several friends say they would never see the film and others say they saw no problem with it. So I thought I would tell you what I thought after actually having seen the film and not just read about it.
First:
We must always remember and never forget that the US Film Industry does NOT make movies with Christians in mind. They are not Christians they are story tellers. Ask any writer how they really felt about the film adaptation of their book. Even if they were Christians they are probably not Christians like you and their take will either be too evangelistic or not evangelistic enough. Remember what Lincoln said... you cant please all of the people all of the time... So if you're going to the movies for a Sunday School lesson you're missing the point.
Second:
The Story of Noah is not a Christian story. I know what you're thinking "but it's in the Bible!" It is in the Bible the Old Testament part, the part before God called Abraham. The part where mankind was worshiping God by the Adamic covenant. We interpret and apply it from a Christian perspective (rightly so) but the story does not belong just to us. Every culture in the world has a deluge story. I'm going to say that again so you really get it. The story of Noah goes so far back in the history of mankind that every single culture in the world tells a version of the flood story.
Finally:
Ok so let's get to it, let's talk about the film. I read an article that the director and writer of the film used the Jewish texts and a form of Jewish Mystical Homiletic to derive the story from the very few verses that are actually dedicated to the story in the Torah. In other words they read into the motives and actions of what is actually written in the Bible.
So here's what I loved about it. There were several things that really rang true to me. Adam and Eve are in the film, Noah is telling his family the story of creation and the fall and we are shown Adam and Eve in their perfection and they are glorified beings... beings of light... until sin. The other thing I really liked was the Nephalim, in the film they are supernatural rock giants that are "fallen angels" that assist Noah in his mission to build the Ark. Now I know that's not in the Bible but I thought it was cool, and remember the Nephalim are in the scripture look it up.
Here are things I don't like. Noah is an impossible character to like he starts out good and you want to root for him but by the time the flood starts he is not a nice guy. He believes that they are not supposed survive the flood and they are not to procreate but just die. It gets pretty emotionally brutal at this point and its hard to watch. I also don't like that God is not a personal God that speaks to Noah, but a God that shows Noah vague dreams and visions that Noah is left to figure out with the help of his Grandfather Methuselah. This is ultimately what leads to Noah's misinterpretation of God's intention. I also don't like that they don't talk about the Covenant aspect of the deluge (after all the Noahdic covenant is the next step for us dispensationalists).
Here are the things that I like. The film makers bring a real humanness to the characters, from Noah to Tubal Cain (the bad guy) to Noah's wife and three sons. I like the dynamic that Noah and his son Ham have all the way through the film it makes the sin and the curse later in Ham's life kinda make sense. (that stuff is in the film also) What I like most is that the real story of Noah is kept in tact. All through the film we are shown how mankind is filled with evil and sinful (albeit sometimes they hit way too heavy on environmentalism) and that they deserve the judgement and punishment that God is about to dish out. They make this world so evil you are rooting for the rain! However in the end when it is all said and done it is Noah's daughter in law (Shem's wife) who points out to Noah that God has shown them Mercy and Grace and Love. And that is the real story of Noah... not that God kills people but that God saves people. That is something that is a message in the film that would allow me to tell a friend that is not a Christian about the love of God and His son Jesus.
In Conclusion:
To make a long post short, if you're looking to Hollywood to tell you a truly Biblical account in a film that leads people to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ... stop. They are not going to make that film, I'm not even sure anyone can make that film. If you want to see an entertaining and interesting look at a familiar story you're in luck, Noah hits it out of the park in that arena.
- The Pastor
No comments:
Post a Comment