My Thoughts on “NOAH” If you’ve been intrigued or confused by the controversy surrounding this film and have decided not to see it for whatever reason, and if you’ve got a few minutes to invest in this conversation, hopefully this will be helpful. I usually don’t like to jump in to hot topics and scrap with people over social media platforms as it can be an extremely lame mode of conversation and dialogue, but I was so incredibly impacted by this film and feel so strongly about it that I think it’s worth diving in on this one. Bottom line: you should go and see this film in theaters. Having said that, let me throw down some thoughts to chew on. #1. CHRISTIANS, ART, and the BIBLE: if you are looking for an exact biblical recreation of how you view the story of Noah and are not open in your mind or heart to an artistic version of the story, then you shouldn’t watch the film. I get it. People who care deeply about the accuracy of this story are upset. Like one reviewer wrote, if fans of Harry Potter watched major characteristics of their beloved book completely twisted around, they’d be up in arms as well. But I don’t think this film falls into that same category (in the sense that the filmmaker was trying to create a completely literal interpretation of the written story). This film is a sci-fi, fantasy, magical, graphic-novel-like, alternate-reality version of the Noah story. It is not completely biblically or historically accurate. Within the first few minutes of this movie, that will be glaringly obvious. And at that point, just make the decision that you are not going to demand biblical and historical accuracy and I encourage you to let this artistic rendition take you on a ride. I may be going out on a limb here, but I believe that one of the beautiful things about art is that it can be shocking and challenging to our minds and thus reveal what is going on in our hearts. In fact, science fiction is largely designed to do this: it is purposefully creating an imaginary world to transport you for a couple hours to an emotional place where you are forced to confront ethical, moral, or spiritual themes that should rock you, at list a bit, and get you talking, conversing, and maybe even viewing the “normal” world differently. This film will do that if you let it. And I don’t want to downplay how strongly I feel what I’m saying here. This movie rocked me to the core and I was so impacted by it that I was literally holding my chest as I walked out to my car, still shaking and pretty much speechless. But let me be clear again: if you can’t get over the fact that this is an alternate universe artistic rendition of your beloved story of Noah and the ark, then you will not have the open mind and heart necessary to allow the themes of the film to rip you. Sure, maybe you are open-minded and still it didn’t do anything for you... thats fine. That’s art. But this is an important element to talk about because the danger with this film is that BECAUSE it’s based on a biblical story, more than other works of art, it has inherent in it this stumbling block. I implore you to get over it within the first few minutes and go on this extraordinary ride. Honestly, it could change your life forever. So let me go on record: this is not a biblically or historically accurate film, but it’s THEMES are wildly biblical and, in my opinion, are extraordinarily powerful, prophetic, and deeply moving. In other words, within those first few minutes of the film, if your mind can’t get over the issue that the FACTS are not biblical the way you’d like it to be, then I fear you may be in danger for the rest of the film to miss the THEMES that are extremely biblical and impacting. #2. ARTISTIC QUALITY: although there were some clunky and cheesy elements, I felt it was a great artistic work, theological controversies aside. Many of the actors brought some amazing performances (especially Jennifer Connelly), and the graphics and sound design did exactly what they needed to do: transport you into another world. This is why I believe you should see this in the theaters. The costumes, especially, are outstanding. The textures, design, and other-worldly qualities were so well done. And for me, familiar with the Noah story and having this typical, more historical image of what people wore back in those days (bland robes and whatever), it was super refreshing. I loved going on the ride of the film with everyone looking so dang cool. That was true art, to me. #3. DEVIATIONS from the BIBLE STORY: I loved the fact that I had no idea what was going to happen next. For some, they were probably fuming at the inaccuracies, but for me, as discussed above, the changes ARE the point to the experience. Another incredible characteristic of art is that it can do the unexpected and move you because of that. Like a roller-coaster in the dark - you have no idea what’s coming until your body is being thrown in a direction totally opposite from what you thought was coming! I SO enjoyed having someone else’s version of the Noah story bringing twists and turns that were unforeseen. In fact, the filmmakers USED those creative and fresh storytelling techniques in the context of a story that many people are familiar with to communicate powerful themes. Here’s my encouragement to you: if you are familiar with the story, go on the ride and let the changes SPEAK TO YOU, not bother you. Allow revelation and deeper understanding about humanity and the complexities of humans emerge as what you thought you knew of this story gets moved and shifted around and imaginative twists are introduced to shake your idea of what is SUPPOSED to happen next. For me, the Lord was able to profoundly impact my heart through what was DIFFERENT about Noah and the story. Somehow, the filmmakers and writers were able to go way beyond Noah’s story and bring in many biblical characters and journeys (yes, even our own personal journeys and struggles in life) into these characters and use the epic backdrop of an extraordinarily disturbing story of world-wide judgment to challenge our hearts. Yes, Noah is described in the Bible as pure, both in his physical make-up (many scholars feel this term could point to the fact that there wasn’t Nephilim blood in him, etc) and his moral heart, which is why God chose him for this task. So when Noah is portrayed in the film as someone who is morally corrupt in ways, folks be freaking out. I know I’ve spoken to this already, but I want to make a point: in this alternative-universe version of the story, this is how Noah rolls! Get over it and immerse yourself in it. SEE YOURSELF in him and his struggles. Or in his wife. Or one of his kids. Get out of your religious mind for two hours and allow your heart and your humanity to be exposed in the backdrop of this re-imagining of one of the most epic Bible stories ever. If you can do that, I think you may be changed for the good. #4. BIBLICAL THEMES: my mind and my heart were rocked by this film on so many levels. The Lord was speaking to me and revealing stuff through this experience that I’ll be chewing on for months - most likely for years to come. But here is one of the most important and timely themes, one that this film is so artistically and powerfully equipped to communicate through the graphics, performances, and sound design: the justice and judgment of God. If you believe that Jesus spoke the truth, then you are someone who knows that Jesus affirms the story of Noah as historically accurate (it sure doesn’t seem that He believes it was a myth when He says): “For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.” Now, you may believe that Jesus was a lunatic or making junk up, which is up to you, but what I love about this film is that it takes this story and brings it to the forefront of our belief systems so we can wrestle with it. Jesus and the New Testament writers communicate a time that is still coming in the future of the world that will be LIKE what is portrayed in this film. It is going to be the most terrible, awesome, and horrifying time for multitudes of people on the earth - this is the way the Bible describes it. Masses of humans screaming for their lives. Some of the worst natural disaster-type events taking place that are destroying people in insane numbers that are beyond our minds to comprehend. It is sickening. It makes your skin crawl just thinking about it. It is haunting. THIS is one of the most compelling reasons I am encouraging people to see this film. This is what this incredible art form can do for us, if we’ll let it. You may not like what the Bible says about what is yet to come for planet earth and for those alive during those days. Heck, you may even be a Christian and not like it! But it doesn’t matter if you believe it’s all made-up stories or you believe every single word of Jesus, Paul, and John. Go see the film and allow the themes and the images and the music and the haunting screams press upon your heart and your emotions. Let it challenge your view of God, the Bible, and humanity. Let it shake your life and force you to pause and consider what is going on inside of you. Is it possible a loving God can bring this kind of judgment and destruction to the world? Could this actually point to how loving and filled with justice He is? But what about that innocent person who got swept up in it? Wait a minute, IS there such a thing as an innocent person? Or are the only innocent ones in the ark? But wait, even the innocent ones in the ark are not innocent? But it goes on with powerful, Biblical themes: free-will and divine control, mercy triumphing over judgment, Gods heart for His creation, mankinds co-creating role with the Lord, the seed of sin that has chased humans from Cain until today, and many other moving and challenging issues. And as far as the rock monsters are concerned, yeah, okay, I get it. But if youre against them just because they seem weird to you then I need to ask: have you read the Bible recently? Talk about weird and wild creatures and unexplainable phenomenon. Personally, I loved the weirdness of the film because it reminded me of how other-worldly Gods history really is (and His future, for that matter). Its a good thing to challenge the Fisher-Price smiley toy Sunday School version of the tale of Noah. If you can handle it. #5. IS GOD PROPHESYING? You may recall in the Bible how God gave humungous, life-altering messages to Pharaohs and leaders of industries who didn’t have a relationship with Him. I’m talking about wild, prophetic dreams and messages for people all across the land. And then it was up to the people of God, folks like Joseph, to step up and interpret the message with supernatural insight. Joseph didn’t whine and complain that Pharaoh didn’t know God and how dare he speak on His behalf, etc. No, he engaged Pharaoh and Egypt with spiritual insight and practical life application. I’ve heard that some Christians are disturbed by the director’s spiritual worldview. Which I can totally understand why they’d be. But it just doesn’t bother me one bit where the director and writer are in relationship to God when it comes to their “authority” to tell this version of the story of Noah, it just doesn’t. Could God be speaking a contemporary message through these artists and industry leaders that is timely, powerful, and prophetic? Are you willing to engage with culture and step up as a prophetic people to help interpret what God is trying to broadcast to the world through this incredibly powerful and modern platform of communication? God has done it before, is it possible He is doing it again? Is it possible He is having to use people who don’t know Him (the way you’d like them to) because the very folks who claim to know Him have vacated Hollywood, disengaged with society, and are often too closed-minded to explore the uncharted artistic lands where the Holy Spirit lives? I’m just asking. One of my fears is that the reaction of many Christians or religious people to this film will reinforce how the rest of society views the Church already: not open-minded to discussion, dialogue, and interchange. Again, I understand why Christians are so upset. But I believe that this is an incredible opportunity for all of us to be challenged, to think about and talk about deeper, spiritual issues, and possibly even to have our hearts changed forever. It is true to a certain degree that when it comes to Hollywood, people vote with their money. I know that many of you don’t want to vote “yes” for this film because you think you’d be voting “yes” to something not accurately portraying the biblical story that you love so much. Again, I understand. But instead, I would encourage you to consider this more of a vote for the discussion, a vote for the engagement that can come from this. A vote for your own heart to be challenged and your mind to be expanded, the way that art was designed to do. If you are afraid this project lacks the light of truth in it, then show up to the discussion and ADD the light to it. Honestly though, you may be shocked to find out how much light is burning within it. But you’ll never catch on fire if you can’t open your mind to it.
Posted on: Tue, 01 Apr 2014 20:08:17 +0000