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Movies/Scenes Representing Being
Doers of the Word
 | Legally
Blonde (2001)
 | I used excerpt from different areas of this film to show
how God has imparted each of us with spiritual gifts. Eph. 4:11. God gives
each of special gifts, and he expects us to use them. Elle had gifts she
never knew existed until she rose to the challenge of being more than what
she was. Her success in the courtroom trial scene underscores the
importance of using gifts even if the world denies the gifts exist.
(Pam Hall, Hilliard UMC, Florida) |
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| Pay It Forward (2000)
| This is a great movie about living generously, of the
debt we owe to Christ that is to be repaid in service to others. (Dennis
Estill) |
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| Remains of the Day
(1999)
| Mr. Stevens loves Miss Kenton, but he is unable to tell
her so because of his commitment to concealing his own feelings in the
conduct of his duties. In the household of Lord Darlington, two German
maids have been fired because they are Jews. Knowing that they will
probably be sent back to Germany, and then to a concentration camp, Miss
Kenton vows that she will leave if they are fired. As they are
interviewing prospective replacements, she says that she will not leave
after all, because she is a coward. Mr. Stevens tries to tell her that
he needs her to stay, but is unable to reveal his love for her. Both
know what they should do, but neither has the courage to carry through.
As a result, all of their lives are impoverished. (FUMC, Natchitoches,
LA) |
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| Snow Falling on Cedars
(1999)
| "A Japanese-American is accused
of murder. At the trial his defense attorney tells the jury (this
is as paraphrase), "Every so often humanity is called upon to give
a report about how far we have progressed from the jungle. Will we
repeat the prejudics and hatreds of the past? You will decide." How
we Christians live serves as the basis of the report card the world is
making in its decision whether following Christ's way of the cross
is a real option or is it just talk. (Wayne Evans, First UMC of Arcadia) |
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| Indiana Jones and the
Last Crusade (1989)
| "...he shoots Indy's dad and then says something
like - Now we'll see what you really believe" (submitted by Barry
Wolfe)
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| Weapons of the
Spirit (1989)
| ".....We, we in this
congregation, are called to do what comes naturally (!) for one who has
considered the costs and believes, one who has in her back pocket the
promies of God as recounted in our Psalm today….And what comes naturally is
moving ahead.(!) The community of LeChambon,
France did this. During WWII this protestant peasant French Hugenouts hid,
housed, fed, educated and welcomed hundreds of Jews. They set their face
firmly toward Jerusalem- with all it's suffering, glory, uncertainly and
promise. I believe their story helps illuminate Jesus' greatest hopes and
expectations for his disciples.(!) A Jewish man
who was a baby when his family was embraced by the people of LeChambon
created a documentary film about its story. (We should have a movie time at
BPC to watch it). Put a picture of these people in your head. All in their
70s and 80s at the time of filming, there are neatly dressed in well worn
vests and simple aprons, walking sticks in hand, rosy faced, vibrant. The
filmmaker remarks that hugging one of them is like hugging a tree-these are
solid people. Again and again, when asked why they risked their lives for
their Jewish brothers and sisters, the peasant farmers respond
matter-of-factly with comments like: "Sure, We gave up our bed when there
was no choice." "It happened so naturally, we
can't understand all the fuss." "The bible says feed the hungry and visit
sick. It was the normal thing to do." In an
interview with Bill Moyers about LeChambon, the filmmaker remarks, and I am
paraphrasing, "These days we seem to think that good people are those who
agonize. They " sleep on it"…and maybe in the morning their conscience gets
them to do the right thing. No- this idea is wrong. People who agonize don't
act. And people who act don't agonize." Their path
to discipleship also affirms our Psalm text. Descended from a persecuted
people themselves, the French Hugenouts, theirs was a community who took
great pains to remember the past. As good Calvinists, they had a very high
view of the OT and looked to the prophets to nurture their faith and
conduct. Their most oft sung hymn says, "May the spirit that gave [our]
ancestors life inspire [our] children to follow their example."
They credit their natural giving now with the simple fact that they
remember their own story. "There's was not a sentimental faith. Not
extraordinary. It was a solid faith that was put to the test and not found
wanting." (Anonymous contribution) |
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| Norma Rae (1972)
| Reuben Warshawsky (Ron Leibman) speaks to a meeting of
poor, unorganized mill wporkers in the deep South: "On October 4,
1970, my grandfather, Isaac Abraham Warshowsky, aged eighty-seven, died
in his sleep in New York City. On the following Friday morning, his
funeral was held. My mother and father attended, my two uncles from
Brooklyn attended, my Aunt Minnie came up from Florida. Also present
were eight hundred and sixty-two members of the Amalgamated Clothing
Workers and Cloth, Hat and Cap Makers' Union. Also members of his
family. In death as in life, they stood at his side. They had fought
battles with him, bound the wounds of battle with him, had earned bread
together and had broken it together. When they spoke, they spoke in one
voice, and they were heard. They were black, they were white, they were
Irish, they were Polish, they were Catholic, they were Jews, they were
one. That's what a union is: one ... Ladies and gentlemen, the textile
industry, in which you are spending your lives and your substance, and
in which your children and their children will spend their lives and
their substance, is the only industry in the whole length and breadth of
the United States of America that is not unionized. Therefore, they are
free to exploit you, to cheat you, to lie to you, and to take away what
is rightfully yours -- your health, a decent wage, a fit place to work.
I would urge you to stop them by coming down to room 207 at the Golden
Cherry Motel, to pick up a union card and to sign it .. It comes from
the Bible -- according to the tribes of your fathers, ye shall inherit.
It comes from Reuben Warshowsky -- not unless you make it happen."
(Quotation is from Numbers 33:54. Submitted by Jeff Massie) |
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| On the Waterfront
(1954)
| A great Christian theme of social justice in the face
of evil. Karl Malden is a clergyman who is moved to action and leads his
people. (Vicki) |
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| It's a
Wonderful Life (1946)
| As George Bailey's views what the world be if he did
not exist, it is similar to what the world would
look like without good; his brother dies young, their
town turns into an evil Potterville etc. George's
life being pulled out is like the salt, Christians,
being pulled out of the world. (Bob Vallin) |
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| Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936)
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Index
of Movie Themes
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