I had to see for myself. Disney has pushed a lot of Christian boundaries over the years, but Beauty and the Beast is a favorite of mine. I tend to make my own choices. I hadn't seen the controversial part of the movie shown on television. I had only heard that there was an openly gay character.
Well, there are openly gay characters all over television. There are openly gay characters in many movies. There are openly gay people in the doctor's waiting room and in the local Walmart and living in my apartment complex.
I just came from the movie. The imagery, the music, even the acting was very true to the Disney cartoon in most ways, and was quite beautiful.
So, let's discuss the homosexual agenda that is pushed in the movie. Does anyone watch television? Do you let your children watch television? Cause I have seen a lot of stuff on television that is more controversial. My children have seen more controversial images on television. In fact, I missed the most controversial part, where two men danced at the end during a ballroom scene, because I looked away for that moment.
I hate to admit that, most of the time, I am pretty legalistic. That isn't intentional, as in I think I can win salvation by adhering to a bunch of rules and regulations. I have standards that are pretty high. I am careful about what I let in my heart and mind. I don't even read Harry Potter (another controversy for another day), and I hear from arguments from both sides. I am careful about the books I choose to read, and what books I allow my children to read. I get aggravated by all the cartoons with magic this and magic that, and have had my youngest turn off the shows that I don't like.
But my belief in fantasy books and movies changed somewhat when I studied the life of C.S. Lewis. Reading about a conversation C.S. Lewis held with J.R.R. Tolkien and another professor at Oxford, Hugo Dyson, about imagination and belief in God changed my view. Tolkien tells C.S. Lewis that myths are powerful vehicles for revealing the world's deepest truths. When Lewis had trouble grasping the concept, Tolkien stated that Lewis lacked imagination.
Imagine, telling the man that would one day create the land of Narnia that he lacked imagination!
Tolkien pointed out the Lewis had no problem grasping meaning from ancient myths of the Norse, but wanted to rationalize God sending His Son as a Sacrifice for salvation.
So, my acceptance of fantasy led to me reading the entire Narnia series to my nine year old. I am careful, but I want my daughter to understand truths in some fantasy can reveal truths of God. When she reads the Bible, I want her to be able to see it in her mind. If she can't imagine the flood waters covering the earth with Noah and his sons safe in the Ark, she won't be able to trust God to be her protection. If she can't put herself in Saul's place on the Road to Damascus, she won't understand how transforming the power of Jesus can truly be.
But, the argument about Beauty and the Beast is not about fantasy. It is about an agenda that Christians feel is being pushed on them, and that to disagree causes massive outrage and venom sent their way. And, I understand.
I understand that the scenes in the Beauty and the Beast movie might be Disney pushing the line, seeing what they can get away with. It might be Disney using the outrage they knew would happen from Christians as free advertising. But, as a Christian, I know that I need to protect my children at times, and at other times I need to educate them.
The homosexual agenda is a reality, and being angry Christians won't change it. In fact, the angrier we are, the more we are dismissed as full of hate. Should we just accept it? No. But we need to choose our battles wisely. We need to pray before we open our mouths. We need to not overreact to every little thing that goes on. Taking my daughter to the doctor one day, a homosexual couple kissed multiple times in the waiting room. That was a day that I had to explain to my daughter what I wasn't ready to explain to a young girl. I also realized that I couldn't protect my daughter from all she will see in this world. My daughter is going to see gay couples. How I react will determine how she reacts.
Hate the sin but love the sinner? I don't want to be this angry Christian. The joy of the Lord is my strength. When joy is gone, and I am angry about everything in the world that runs counter to my faith, what strength do I have? I have been around people that are angry and hateful, and Christ doesn't exude from them. Are you loving your enemies? Are you praying for those that persecute you?
I need to educate my daughter. She needs to understand what is going on, because like that day in the doctor's waiting room, she will see it. And, unless you plan to turn off your television, never go to movies, and never go in public, your children will see homosexual behavior also. You have to be able to explain to them what you believe, show them where it is in the Bible, but also show them how to react as Jesus would.
It is tough, when, as Christians, we feel our rights are slowly being taken away and society is eroding into a moral quagmire. We see Christians standing for their faith being sued and losing everything they spent a lifetime working to achieve. And, our reaction, is fear. But is fear the correct reaction? Should we live in fear? I am pretty sure that the Bible states multiple times to not fear.
You don't have to go see the Beauty and the Beast. That is your decision. I choose not to read Harry Potter. That is my choice. I won't go see The Shack because I didn't like the book. I am careful about what stores I patronize because many have blatant anti-Christian policies instead of staying neutral. That also is my choice. It's my dollar to spend. It's my choice to make. If Disney becomes more blatant in their portrayal of homosexuals, I might skip that movie. I skip a lot of movies because they contain things I don't want to see. I have no plans to see a Fifty Shades movie ever... or read the books. Nope, not for me. Christ has changed what I want to watch.
It isn't fear. I am not afraid of Harry Potter, twisted theology, anti-Christian store policies, homosexuality, or soft porn movies. It isn't fear, it is a decision. It is a decision about what I will spend my money on, and what I will allow in my heart and mind. I am careful, at times, but I am not living in fear. I spend time with Jesus daily, and talk to Him often. I let Him guide me. When the invite came to see the movie today, I prayed really fast. I don't go to many movies, and so I wasn't making big plans to go see this one. But, I really like Beauty and the Beast.
So... I saw Beauty and the Beast. And I enjoyed the movie.
Who could every learn to love a beast? Well, Christ loves me and I was pretty beastly in my sin. I may not have horns, but I sure was messed up for a long time. The selfish prince that ends up cursed is totally me some days. In fact, I can think of some sins right now that probably make me look pretty beastly in God's eyes, were it not for the redeeming love of Jesus.
And guess what, Belle had to love the beast in return. Jesus loves us, and that brought salvation. Loving Him in return brings transformation. While we probably won't have lightening shooting from our fingers as the Beast did, the transforming power of God is more than physical.
The Curse, whether in the movie or at the fall of Adam and Eve, condemned everyone. In the movie, guess what, even the child was cursed and turned into a teacup. The curse on mankind condemns us all. Who lifts the curse? Not an enchantress, but the sacrifice of Jesus. And still, in this fallen world, we live.
Our community theater performed Beauty and the Beast last year. I heard the songs and words over and over in rehearsals as my sister played Belle and my little girl was a salt shaker. One song that is my favorite is Be Our Guest. In it, there is a line that goes, "Life is so unnerving for a servant that's not serving. He's not whole without a soul to wait upon." Guess what, we are servants. Who are we serving? Ourselves? Or are we looking at a hurting, broken world and seeing those that we could serve. We can't serve the broken if we live in fear, if we live in hate.
I am sure many will disagree with me. That is okay.
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