Over Valentine's Day weekend, I rented a couple movies from Redbox for my wife and I to enjoy. I turned in my first draft of my DMin project on Thursday, and so we extended the Valentine's celebration into the weekend. One of the movies she wanted to watch was "The Perks of Being a Wallflower," a coming-of-age story based upon a best-selling novel. I found the movie to be quite well-written and well-acted, although to be honest it was quite a downer of a movie. Yet amidst the drug use, teenage drinking, and questions of identity, there was a compelling story and even a glimpse of Gospel truth.
Early in the movie, the protagonist Charlie finds himself in a new school with trouble fitting in. Eventually, he meets Patrich and Sam, two seniors who start inviting him into their lives and connecting with him. One night, as Charlie meets their group of friends (called the Wallflowers), Sam (played by Emma Watson) discovers Charlie is recovering from the suicide of his friend earlier that year. Later that evening, she and Patrick invite everyone to toast Charlie, and then she tells him, "Welcome to the island of misfit toys."
Everyone in the group is dealing with their own baggage. Sam, Patrick, and all of their friends are broken individuals,with regrets for the past and anxieties about the future. Yet somehow, through their mutual friendships and relationships, they face the complexities of life and their own damaged psyches with courage. They support one another, caring for each other when they hurt and celebrating one another's successes. And in the end, when the community they have is endangered by the parting caused by college, each suffers at first - but the ongoing relationships remain a foundation they can count on no matter what storms may come.
Here we see reflected in a mirror, as Paul would say, a glimpse of the way God created us. Some say that humanity is "the social animal," made for community and designed to rely on one another. Genesis tells us this is reflective of the nature of God, and throughout the salvation history of Scripture we see an emphasis on the community of God's people. Isaiah said that the community of Israel was to be a light to the nations, Jesus chose to invest in a small community of twelve disciples, and Paul planted Christian communities all over the Roman Empire. The Bible's account of God's work is grounded in relationships and community.
Why? Why is community so central to the way God made us and the way God works in our world? We get a glimpse into this in the letter of James. "Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed." (James 5:16, The Message) Something about humanity needs emotional support in the midst of pain, regret, uncertainty, and the other troubles of life.
This is why community is so central to the Christian faith. In a world with great darkness and so much mistrust and loneliness, the church proclaims with James that we are to set aside anything that comes between us, help one another in difficult spots of life, and support one another no matter what. In this way, not only do we share the love of Christ with one another and bless the lives of our brothers and sisters, we also bear witness to the love of Christ that forgives the unforgivable and helps with the impossible.
"This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples - when they see the love you have for each other." (John 13:35, The Message) In our love for one another, we give others a glimpse of the kingdom that Jesus brought. Those are some of the perks, not just of being a wallflower, but a follower of Jesus Christ and a part of the community of faith.
In Christ,
Adam
Early in the movie, the protagonist Charlie finds himself in a new school with trouble fitting in. Eventually, he meets Patrich and Sam, two seniors who start inviting him into their lives and connecting with him. One night, as Charlie meets their group of friends (called the Wallflowers), Sam (played by Emma Watson) discovers Charlie is recovering from the suicide of his friend earlier that year. Later that evening, she and Patrick invite everyone to toast Charlie, and then she tells him, "Welcome to the island of misfit toys."
Everyone in the group is dealing with their own baggage. Sam, Patrick, and all of their friends are broken individuals,with regrets for the past and anxieties about the future. Yet somehow, through their mutual friendships and relationships, they face the complexities of life and their own damaged psyches with courage. They support one another, caring for each other when they hurt and celebrating one another's successes. And in the end, when the community they have is endangered by the parting caused by college, each suffers at first - but the ongoing relationships remain a foundation they can count on no matter what storms may come.
Here we see reflected in a mirror, as Paul would say, a glimpse of the way God created us. Some say that humanity is "the social animal," made for community and designed to rely on one another. Genesis tells us this is reflective of the nature of God, and throughout the salvation history of Scripture we see an emphasis on the community of God's people. Isaiah said that the community of Israel was to be a light to the nations, Jesus chose to invest in a small community of twelve disciples, and Paul planted Christian communities all over the Roman Empire. The Bible's account of God's work is grounded in relationships and community.
Why? Why is community so central to the way God made us and the way God works in our world? We get a glimpse into this in the letter of James. "Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed." (James 5:16, The Message) Something about humanity needs emotional support in the midst of pain, regret, uncertainty, and the other troubles of life.
This is why community is so central to the Christian faith. In a world with great darkness and so much mistrust and loneliness, the church proclaims with James that we are to set aside anything that comes between us, help one another in difficult spots of life, and support one another no matter what. In this way, not only do we share the love of Christ with one another and bless the lives of our brothers and sisters, we also bear witness to the love of Christ that forgives the unforgivable and helps with the impossible.
"This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples - when they see the love you have for each other." (John 13:35, The Message) In our love for one another, we give others a glimpse of the kingdom that Jesus brought. Those are some of the perks, not just of being a wallflower, but a follower of Jesus Christ and a part of the community of faith.
In Christ,
Adam
Comments
Post a Comment