Just finished watching Gran Torino – moving and thoughtful and funny as well. I know… I’m a bit behind on my movie watching (as well as my blogging). If you haven’t seen it, Clint Eastwood directs, produces and also plays “Walt”, a recent widower living in a Michigan suburb now populated by poor Asian immigrants and blighted by gang violence. Through a series of events Walt’s prejudice turns into understanding and compassion for the Asian family who live next door. The family’s home is attacked by a gang and one of the daughters of the house is beaten and raped.
I found the final main scene amazing. Walt lies on his back on the ground… in the shape of a cross. The camera focuses in on one of his hands and we see blood trickle onto the ground – flowing down his arms from having been shot numerous times in the chest. The way the movie works it seems as if Walt was going to deal with the wrong-doers by simply seeking revenge – the way of eye-for-an-eye justice. But then we are taken by surprise. Instead of revenge, Walt reaches for a lighter in his inside jacket pocket causing the gang members to think he reaching for a gun, and so they shoot him. With many witnesses looking on evil is exposed – brought into full sight, and as a result the gang members are sent to prison.
Walt lying in the form of the cross, with his blood dripping onto the ground, having given his life for his neighbours totally reminded me of Jesus. I’m not quite sure whether that was intended. But it is a very moving scene: Walt, in the same manner as Jesus, giving his life to expose evil and in doing so gaining victory over evil. Often the death of Jesus is thought of in terms of “paying for our sins” in our place, but there is a strong tradition, with a good biblical basis, which portrays Jesus’ death in terms of “victory over the powers” (Christus Victor). I thought Walt’s death was a great illustration of this kind of purposeful sacrificial death. (By the way, we see a similar kind of sacrificial death exposing evil to have victory over evil in the Robert Redford movie “The Last Castle“.)
I should say that there are important differences between Walt’s death and Jesus death. Perhaps the most significant is that Walt is seeking his own salvation in his sacrificial death. He feels he is somehow gaining his own redemption for some of the things he did during the Korean War. Oh… and the other thing is that Walt does not rise from the dead!
Anyways… well worth the watch.
Well… I suggested that the Establishment for them was our celebrity-driven consumerist pop culture. And a photo of Paris Hilton was on the video screen as a representative of this Establishment. It is this culture that tells (or attempts to tell) teenagers what it important and what is not important, how to judge – this person is trendy and cool and this person is NOT trendy and cool (so don’t hang out with them). And if you follow the rules of the Establishment you too can feel a sense of self-justification. But ultimately… all this leads to a sense of slavery.
The second event was the next night. A friend of ours was house-sitting in 
As the credits role we were treated to another two “soft warm blanket” Alexi Murdoch tunes. And it was totally benedictory. As I sat there, with all the emotion (laughter and tears) from this movie about this idealistic couple searching for “home” without any real idea of what they were looking for, I heard ”Orange Sky” – a song sung from the perspective of someone returning “home” realizing that their “salvation” lies in receiving the love of the family members who they have somehow turned their backs on – kind of like the Prodigal in the story of the Prodigal son who returns home to experience the embrace of his Father.
The night before (Saturday) Karis and Alana, our two daughters were on a sleepover, so Ruth and I had the chance to have a date night. So we went to the movies and saw “
In weddings and funerals that I have conducted there has been a trend away from congregational singing (unless it is a “church event”). It’s as if the ritual of singing together as a community in times of either celebration or sadness is fading into the past. However at the concert you had 20,000 people all singing in unison as one “congregation” – individuals not caring who was watching or hearing them sing… complete strangers standing together singing their hearts out with a sense of unity. Sounds kind of like a description of “church worship”. On one side of of us there were some late teen or early twenty-something party girls. On our other side there was a middle-age regular guy there on his own. There were people of all ages (well… mainly under 50) from all kinds of background. It used to be church and Sunday mornings that brought together diverse people. Now its bands like Coldplay.
Also, in watching this series I find significant connections between Jack Bauer’s “sense of call” and his passion “to do whatever it takes” (within certain boundaries) and the call to follow Jesus. When I was a pastor there were more than a few times when I found myself in a difficult situation and wanted simply to run away… but knew that I was called by Jesus to do whatever it took to follow his call and his lead and practice/show the Gospel – which often mean entering into conflict and so as to be able speak/practice truth in love. At these time I often thought of Jack Bauer. Was I willing to take the risks he took – but for the sake of good news of Jesus. Was I willing to bear the cost that he bore – but for the sake of the good news of Jesus? Did I have the courage that Jack Bauer had – but for the sake of the good news of Jesus? Was I as steadfast in my sense as call – but for the sake of the good news of Jesus? Was I (am I?) willing to do whatever it takes to show/practice Christ’s love for the world and for others? 
