Through a Gospel-Centered Lens- My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic

Hello again!  I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season & are starting to recover from all the hype and excitement the holidays inevitably bring!

I truly am a child at heart and one of my favorite things to watch on TV is cartoons.  One of my friends got me hooked on a newer cartoon called My Little Pony:  Friendship is Magic.  This show is a huge hit among the teen/young adult crowd much to my surprise!  But if you take a step back and truly look at the show, it teaches a lot of valuable lessons in it's short, 20-25 minute episodes!  The show tells the tale of Twilight Sparkle, a young pony who moves from her hometown to the new town of Ponyville at the request of her mentor, Princess Celestia.  In her old town, Twilight has no friends other than her dragon companion, Spike.  But when she moves to Ponyville, she becomes very close with 5 new ponies:  Apple Jack, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash.  The show is all about their friendship, the problems/trials they face & how they solve them.  At the end of each episode, Twilight Sparkle writes a letter to Princess Celestia telling her of the lesson she learned about friendship during the course of that episode.

This post is for my friend Rachel who got my mind rolling about this topic because she doesn't seem to get the show.  She thought it was just another silly children's show so awhile ago I started thinking about "How the heck can we take a silly children's show like this and see the gospel in it?"  And finally.... I got it!  So Rachel, this one's for you!  :)

To start with, the show's focus is on friendship, the power of it, and how nothing is impossible if you have good friends behind you.  If you are following Jesus, you have the ultimate friend!  And literally NOTHING is impossible for God.  NOTHING.

"I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength."  (Philippians 4:13)

How cool is that?  There is literally nothing that is impossible for God as long as it lines up with His character!  For example, God can't create a 1 ended stick or create a rock so big that He can't move it.  So although I admire the ponies for trying to convey the message that "nothing is impossible with good friends", unless that friend is Jesus, there are plenty of impossibilities.  However, the bible does say quite a bit about having good friends, how to pick good friends, and how to treat your friends.  Friendship is a very important thing.  Although we do want to live our lives for God, sometimes we can get so on fire that we forget about our friends and focus only on God.  Biblically speaking, that's not healthy.  We are created to be relational beings.  

"Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.'  So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them."  (Genesis 1:  26-27)

God created man in his image.  Notice he says "make man in OUR image".  Who does the our refer to?  Many believe that the our in this verse refers to the relationship of the trinity.  God the Father created us to have the same relationship with each other that He has with God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.  How cool is that?  We were created to have friends!!  So cool.  But in the gospel of John, Jesus gives us a few guidelines for these friendships.

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you."  (John 15:12-15)

In this passage, Jesus not only calls us His friends, but He also stresses the "duty" of friendship.  We are called to love each other as Jesus loves us, lay our lives down for our friends, and do what God commands us to do.  Loving people... that's pretty self-explanatory but laying your life down for your friends may be a little bit fuzzy.  This doesn't always mean literally laying your life down by dying for your friends all the time, although sometime it might.  You never know!  Ways you can lay your life down for a friend would be giving up your 'hard-earned free time' to talk with a friend who's going through a rough time, or giving up the money you were going to use to buy that new video game to help a new single, teen mom in your neighborhood.  If you're in school, this may mean giving up some study time if a friend is having a rough night and needs someone to talk to or cancelling some not so necessary plans to help a friend study for their finals.  In other words, laying our lives down for our friends is essentially being selfless with our time/energy/resources.


The second, and last point that I feel really shows in the show is the idea of everyone having their own gift or talent to bring to the table in the body of Christ.

Each pony in Ponyville has pretty much the same basic structure... they're all horses.  They all have hooves, a tail and a mane.  But some of the ponies have wings & can fly, while other have horns that give them the ability to do different things.. but they're all still ponies.  Each pony has been given their own special talent as well.  When the ponies grow up, they discover their true talent and are given a "cutie mark" once they discover their talent... an outward display of an inward discovery.  The ponies use their talents for the good of the town and no talent is seen as more important than the others.  Apple Jack's talent for apple farming is no more important than Pinkie Pie's talent for throwing parties or Fluttershy's talent for speaking/relating to animals.

How does this relate to the bible?  Well... the bible talks about using our own gifts in many ways but I think the best passage to talk about is in 1 Corinthians 12.

Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led. 3 Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.

4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills." (1 Corinthians 12: 1-11)

God has given everyone their own special talents.  Some are given the gift of wisdom, some the gift of knowledge, some faith, some prophecy.  Everyone has their own unique talent but all are given by God and we need to use these talents to glorify Him in any way we can, not to boast and flaunt them in front of others to put ourselves upon a pedestal over others.  We, like the ponies, are all a part of one community, one body, the body of Christ.  We all need to use our talents/gifts to help the body.  Paul talks about this more in the second half of 1 Corinthians 12:

"For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.

21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.

27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the higher gifts.

And I will show you a still more excellent way."  (1 Corinthians 12:12-31)

We are one body with many members, many talents, many parts.  But like it says in verse 26, we are all one... equals.  No one member of the body is superior to the others.  No talent is more superior to the others.  Prophecy is no more important than knowledge, and faith is no more important than administration.  So why do we see some as 'better than others' or 'more superior' when we are all a part of one body.  If one member of the body suffers, we all suffer.  If one is honored, we all rejoice (v. 26).  Just like the ponies of Ponyville use their individual talents for the good of the town, we too can use our talents for the good of the body of Christ.

So, how can you love your friends more this week?  Or lay your life down for them?  Or use your talents for the good of the body of Christ?




God Bless,

Danielle

(How's that Rachel?  Wanna watch it with me and find more ways it points to the bible?? :P)

A Gospel-Centered Lens: High School Musical 3

Hello friends! Lately, whenever I watch a movie or TV show, I have been faithfully filtering it through a Gospel-Centered lens. I have found this very helpful because when looking at things through a Gospel-Centered lens, it always focuses on Jesus and His incredible love for us. It has become a personal challenge for me to look deeply at everything I watch and try to relate it back to Christ somehow. Some movies/shows are a challenge and some, are incredibly easy. So, this blog is designed to help point you to the cross and challenge you to filter everything through a Gospel-Centered lens.  

The first movie I want to dissect is High School Musical 3. Yes, I know... "That's a kids movie!" but oh well! I'm writing about it anyway! This movie is my favorite one of the trilogy and I find it very easy to relate to; even as a college sophomore. When I first watched the movie when it came out in 2008, I wasn't able to relate well to it because well... it's all about graduating and I was only a high school freshman. I didn't understand what they meant with everything. When I watched it a few years later, as a high school senior, I bawled my way through the whole movie. Why? Because it was spot on with how I was feeling at the time. This time when I watched it, I saw everything through new eyes because I was looking at it through the lens of the Gospel.

And here's what I saw....

1.  A Sacrificial Love Story

The whole movie revolves around the love story between the two main characters, Troy & Gabriella, as they prepare to leave high school and begin their college lives, wanting to stay together through it all.  They face several challenges throughout the course of the year such as parents determining their futures, early entrance into college for honors programs, and too many goodbyes.  Troy has been accepted to, and expected to attend, the University of Albuquerque on a basketball scholarship and Gabriella has been accepted to Stanford University as well as gaining a prestigious slot in the honors program causing her to miss the end of senior year.  However, Troy doesn't let that stand in his way.  He forgoes the scholarship at U of A to attend the University of California:  Berkley so he is closer to Gabriella.  He sacrificed being at college with his best friend, his scholarship, and more just so he could be closer to her so that their relationship wouldn't end.  

This love story is similar to the love story between God and the church.  God sacrificed a lot more for us than being with His friends for 4 years or a scholarship... He sacrificed HIS SON so that we could be made new to have a relationship with Him. 

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16, ESV) 

If that's not a sacrificial love story, then I don't know what is. God sent His only son to die for us so that we could be reconciled to Him; so that the relationship broken by the fall of man, could be mended.


2. Freedom in Christ to Fail

The biggest conflict of the movie was Troy's conflict with himself as to what he wanted to do for his future... basketball or theatre? He was faced with the pressures of his best friend, his parents, his theatre teacher, and his girlfriend all dragging him in a different direction. He couldn't make the decision because he felt he was going to let someone down.

This reminded me of our freedom in Christ to fail because God will work all things for our good.

"Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:26-28, ESV)"

As this passage says, we may not always be able to discern the will of God by prayer alone. Thankfully, the Holy Spirit will intercede and help us during those times, praying that we will be pointed towards God's will. God will answer the prayer of the Holy Spirit, therefore, always working everything for the good of those who believe in Him. So because of Romans 8:28, we have the freedom to fail. Even if we make "the wrong choice", God will still use that for our good to bring us closer to Him and to further glorify Himself. This doesn't mean that we should just go around sinning because we have the freedom in Christ to do so... that's not what this passage states. This passage speaks more to the ideas that aren't laid out in black and white in scripture... they gray areas that require one to use wisdom to discern the will of God. God clearly says we should not commit adultery (Exodus 20:14), but some ideas such as dating, gambling, music, birth control, dancing, spending your money, home schooling, etc. are more gray areas that require a wisdom call are the ideas that this passage speaks to more directly.

Finally...

3. Earthly Treasures vs. Heavenly Treasures

Sharpay Evans, one of the main characters, is obsessed with being the center of attention, wants fame, fortune, popularity and more. The one song of the movie "I Want It All", clearly showcases this desire to be at the top. Sharpay will stop at nothing to get to the top as well, willing to sabotage her friends just so she can have the limelight.

This brought me to Matthew 6.

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.  (Matthew 6:19-21, ESV)

In American culture, the focus is on the individual person and trying to climb to the top to succeed. Media plagues society with the ideas of being "the prettiest" or "the skinniest" or "the richest"... trying to be better than everyone around you. Americans always want what's new so that they can "fit in" or "be on top" by having the newest car, the biggest house, the best clothes... Why? Because their hearts are set on the treasures of this world instead of the treasures of heaven. We have a choice... we can either choose to have our reward filled in this life by fighting our way to the top, no matter the cost, so that we may reap the benefits of this world 'while we can enjoy them'. We all have a choice to make: we can either reap the benefits of this world while we are living (because we can't take them with us when we die) or we can choose to have our reward filled later in heaven and lay up our treasures there where we can enjoy them for eternity. Ultimately, where you place your treasure is a reflection of where your heart is. Is your heart in fleeting, earthly matters like fame/fortune/possessions or is your heart in heaven?


It's amazing how a kids movie can have so many godly messages woven into it... all you have to do is filter them out! If you have any movies/TV shows you'd like me to write about, list them in the comments section and I'll do my best to get to them!



God Bless,


Danielle