At the Movies 2019 | Made to Become - Lion King

We’re ‘At the Movies” this month, and this series is designed to help you talk about your faith using some of the great visual stories of our culture.

Throughout this series, let me encourage you to watch these films, maybe for the first time, maybe for the 100th time, but this time, with the mind of Christ and ask yourself this question: how does the Good News of Jesus Christ intersect with the popular stories of our culture?

One of my favorite theologians, a man named Frederick Buechner, wrote of faith, saying:

Whatever your faith may be or my faith may be, it seems to me inseparable from the story of what has happened to us, and that is why I believe that no literary form is better adapted to the subject than the form of fiction. From the essay “Faith and Fiction."

Great stories - fiction and nonfiction alike - help us find new and right language to identify and understand ourselves.

Think about it like this: have you ever read a great novel or watched a great film and afterward said, ‘I saw myself in that character.’ Perhaps in doing so, did you discover new words and new meaning to a season of life or maybe a circumstance?

Stories help connect us to the deeper undercurrents of our human experience.

The author of the great fiction classic, A River Runs Through It, Norman Maclean once wrote, “The nearest anyone can come to finding himself at any given age is to find a story that somehow tells him about himself.”

Stories speak the language of our hearts that our minds doesn’t readily comprehend. Jesus knew this. Thus why he used parables as a means to elevate our hearts and minds above see-level and into faith-level.

Stories bring to life the intangible. They make sense of those things that we can’t touch or feel or hear. Stories don’t tell different truths, they just tell truth louder. Stories bring to life the virtues of our faith, such as:

Grace

Mercy

Forgiveness

Stories bear witness to our experience of Christ alive here and now with us.

The Psalmist wrote, "Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story.” Psalm 107:2

Notice how the Psalmist did not write, “Let the redeemed of the Lord prove their faith by arguing for the soundest philosophical argument for the existence of God.”

There’s a time for that, and that truth matters for our faith, and it matters a lot for some. But I think the Psalmist wants us to know that your story speaks truth louder.

Much later, the Apostle John wrote that fellow believers will triumph over the evil one by “the blood of the lamb and word of their testimony.” Revelation 12:11.

A testimony is the redeemed of the Lord telling your story.

What story? Tell Jesus’ story about your life: your life before Jesus, what happened when your life made contact with Jesus, and then afterward, your life with Jesus.

Telling your story and speaking God’s truth all bear witness to Christ’s salvation alive in us. We need to keep telling our Jesus story, and make forgiveness, mercy, and grace real in our world by any means necessary, including connecting through the great visual stories of our culture.

Just two days ago, one of those great stories came back into circulation. Take a look:

[[[PLAY CLIP: The Lion King full movie trailer (2019) 0:00-1:10]]]

One of the greatest Disney films of all time, the Lion King.

At the time of its initial release, the Lion King was the highest grossing film in 1994 and the second highest grossing film of all time! Currently, it is the highest grossing animated film of all time and the best selling video ever.

Any wonder why Disney just remade this film?

The Lion King tells the story of Simba, which means ‘Lion’ in Swahili (enjoy that factoid), who is being groomed to secede his father, Mufasa, as the King of the Pride Lands.

Until that is, His Uncle Scar, Mufasa’s brother, jealous for the throne, schemed a murder plot to kill Mufasa and usurp Simba as king.

This is one of the oldest stories ever told: Brother against brother. The desire for power. Cain and Abel, Jacob and Esau.

Scar’s plot began by luring Simba into a deep ravine, staging a wildebeest stampede, which would force Mufasa to sacrifice his life to save Simba.

Interestingly, Scar convinces Simba to stay in the ravine by whispering a shame moment from Simba’s past, making him vulnerable, and placing Scar in a power position over Simba.

In this story, Scar personifies evil, and the evil one against God practices the very same tactic with us, whispering lies, deceiving us against God, and shaming us for our pasts.

In the midst of the stampede, Mufasa did exactly what Scar schemed. He rescued Simba, but as he climbed out to save himself, Scar threw him back into the stampede and killed Mufasa.

Watech happened next:

[[[FILM CLIP: Scar shames Simba to run away: 35:55 - 38:45]]]

“Run away and never return.”

Friends, that’s the definition of shame.

Run away and never return.

Shame wants us to flee, build walls, live isolated, and never return to find help and healing. In fact, shame tells us: you don’t need help. You can do this on your own. Or shame might say: you don’t deserve help. Your past defines you now. Eventually, Shame always leads us to hopelessness, despair, and death. Perhaps not death of our physical body, but most certainly death of our hearts, dreams, and desires, because shame turns us inward and makes life all about you.

In fact, as Paul wrote in his letter to the Ephesian church:

Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the power of the air. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else. Ephesians 2:1-3

Let me ask you this question: how much power does the air hold over you?

The answer is: nothing!

The devil is the commander of nothing, Paul says. The devil has no power over you, except whatever power that you give to him. Some of us give the devil way more power than he deserves, but please do not miss this: The devil has no power. He is not a god. He is a fallen created being. His only offensive weapons are lies. You give the devil power whenever you fall for his deception.

Unlike God, the devil does not know your heart, does not dwell in you, nor does the devil possess any power over you. He simply wants you to turn from God and back to yourself and deceive you from your true source of life in order to follow him into death.

That’s the devil’s only strategy, and he is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God … And choose to live like the god of their own life apart from the one true God who:

Created all of us in his image and calls us “very good.” Gen 1:31

“Fearfully and wonderfully made you” Psalm 139:14

Simba fell for Scar’s deception, fled from his home, and lived the hakuna matata life:

[[[PLAY CLIP: hakuna matata - 43:29 - 44:48]]]

“When the world turns its back on you, then you turn your back on the world,” Timon said. “But that’s not what I was taught,” said Simba.

I hate to spoil a fun song for you today, but at the risk of losing favor with some of you (wink, wink), full disclosure: if living your life with no worries has become your motto, then you’re missing the meaning of life, altogether.

In actuality, Hakuna Matata is a response to shame. In the song itself, in fact, Pumba, the warthog, sings about how his own shame drove him away from all of the other animals in the jungle into an isolated life with Timon, the meerkat.

Hakuna Matata, no worries, right?

No, hakuna matata means no worries by ignoring your real concerns. Jesus said do not worry or feel anxious because God holds your life and promises his peace. Hakuna matata means no worries by ignoring the real truth.

Simba allowed the evil one, the commander of the power of nothing, his uncle scar, to whisper shame and keep him isolated from his true identity, as the king of the pride lands. As a result, Simba left his responsibility and turned to a boys dream: eating, drinking, and living solely for himself.

But When confronted by his childhood friend, Nala, who said:

“We’ve really needed you at home. You’re the king” The true king, not Scar. The Pride Lands need their true king. Simba responded, saying:

“But I’m not the king. Hakuna matata, why worry.”

How often do we say the same things?

But I’m not in charge, hakuna matata, why worry.

But it’s not my problem, hakuna matata, why worry.

But she’s not my kid, hakuna matata, why worry.

But he’s the one who needs to apologize, not me, so hakuna matata, why worry.

But what’s in the past is in the past, hakuna matata, why worry.

Friends, it’s kinda crazy how an animated movie about a lion can so closely resemble our lives, isn’t it?

Listen, No matter how hard and far that we want to run, the truth is always this close (point to heart). For some of us here today, you need to stop trying to flee from your own heart. Some of us need to stop giving the devil so much power by falling for his lies and believing the shame. Ultimately, the devil holds no power over you, for he is the commander of the power of nothing.

Rather, as the Proverb says,

As a face is reflected in water,

so the heart reflects the real person. Proverbs 27:19

Today, I want to challenge you to see your reflection, remember whose you are, and see your real heart, true calling, and your necessary responsibility.

Take a look in the mirror and ask yourself:

Am I avoiding crucial conversations with my spouse?

Am I ignoring my kids?

Am I avoiding friendships that need repaired?

Am I neglecting my work and doing the least amount possible?

See your reflection, own it, and feel the emotions that rise up for you, and then do the next right thing.

Simba took a risk, looked into the water, and saw this reflection:

[[[PLAY CLIP: Simba sees his father’s reflection: 105:50 - 107:38]]]

He saw his true Father.

For those who dare to look into the water, your image reflects God’s image. God made you in his image. And at the precise moment when you place your trust in Jesus, God promised to give you his Holy Spirit as a guarantee of your salvation.

God signed his name on the dotted line for you, friend. God crossed the boundaries of Heaven and Earth to redeem you and buy you back from your sin and death.

“God paid a high price for you, so don’t be enslaved to the world.” 1 Corinthians 7:23. Instead, live free in Christ beginning right now into forever!

Learn from your past, don’t run from it. Let your failures and shortcomings serve you to become set apart for the work of God in the world.

[[[PLAY CLIP: learn from your past, don’t run from it: 107:50 - 108:40]]]

Simba made the wise decision. He left his childish ways in the past and chose the harder path of manhood, which led to his true calling as king.

When Simba returns to Pride Rock, both Sarambi, his mother, and Scar... see Mufasa in Simba. No longer a boy living the hakuna matata dream, but now a man, ready to fight for his kingdom and take back his rightful place as king.

Now, fully alive in the truth, Simba confronts Scar, his enemy and deceiver, looks at him in the eye, and says:

“Everything you ever told me was a lie.”

That’s the truth about God’s enemy and ours. Everything the enemy says is a lie, including the shame whispers, including the hakuna matata motto, including your own belief that you don’t deserve a full and satisfied life.

Your one true King, Jesus Christ, once said:

“The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.”John 10:10

Richness meaning ‘full, pleasant, and strong,’ Jesus didn’t promise monetary riches. He promised something eternally greater, a life filled with the Holy Spirit bearing the fruits of: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control.”

Your sin and shame keep you from experiencing a rich and satisfying life, beating those fruits. Yet, these promises belongs to you, even still, at the very moment when you place your trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

Today, are you choosing to believe the lies about your shame and live isolated, or are you choosing to place your trust in the promises of your one true King, who loved you all the way to the cross… who loved you by taking the penalty of your sin… and who loved you by dying your death.

Like Simba, you have a choice.

Simba made the harder choice. He returned home, reclaimed his identity, and took back his rightful place as king.

[[[ PLAY CLIP: Simba roars 121:38 - 122:40]]]

By far, this is my favorite moment in the film. It reminds me of Jesus, who is called the lion in Revelation 5:5 and who has won the victory!

Simba roars and the pride lands come to life. The animals feel safe in the strength, power, and goodness of their rightful king.

The king has spoken, long live the king.

Our one true king has spoken, long live Christ our king!

As his followers, we live in Christ’s kingdom. You are God’s chosen people. Long before God ever created this world, God chose you in Christ for himself. What an astonishing truth!?

“You are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9

Amen and amen! I want to leave you today with two thoughts:

First, get honest with yourself. You know what you need to do. You know what you’ve been running from. Stop falling for the evil one’s lies. Stop listening to the shame. Today let me challenge to make the harder choice this week.

Second, choose your one true king. All of us fall short and follow the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. All of us do, so don’t feel ashamed whenever you fall short. Do the next right thing. Follow James’ advice, the brother of Jesus, who said:

Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. James 5:12

Can you imagine what might happen if God actually healed from the pain that you carry everyday?

Take a risk in God’s direction today, and then, let’s watch how our Lord, our Lion King!, knits us together into one united, unstoppable tribe for the sake of his kingdom and the blessing of the world!