With tomorrow being Valentine's Day, we decided to take in the movie currently showing, entitled "Kung Fu Panda 3". Being an animated children's movie, much of the crowd was parents or grandparents with their kids, and it was fun to listen to the enjoyment evident in their laughter throughout the movie.
As the movie plot was unfolding, I found myself asking, "What kind of a message is this sending to those watching?" To most, attending a movie is simply a form of entertainment. For me, however, being a "seeker" by nature, I usually find myself analyzing the storyline to see what hidden message might be lurking.
The movie tonight was a classic "good vs. evil" plot, which rotated between the "spiritual world" and "mortal world". It made me think of a similar scheme of events which plays out throughout the pages of the Bible. . .God and His forces of good battling satan and his forces of evil. Often I am reminded of the verses in Ephesians 6 which encourage us to "suit up for battle":
"Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm."
~Ephesians 6:12-13
Back to our movie, there was also an element of father/son interaction which reminded me of the relationship between our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. The panda son was ultimately the one to win out over the evil perpetrator, and likewise, Jesus will be the one to defeat satan in the end. If you'd like a glimpse as to how it will all play out, reading the book of Revelations would be a good start.
Another message of the movie was encouraging each individual panda to discover what it is they were good at, and then putting their talent to use to benefit the entire community. It's a lesson we could learn from if applied in the real world. In the book of Romans, Paul made it clear we each have been granted special gifts to be used for God's glory.
"For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully."
~Romans 12:6
One final insight I had from the movie came when the pandas discovered their "inner power" began when they put their paws together. As Christians, we have access to God's power through the avenue of prayer. Often, however, like the pandas, we have forgotten how to use it. In the end of the movie it was a united effort which brought about victory, and so it is in our Christian walk.
Was this the intended message of the creators of "Kung Fun Panda 3"? Most likely not. But the Bible encourages us to seek, and this is what my seeking brain came up with!
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