AN EVENING HANGING OUT WITH PETER IN NEVERLAND - MOVIE REVIEWS OF DISNEY'S "PETER PAN" AND SPIELBERG'S "HOOK"

 You may have remembered that last year I spend a few hours, watching both Disney's '51 animated and '10 live action films titled "Alice In Wonderland." Well, this year I decided to watch Disney's "Peter Pan" ('53) and "Hook" ('91).

There is a noticeable difference between my Alice binge last year and the Peter Pan double feature: As I mentioned, both Alices were Disney pictures. "Hook" isn't a Disney movie. In fact, one thing that I noticed was there was an allusion to Tinkerbell drinking poison to save Peter's life, as in the original story and plays, as opposed to her rescuing Peter from a bomb in the Disney version.

When I was young, I loved Peter Pan. It was onc of the Disney albums telling the story with a short illustrated version that I had - probably my second favorite (Jungle Book taking first place). However, it wasn't until seeing this movie again that I realized  that Peter was a womanizing flirt, mad when jealous Tinkerbell tried to have Wendy killed, laughing when jealous bikini-clad mermaids tried to drown Wendy, and having Tiger Lilly dance for him.

While I didn't catch this when I was 10, I did pick up on the racial slurs towards Indians (would characters in an English story that takes place in a fantasy world accurately be called Native Americans?). Even as a kid, I cringed wht the "What Made The Red Man Red." This was the first exposure I had to racial prejudice.

I am surprised at my typing this review, but "Hook" is more of a family film than the Disney classic. I will say it had a slower start before the film picked up. But Robin Williams, Dustin Hoffman, Julia Roberts, and Bob Hoskins (playing Peter, Captain Hook, Tinkerbell, and Mr. Smee respectively) did a great job in making this entertaining. 

Before I forget, I'll mention that my first introduction to Peter Pan was on the Disneyland dark ride (as was the case with Alice in Wonderland). This was the original version, where Peter was no where on the ride except for his shadow (the idea is for the rider to view themselves as Peter; same was true with the Alice, Mr. Toad, and Snow White rides).

BOOK REVIEW - FROM EVERY PEOPLE AND NATION: A BIBLICAL THEOLOGY OF RACE, BY J. DANIEL HAYS

Do the people in Scripture look like they do in the paintings of European artists? How much racial diversity is there in the Bible?

The main title, "From Every People and Nation" makes one think of the promise in Revelation that God will gather people from all languages and ethnicities around the world. The subtitle, "A Biblical Theology of Race" reveals the focus on race, aimed at the divide between black and white in American Christianity.

Author J. Daniel Hays points out the importance of the Cushites (also known as Ethiopians) throughout Scripture, going from Genesis to Revelation looking both at the mention of black Africans as well as the teachings on unity of God's people throughout the Bible. In addition, he deals with how commentators through the ages ignore the importance of the Cushites and often consider them slaves when the Biblical text doesn't state that.

This is the second book I've read in the series "New Studies in Biblical Theology", and I am hooked. I highly recommend this book, especially to confront some of the prejudice and racist interpretations of Scripture. For example, he makes it clear the Bible does not condemn inter-racial marriage - the only prohibitions deal with faith and religion, not on ethnicity.

RACIAL RECONCILIATION SUNDAY, 2022

 

I remember a few years ago seeing a calendar for events from the Southern Baptist Convention. Well, let's say I noted them in an on-line calendar I had. That's different from remembering, because I had forgot I did it. That is, until I noted the calendar yesterday.

When I was a member of an Assembly of God church in the '80's, I observed the denomination's weekly magazine declaring each week to have a special designation. Southern Baptists aren't different though to be fair, there might be other groups observing the same days. For example, the third Sunday in January is Sanctity of Life Sunday. In this case, the second Sunday in February is Racial Reconciliation Sunday.

As I changed my profile picture as I do at times, I also look at various frames for that photo. Surely somebody did a frame for Racial Reconciliation Sunday. Anybody? No? You mean I have to create one for next year?

As with any reconciliation, it takes two parties who, as it says in Philippians 2:4, look out not only for their own interests but those of others. In the reference, it appears to be talking about the individual, but it can also apply to your "tribe", whether we're talking skin color, nationality, gender, political party, church denomination, theology, alma mater, sports team, favorite cola, etc. 

Now some people will give a hearty "Amen" when I speak of the need for reconciliation (allow me to be speaking of any form of reconciliation, including but not limited to racial). However, they have a different picture than I do on a couple of issues:

1. They don't think I'm making enough effort, and that I should give at least 100% of my energy to it, though probably more than that.
2. They also disagree with me that they should make ANY effort. 

Do they want reconciliation? Not really. They would rather have power. They want control. They want to dictate the terms of agreement.

Let me state: Racism is real and a bigger problem than most whites are aware of. Some of that is conscious prejudice and some of it is unaware. And Christians are called to speak out against that evil. 

However, is it possible that words like "racism," "sexism," and "homophobia" are used in situations they don't fit and become a form of bullying? 

You may have heard about Dr. Chanequa Walker-Barnes' prayer to help her hate white people. Could she have a legitimate reason for the anger? Yes. Should we listen and learn? But is this aiding racial reconciliation? Is judging white people because of their skin color any different than us treating people with dark skin as inferior? I doubt it. Us vs. Them never solves the problem.

I've heard people comment that the most segregated places are churches on Sunday morning. Is this an example of racism? Not really. Sometimes it is based on who lives close to a church. Other times, it is people normally feeling more comfortable with people like themselves. The churches I've been in are welcoming of people of different races and nationalities (a former church had Korean, Filipino, and Mexican attenders as well as an African-American) yet are still pre-dominately white. But the key is being willing to welcome anybody.

What are you doing to promote Racial Reconciliation? Are there things we should start doing we currently aren't, or things we are doing that are a hindrance to this goal? How do we keep moving forward to this goal in spite of those who favor power to true reconciliation?

The ERLC (Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission) of the Southern Baptist Convention are strong advocates for Racial Reconciliation. If you are interested in additional resources, click here for a list from the ERLC.

SOME THOUGHTS ON MARTIN LUTHER KING JR'S BIRTHDAY

 Yesterday, about this time, I realized Sanctity of Life Sunday was the next day (i.e. the day I'm writing this), and I hadn't written a blog. Well, today I realized the same was true for Martin Luther King's Birthday. So I'm going to give some thoughts I have on the day and the issues of racism and racial reconciliation.

Let me start with saying that I believe racism and other racial prejudices are alive and well in the country today, much more than most whites realize. On the other hand, I also think activists are calling things racism that are nowhere close, such as those who considered it to be racist to oppose President Obama's political agenda.

One other point. Six out of seven years, MLK Day is the day after Sanctity of Life Sunday. Coincidence? Probably. But do they fit together? Absolutely. Both days focus on human dignity. 

I can give more thoughts, but I'd rather recommend some good books dealing with the issues of Social Justice, Racial Reconciliation, the alternative of Critical Race Theory and the like. So that's how I'll end this blog.

Fault Lines: The Social Justice Movement and Evangelicalism's Looming Catastrophe by Voddie Baucham

Confronting Injustice Without Compromising Truth: 12 Questions Christians Should Ask About Social Justice by Thaddeus J. Williams 

The Gospel and Racial Reconciliation by Russell Moore and Andrew T. Walker

The Dignity Revolution by Daniel Darling and Rich Stearns

Cynical Theories: How Activist Scholarship Made Everything about Race, Gender, and Identity - and Why This Harms Everybody by Helen Pluckrose and James Lindsay 

LET'S SEE - SHOULD I MENTION SANCTITY OF LIFE SUNDAY IN MY BLOG?

 I remember a few years back saying that we should make as big a thing about Sanctity of Life Sunday as we do about Earth Day.

But do I make as big a thing about Sanctity of Life Sunday as I do about Earth Day? Which, by the way, is absolutely nothing?

I noticed the lesson title for the January 16, 2021 in the Lifeway Sunday School quarterly "God values all human life." I also figured out that it fell on Sanctity of Life Sunday. And I decided I needed to write a blog for Sanctity of Life Sunday as I do for Reformation Day, All Saints Day, Pentecost, and other important days.

That decision was made January 15, 2021 (aka today).

I had just finished a series on Church Fathers and had a book review scheduled for today: Voice of a Prophet by A.W. Tozer. (It will be reviewed next week.) I had no thought about writing a blog  on Sanctity of Life Sunday prior to today.

No, this day was not really on my radar. But should it be? Rather, should I not realize every day is Sanctity of Life Day? Why focus more on it on one day than not give it equal attention every day?

Well, one reason is too often if we don't give something special attention on one particular day, we're tempted to give much focus on it the rest of the time.

There are some who say that the pro-life movement is too focused on the unborn and not the born. We want to outlaw abortion while we say nothing against racism or domestic violence or human trafficking, while we are silent about refugees. I agree completely with them. Of course, some of those critics are really saying we shouldn't be focused at all on the unborn, and of course they're wrong. 

As Christians, we need to realize that mankind is created in the image of God. Likewise, we need to not only see that of mankind as a whole but of each and every individual in that whole. 

How should we live in that light? Let me give some suggestions.

• We can smile and greet others, and thank them when they do something.
• We can be faithful to the Great Commission. 
• We can stand up for others when we see them bullied, oppressed, insulted or otherwise mistreated.
• We can listen to those we disagree with and treat them with respect as we want to be treated.
• We can make it clear that every human life, including the unborn, is valuable and protect them.  
• We can also speak out loud and strong against any sin that minimizes the life of others.

In closing: I usually am not one to protest. I oppose abortion, but I think more effort should be put in supporting abortion alternatives. In Eric Shansberg's excellent book Turn Neither To The Right Nor To The Left, he mentions that a lady who set up a table in front of an abortion clinic with balloons and a list of people who are looking to adopt. I loved that story.