Fling the Door Open
I've wanted to see the movie for quite some time. But the locally owned movie rental store (yes, we still have one) didn't carry it any longer. And we don't subscribe to Netflix. So when we were loaned "The Talented Mr. Ripley" (1999) by a friend, I jumped at the chance to view it.
It was thankfully as expected. Fascinating. Intriguing. Disturbing. Some scenes required the "fast forward" button. Other times, you wished to pause the drama to discuss how you could love and hate the main character at the same time.
The movie is a psychological thriller, where the main character, Tom Ripley, plots to be become a fake somebody rather than a real nobody. When the real life cast was asked to state the morale of the story, several commented on how we need to find happiness by loving ourselves instead trying to become someone that we are not. While I agree with this morale to a point, I believe there was an element of the movie that was much darker, much sinister, much more human than secular humanists care to admit.
Consider these two quotes from the movie:
Now, it is easy to look at Tom Ripley and judge his character and draw the conclusion, "Oh, I'd never do that. I'm better. I'm more evolved." And that is a common, secular reaction to viewing immorality. But the truth is -- and I do strongly believe this -- we ALL have the capability to sink to complete depravity. I'd go as far to say that we are depraved, lost, without hope in essence (due to the infamous Biblical Fall in Genesis). And the only reason why there is any good in the world is because of God's goodness. Hope comes when we embrace God, fling open the doors of our hearts and let all the ugliness out into His brilliant soul-cleansing light. So, I'm not a secular humanist because I choose to bring God into the picture.
Society would like us to believe that we are all good people, perfect as we are, all okay. And if we are flawed, it is on the outside, which the right diet, the right wardrobe, the right exercise regime can cure. I don't believe that lie. Our problem is internal. Our hearts, our souls, are messed up.
Now, please don't get me wrong here. I don't think it is very edifying to inform you kids that you are bad, evil, depraved every moment of the day (and I don't do that, readers). However, I do want you to understand that you do sin, and that I sin as well. I want you to know that you are forgiven by believing that Christ's atoning sacrifice on the cross was for you. I want you to understand that you don't have to carry around the shameful, guilt-ridden crap inside of you. God's Spirit can change your heart, instantaneously in some areas, over time in others, and all-together perfect after this life on earth. You. Can. Be. Free.
There are days when you, my daughter, come home and inform about how so-and-so did such-and-such in school, and received some sort of negative consequence. Part of me wants to milk the story for all its worth and find out all the details so I feel better about my parenting and my children. Not good. Instead, when God convicts me and I actually obey, I try to encourage grace in your heart. "Yes, that was wrong what that child did. And it is very good that you chose not to do that. However, remember, we also do wrong things. And God forgives us if we ask for His forgiveness. That boy (or girl) struggles with that kind of behaviour. It is wrong. But we struggle too. Let's remember to pray for that boy (or girl)."
I praise God that I am free. That in Him, I've found someone ever so special, to Whom I can fling open the deep recesses of my heart and let it ALL go into His Gracious and Loving hands. Children, I want you to KNOW this truth, today and forever.
It was thankfully as expected. Fascinating. Intriguing. Disturbing. Some scenes required the "fast forward" button. Other times, you wished to pause the drama to discuss how you could love and hate the main character at the same time.
The movie is a psychological thriller, where the main character, Tom Ripley, plots to be become a fake somebody rather than a real nobody. When the real life cast was asked to state the morale of the story, several commented on how we need to find happiness by loving ourselves instead trying to become someone that we are not. While I agree with this morale to a point, I believe there was an element of the movie that was much darker, much sinister, much more human than secular humanists care to admit.
Consider these two quotes from the movie:
Don't you just take the past and put it in a room in a basement and lock the door and never go in there? That's what I do, And then you meet someone special and all you want to do is to toss them the key and say; open up, step inside, but you can't, because it's dark, There's demons and if anybody saw how ugly it is. I keep wanting to do that, fling the door open just let light in and clean everything out. (Tom Ripley)
Well, whatever you do, however terrible, however hurtful, it all makes sense, doesn't it, in your head. You never meet anybody that thinks they're a bad person. (Tom Ripley)If you haven't figured it out yet, Tom Ripley is alluding to some pretty shocking things he has accomplished in his life. Yet he struggles with an internal duality. One part believes he is a good person. The other part knows the evil stuff he's done, and how that part wishes he could confess it all and bring light to the darkness.
Now, it is easy to look at Tom Ripley and judge his character and draw the conclusion, "Oh, I'd never do that. I'm better. I'm more evolved." And that is a common, secular reaction to viewing immorality. But the truth is -- and I do strongly believe this -- we ALL have the capability to sink to complete depravity. I'd go as far to say that we are depraved, lost, without hope in essence (due to the infamous Biblical Fall in Genesis). And the only reason why there is any good in the world is because of God's goodness. Hope comes when we embrace God, fling open the doors of our hearts and let all the ugliness out into His brilliant soul-cleansing light. So, I'm not a secular humanist because I choose to bring God into the picture.
Society would like us to believe that we are all good people, perfect as we are, all okay. And if we are flawed, it is on the outside, which the right diet, the right wardrobe, the right exercise regime can cure. I don't believe that lie. Our problem is internal. Our hearts, our souls, are messed up.
Now, please don't get me wrong here. I don't think it is very edifying to inform you kids that you are bad, evil, depraved every moment of the day (and I don't do that, readers). However, I do want you to understand that you do sin, and that I sin as well. I want you to know that you are forgiven by believing that Christ's atoning sacrifice on the cross was for you. I want you to understand that you don't have to carry around the shameful, guilt-ridden crap inside of you. God's Spirit can change your heart, instantaneously in some areas, over time in others, and all-together perfect after this life on earth. You. Can. Be. Free.
There are days when you, my daughter, come home and inform about how so-and-so did such-and-such in school, and received some sort of negative consequence. Part of me wants to milk the story for all its worth and find out all the details so I feel better about my parenting and my children. Not good. Instead, when God convicts me and I actually obey, I try to encourage grace in your heart. "Yes, that was wrong what that child did. And it is very good that you chose not to do that. However, remember, we also do wrong things. And God forgives us if we ask for His forgiveness. That boy (or girl) struggles with that kind of behaviour. It is wrong. But we struggle too. Let's remember to pray for that boy (or girl)."
I praise God that I am free. That in Him, I've found someone ever so special, to Whom I can fling open the deep recesses of my heart and let it ALL go into His Gracious and Loving hands. Children, I want you to KNOW this truth, today and forever.