Argo. Dramatic pacing, top notch acting, and a script to keep your heart pounding. I think it's brilliant fictionalized history. There, I said it (despite the media's fury at the minimization of Canadian involvement).
Leaving the historical debate aside, I think we need to first realize that Argo is portraying an aspect of the story that has not yet been told. Ben Affleck has said in interviews that he wants to celebrate this untold story of Tony Mendez, an American hero. So that leaves the interesting question: what is the story that Argo is telling? Is it the story of courageous heroism in going forward with an audaciously impossible plan? Is it making the ethical choice to rescue those who are trapped in society? Or is it perhaps the story of a man who dared to make a difference in the lives of six people? Maybe the story is none of those, or all of those. I leave that for you to decide as you watch the film
Watching Argo makes me realize that our post-modern culture is crying out for genuine heroes. Think of the recent "historical" movies portraying heroes: Abraham Lincoln in Lincoln, King George in The King's Speech, Jackie Robinson in 42. The myth of the hero is celebrated in our culture. Joseph Campbell, famous mythologist, says that a myth is a metaphor for a mystery beyond human comprehension that helps us understand some aspect of ourselves. In other words, the myth of the hero reflects something we desire or see in ourselves. In a world of spy heroes like James Bond and Jason Bourne, you'd think that Tony Mendez would be another gun-wielding assassin, and yet, he differs. The real life Mendez has said he hopes the movie will create a different trend and "make the CIA guy lovable." This is a reformed vision for the hero.
Affleck, playing Mendez in the film, does not come into Iran with an agenda of performing a heroic mission by himself, but comes to coach the six hostages to assume Canadian identities in order to escape together from Iran. instead of launching into an invincible killing spree a la James Bond style, Mendez puts his life on the line and walks with these people through the patrolled borders of the Iranian airport, despite his authorities telling him to abandon the plan and the people. There's something there about his willingness to be on the same level as the hostages, and to journey with them. In one scene, though the six are initially nervous and reluctant with the task, they ask for his help to coach them through their roles again. He is a hero that doesn't fight with his fists but with his head and heart, earning the trust of those he helps.
In that sense, I think the church has a lot to learn from Mendez. It seems the church has a myth of heroic evangelism where the hero is one that convinces a sinner of his or her sins, and converts them on the spot. I have been guilty of viewing myself as a hero, of essentially saying to 'sinners': "I'm perfect, and you're not. You need to become like me." I need to remind myself that the ultimate hero, Jesus, chose to become a friend of sinners. He ate with them (Mark 2:15-17), he valued them (Luke 7:36-50), and he asks us to love them just as he loves us (John 13:34-35).
Maybe, we need to be a coach like Mendez and walk with people in their broken situation instead of trying to drag them to meet our standards. Maybe, we need to celebrate with them like the Argo team does in the airplane once they leave the enemy territory. Maybe, instead of feeling like we all need to be a heroic evangelist who converts a multitude of sinners, Jesus calls us to be the kind of hero that comes alongside sinners, embracing them in their brokenness, and cheers them on as they encounter the true, saving hero, Jesus Christ. And maybe, that's why he calls us to make disciples for his kingdom.
Leaving the historical debate aside, I think we need to first realize that Argo is portraying an aspect of the story that has not yet been told. Ben Affleck has said in interviews that he wants to celebrate this untold story of Tony Mendez, an American hero. So that leaves the interesting question: what is the story that Argo is telling? Is it the story of courageous heroism in going forward with an audaciously impossible plan? Is it making the ethical choice to rescue those who are trapped in society? Or is it perhaps the story of a man who dared to make a difference in the lives of six people? Maybe the story is none of those, or all of those. I leave that for you to decide as you watch the film
Watching Argo makes me realize that our post-modern culture is crying out for genuine heroes. Think of the recent "historical" movies portraying heroes: Abraham Lincoln in Lincoln, King George in The King's Speech, Jackie Robinson in 42. The myth of the hero is celebrated in our culture. Joseph Campbell, famous mythologist, says that a myth is a metaphor for a mystery beyond human comprehension that helps us understand some aspect of ourselves. In other words, the myth of the hero reflects something we desire or see in ourselves. In a world of spy heroes like James Bond and Jason Bourne, you'd think that Tony Mendez would be another gun-wielding assassin, and yet, he differs. The real life Mendez has said he hopes the movie will create a different trend and "make the CIA guy lovable." This is a reformed vision for the hero.
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| 42 depicted a perseverant and passionate hero in Robinson |
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| even this enduring hero is changing in our culture |
Affleck, playing Mendez in the film, does not come into Iran with an agenda of performing a heroic mission by himself, but comes to coach the six hostages to assume Canadian identities in order to escape together from Iran. instead of launching into an invincible killing spree a la James Bond style, Mendez puts his life on the line and walks with these people through the patrolled borders of the Iranian airport, despite his authorities telling him to abandon the plan and the people. There's something there about his willingness to be on the same level as the hostages, and to journey with them. In one scene, though the six are initially nervous and reluctant with the task, they ask for his help to coach them through their roles again. He is a hero that doesn't fight with his fists but with his head and heart, earning the trust of those he helps.
In that sense, I think the church has a lot to learn from Mendez. It seems the church has a myth of heroic evangelism where the hero is one that convinces a sinner of his or her sins, and converts them on the spot. I have been guilty of viewing myself as a hero, of essentially saying to 'sinners': "I'm perfect, and you're not. You need to become like me." I need to remind myself that the ultimate hero, Jesus, chose to become a friend of sinners. He ate with them (Mark 2:15-17), he valued them (Luke 7:36-50), and he asks us to love them just as he loves us (John 13:34-35).
Maybe, we need to be a coach like Mendez and walk with people in their broken situation instead of trying to drag them to meet our standards. Maybe, we need to celebrate with them like the Argo team does in the airplane once they leave the enemy territory. Maybe, instead of feeling like we all need to be a heroic evangelist who converts a multitude of sinners, Jesus calls us to be the kind of hero that comes alongside sinners, embracing them in their brokenness, and cheers them on as they encounter the true, saving hero, Jesus Christ. And maybe, that's why he calls us to make disciples for his kingdom.
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