Jurassic World is taking a giant bite out of cinema history by smashing the world record with a $500 million opening weekend, beating out the previous record held by the world's greatest superheros, The Avengers. It seems like Chris Pratt is a resurrected cinema hero in the making, with his self-deprecating charm and humour drawing comparisons to Harrison Ford (Indiana Jones).
One reviewer puts it this way about the colossal summer blockbuster,
Owen, a Velociraptor trainer, utters these succinct but powerful lines. In the film, it's clear that there is a tension between caring for the dinosaurs as real animals and treating them as mere tools for generating money or power. For a park that labels its prized dinosaurs as "assets," it's no surprise that they use genetic modification in creating new dinosaurs that are bigger, smarter, and more attractive. The scientists don't actually care for the animals; instead, they are focused on their own work and progress. There is a Frankenstein-esque motif of control and creation running through the movie, of creating a monster in isolation that breaks the laws of nature. Instead of technology (like Terminator or I-Robot) causing mayhem, it is now an irresponsible and corrupt manipulation of nature (in genetically modifying the Indominus Rex) that is causing destruction.
I sometimes wonder if the church is serious about her call to care for creation and be the stewards of creation that God intended. It is encouraging to me that in recent years, there has been a renewed conversation on the theology of creation and how Jesus followers are to take care of God's earth. In my upbringing on the whole, however, there has been little talk of caring for creation. I think of the popular programs that promised to bless me and extend my territories or help me find a purpose driven life. Or, I think of my formerly held beliefs that a church was healthy as long as it was growing bigger and more "spiritual," even if it did not care for its community. That was until I began to see Abraham's call to be a people of blessing (Genesis 12), or Israel's calling to be a light to the nations (Isaiah 49).
In Jurassic World, the Indominus Rex was created in isolation and containment. Pratt's character comments that because of this, it does not understand how to interact with other creatures and is extremely dangerous. Sometimes, I feel that churches can be raised in isolation like the Indominus, and we (speaking for myself as well) do not know how to interact with other people outside of our church contexts. How can the church know our neighbours better and care for creation with respect so that we breathe life into our communities?
One reviewer puts it this way about the colossal summer blockbuster,
It combines first class effects, a genetically engineered deadly dinosaur, outstanding action, well defined characters and a screenplay that refreshes themes of corporate greed and playing God.After watching it with my family last night, here are my thoughts on 3 things the Church can learn from Jurassic World. I try to avoid spoilers, except what has already been revealed by the trailer.
1. Attractional consumerism will destroy your vision
One reoccurring theme in the film is how John Hammond's dream of interaction/connection between dinosaurs and humans has been reduced merely to a transaction, where consumers are flooding in only because they want to see bigger and badder attractions. Hence, the Jurassic World corporation will use genetic research to modify and "cook up" bigger dinos in their labs to draw attention and spike attendance (like the Indominus Rex, which the trailers all love to focus on...because who doesn't love a bigger T-Rex?). It appears that people are no longer satisfied with the dinosaurs but simply want more entertainment. Jurassic World (the theme park, not the movie) has lost sight of its vision in favour of boosting sales and numbers.
In my North American Context, I have seen the church try to get better music, bigger lights, more programs, and plan all sorts of things with the hopes of attracting people to come to church. It's almost as if we've forgotten that the church is the people of God sent on mission to be a people of blessing (John 20:21); instead, the focus has been on the church meeting my personal needs because going to church is a tool through which I am filled and feel good with God.
The book of Ephesians paints a glorious vision of the Church. It is a new humanity where different people from different racial and socio-economic backgrounds experience peace together, so that we may no longer be strangers but family in Jesus Christ (see Ephesians 2:11-22). As we live in a culture consumed with consumerism, it is far too easy for the church to fall into this mentality where we focus on meeting the needs of the people, just as Jurassic World attempts to create bigger dinos to attract crowds. Instead, we need to remember that it is Jesus who sets our vision and values as a counter-cultural and subversive community that is sent on mission in partnership with the Holy Spirit to bless our neighbours, families, schools, and workplaces.
2. We are to care for creation and others with respect
"It's not about control. It's a relationship, based on respect"
-Owen (played by Chris Pratt)
Owen, a Velociraptor trainer, utters these succinct but powerful lines. In the film, it's clear that there is a tension between caring for the dinosaurs as real animals and treating them as mere tools for generating money or power. For a park that labels its prized dinosaurs as "assets," it's no surprise that they use genetic modification in creating new dinosaurs that are bigger, smarter, and more attractive. The scientists don't actually care for the animals; instead, they are focused on their own work and progress. There is a Frankenstein-esque motif of control and creation running through the movie, of creating a monster in isolation that breaks the laws of nature. Instead of technology (like Terminator or I-Robot) causing mayhem, it is now an irresponsible and corrupt manipulation of nature (in genetically modifying the Indominus Rex) that is causing destruction.
I sometimes wonder if the church is serious about her call to care for creation and be the stewards of creation that God intended. It is encouraging to me that in recent years, there has been a renewed conversation on the theology of creation and how Jesus followers are to take care of God's earth. In my upbringing on the whole, however, there has been little talk of caring for creation. I think of the popular programs that promised to bless me and extend my territories or help me find a purpose driven life. Or, I think of my formerly held beliefs that a church was healthy as long as it was growing bigger and more "spiritual," even if it did not care for its community. That was until I began to see Abraham's call to be a people of blessing (Genesis 12), or Israel's calling to be a light to the nations (Isaiah 49).
In Jurassic World, the Indominus Rex was created in isolation and containment. Pratt's character comments that because of this, it does not understand how to interact with other creatures and is extremely dangerous. Sometimes, I feel that churches can be raised in isolation like the Indominus, and we (speaking for myself as well) do not know how to interact with other people outside of our church contexts. How can the church know our neighbours better and care for creation with respect so that we breathe life into our communities?
3. Family matters. And it can get messy.
Aunt Claire (played by Bryce Dallas Howard) is an organized, on top of the game, control freak who manages the operations at Jurassic World. When she initially has to take care of her two visiting nephews, she instructs her assistant to babysit them while she carries on with her own busy schedule. As havoc unravels at the park, Claire eventually has to abandon her OCD lifestyle to get messy and risk everything to save the boys, including dashing through the mud in high heels while escaping from some dinos (no big deal). I think it speaks something significant about family life, when you are willing to let go of your control and get messy, because family is messy.
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I've often found in churches that children are swept under the rug into children's ministry. That way, there's no crying, whining, or shouting that gets in the way of worship. Now before you think I'm attacking children's ministry, let me say that I have met many faithful people over the years who have invested into children's ministry and have helped and inspired me. I do think there is a space needed for children to think, learn, and have fun together.
I also think, however, that the church needs to reimagine what a kingdom family looks like. When Jesus was teaching and healing, there would often be people shouting at him or doing weird things, and of course little children came to him as well. In the church, maybe instead of trying to have everything organized into segregated ministries, we could celebrate the messiness of family and discover what it looks like to have kids, youth, adults, and seniors follow Jesus together. Family matters, and I think that families in the history of the church have followed Jesus together, entering into the mess of life together. How can our church communities build up families, and allow for messiness?
So friends, those are 3 things I think the Church can learn from Jurassic World. It's not a perfect movie and certainly has its flaws, but I really enjoyed the movie experience. I'd love to hear your thoughts!
