The deep theological truths of WALL-E

For Cindy Lou's birthday we ventured out to the movie theater to see WALL-E. That's not something we do too often so going to the theater is a real treat! The movie did not disappoint.

WALL-E is sweet. I like sweet. WALL-E likes musicals. Flibby likes musicals. WALL-E likes to collect unusual things. Mr. P likes to collect unusual things. My family was in love with sweet likable little WALL-E right from the start!

What I didn't expect was the deep theological teachings that poured forth from WALL-E's version of humanity 700 years in the future.

(Warning... some of the things I'm about to say may or may not be considered spoilers. If it will ruin your day to hear some WALL-E details before you, yourself, have seen the movie I urge you to stop now, go see the movie, and come back. Go ahead. We'll wait...)

Back? Great! Now that we're all on the same page, let's discuss.

In the movie, humanity is floating out in space on the ultimate 'space cruise ship'. On the ship humans float about in hovercraft-type recliners. The people are extremely obese and do absolutely nothing for themselves. They are mind-numbed, selfish, gluttons who are cared for (read: controlled) by robots.

Hmmm. What lessons can we learn here?

Some Christians are like WALL-E's humanity.

1) Some Christians want the church to spoon feed them the Scriptures. Like the WALL-E humans, some Christians wait for someone to come along and like little birds they will open up for the already chewed and spit out Word of God... the Word as interpreted by man and not from a direct encounter with a Holy God and His Word. We cannot rely on others for our relationship with the Lord. We must be like the Bereans and study out the Word, testing the things we are taught by men of God to see if, in fact, these things are true.

"Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger." Proverbs 19:15
"A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again." Proverbs 19:24

2) Some Christians don't want to exercise their spiritual muscles. It's easier that way. Before long, we become obese invalids in the church pews just like the gluttons on the hovercraft-recliners. Isn't it just like our human natures to want ease? I know I long for ease when I climb on that elliptical machine every day. But, the Lord never promised us ease. We must strive in our walk with the Lord. The Christian life is far from easy... but it is oh so worth it all!

"By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through." Ecclesiastes 10:18

3) Some Christians want to feed on the milk and not the meat. I might be inclined to say that Christians prefer 'junk food' to milk, even. Have you noticed the churches having inflatables on Sunday morning at their "Easter Celebration"? Have you noticed the 'rock concert' atmosphere of church services? Have you noticed many church goers look absolutely no different than the world? There is no sacrifice by God's people for righteousness, for holiness, and for a close walk with the Lord. We'd rather have snow cones and waterslides.

"And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?" 1 Corinthians 3:1-3

4) Some Christians are unaware of the doctrines of Scripture and are, therefore, oblivious to error when it occurs. How can someone who never cracks open their Bible during the week to study the Scriptures know that when the pastor says "The Lord loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life" he isn't telling you the whole story? How will you know that the doctrine of salvation is not equal to a little trot down the aisle and a canned prayer when you were six? These are things that cannot be known except they be revealed to us by the Lord as we strive to know Him and to know His Word. Churches today are full of fluffy doctrinal errors through the teaching itself and/or through errors of omission. We must be wise as serpents and gentle as doves.

"Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." 2 Timothy 2:15

5) Some Christians want a spiritual life of all pleasure and no work. Many churches are like Pinocchio's Land of Play. Their church life revolves around socializing with friends, coffee shops, retreats, hip and entertaining music, nightclubs VBS assemblies (click on the link only if you are unfamiliar with nightclubs... and have a strong stomach), grand colorful playgrounds, zany youth groups, and sitting in the air conditioned comfort of stadium seating theatres with mood lighting. How many people do you think would fill churches if they had to sit on hard benches and hear nothing but the Scriptures read aloud for an hour or two? Do we love the Lord enough that physical discomfort would not keep us from drinking in His Word? Do we love Him enough that the very words of Scripture are music to our ears? Do we know Him well enough that simply hearing the words of Scripture is like coming home again? Interesting questions, eh?

"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." 2 Timothy 3:1-7 (emphasis mine)

In the movie, two of the obese "zombies" eventually have their hologram screens that keep them 'asleep' from reality knocked away and they, in essence, 'wake up' to what's going on around them. They realize this is not the life they want. In a great line, the captain of the ship says, "I don't want to survive, I want to live!"

I feel a lot like those two.

I went around for the majority of my Christian life in a mind-numbed church entertainment coma. I wanted fancy VBS programs, cool snacks, children's choir programs, "enriching" Bible studies, lots of fun, lots of fluff, fancy pyrotechnics, and fresh flowers in the ladies' room. When the Lord finally woke me up from that pathetic state, I realized in all this time, I really didn't know the Lord. I didn't long for Him and His Word. My Christian walk was more about me and less about Him. How thankful I am that He drew my heart toward Him and I threw the fluff aside for Him and Him alone!

I pray He brings revival to all the entertainment, seeker-sensitive, all-about-the-numbers churches and the Christians that populate their pews. The Christian life requires something of us. It requires sacrifice, commitment and a willingness to set aside worldly pleasures.

But, oh, what rewards it brings! Thanks, WALL-E, for the reminder.

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