THE BOOK OF ELI

[Steven Budlong]

January 23, 2010Dear Way Corps,I am rarely surprised by a film, much less spiritually moved. Last night, my daughter and I saw “The Book of Eli,” staring Denzel Washington. It is a modern day parable that powerfully portrays the integrity and power of the written Word of God. “The Book of Eli” is billed as a post-apocolyptic film and the trailers lead one to believe that the “Book of Eli” is in fact a new gospel or book of prophecy for a future age, a common theme in science-fiction and fantasy. In fact, the book of Eli, is simply Eli’s book, a book that happens to be a King James Bible. The future survivors of earth’s nuclear war blamed their plight on God and religion and had systematically burned the Bible. I won’t tell you any more because I hope you will see it for yourself. But I will quote an anonymous blogger who had this to say to some of the critics of the film:“Finally a great film about one man's journey… a commitment to no other man but himself and the Lord... The attacks [Eli’s deadly actions in self defense] weren't toward 'non-believers' they were against the insidious lost... those who could not hear... acting out their vile game of divide and conquer... A woman and her dirty used breasts huddled around menial earthly possessions? What was her survival game? She was on his path twice...how? Eli had a mission and a purpose and was faithful... he was not proselytizing anyone… [His ultimate confrontation was with a town’s leaders], a villain who wanted to use God’s power to control God’s people. When will the lost catch on? You cannot use God’s Word for evil. You can’t create a revival without first repenting. It does not work.Eli gave God the glory and the thanks. His journey was about faith, perseverance and submission. Maybe you missed this...he was blind. And through his transgressions he persevered. The ones that could see were desperate to rape, pillage and be lead astray. Sounds like life on earth today...an apocalypse of the mind is set in motion as soon as someone misses their calling. How many of you are missing your calling...you sure missed the tone of this movie..."I commend whoever wrote that. Now I know many believers who are adverse to Science-Fiction, Fantasy and Horror and you may be among them. If so, I understand your distaste and mistrust of the genres. But if you choose to see “The Book of Eli”, I encourage you to view it as a parable. Remember a Parable is a comparison by resemblance, and in a Parable there is one central point or truth. It is that point that is important, whereas the elements of the story are merely contrivances to carry you along to the meaning. They do not have to be “truthful.” When it comes to the bulk of Sci-Fi and Fantasy, if you try and interpret things allegorically, where everything literally means or represents something, you wont get through the first minute, and if you do, you will probably get it wrong.My research paper in the Corps was on “The Ethics of the Use of Allegories and Fables in the Cinema.” Simply put I looked at the use of Parables, Allegories and Fables (or lack thereof) in the scripture as they were employed in narrative story telling. I then applied those principles to visual story telling, specifically film, to help the reader discern between appropriate and in-appropriate applications of fictional story telling in communicating God’s Word For me the work had great significance, understanding and application. I am a filmmaker and communicating God’s Word in culture has always been my heart’s desire.Like the fictional Eli, my encouragement to the Body of Christ is to find (or find again) your calling, and heed it. Or, as Jesus admonished Simon Peter -Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdest thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.” (John 21:18)Truly Yours in Christ,Steven Budlong12th Way Corps

[Cindy Kuchmy Kelley]

The Word lives and abides forever - no matter if nobody believes it - as Dr. VPW used to say.

[Karen (Hemmalin) McGrath]

Cindy, didn't catch your post until today. Excellent! Yes, excellent! To the dissenters...."He's saved your life so many times and you've never even known he was there!"

[Belinda Wilson]

Now we see through a glass darkly but then we shall be see as we are seen. He was blind he saw through a glass darkly. He looked neither to the left or to the right pressed forward toward the prize of the high calling. He was persecuted, distressed on every side. He listened, he heeded what he heard and he obeyed the voice within. He was tempted with pleasure and pressured but resisted. Even when he appeared defeated he persisted and pressed on. He would have laid down his life for his brethren. Loved this movie couldn't believe it was allowed to air/

[John Richeson]

Going to see it this week sometime. I'll comment.

[Cindy Kuchmy Kelley]

Karen: "He's like fire..and ice.. and rage. He's like the night and the storm in the heart of the sun. He's ancient and forever. He burns at the center of time and can see the turn of the universe. And..he's wonderful.
He never raised his voice. That was the worst thing: the fury of the Timelord. And then we discovered why, why this Doctor who had fought with gods and demons, why he had run away from us and hidden: he was being kind... "
What power we have, if we only knew it!

[Karen (Hemmalin) McGrath]

Saw this last night and we have decided it's on the stellar list of movies. So nice to sit in a theater and have scripture quoted in a postitive way and people actually giving their lives to do God's will... And revelation shown in a good light as well. Love it!

Cindy, "he's like fire... and ice... and rage!". :)

Warning, movie spoiler in next paragraph, read at your own risk:

Some mainstreamers have a problem with the Bible put on the same shelf with some other books in the end... seems like throwing the baby out with the bath water, imho... who cares? It's a good film. Denzel is great as always. His sidekick is very good as well. I love the fact that only the blind could read it, blind to all but Him. We walk by faith, not by sight.

[Cindy Kuchmy Kelley]

Yes, I am a believer, and yes, I like science fiction for the reasons you describe. It is an allegory. Some people have a canon for the Star Wars, and have formed a religion around it. Me, I like Dr. Who. He is the representative of a Son of God with Power who goes out to get rid of devil spirits (aka aliens). He also uses words as his weapons rather than guns. He makes the people around him better people just by being with him.

[Mike and Lisa Tracy]

Steven, I always find your posts thoughtful and thought-provoking. Thanks for your insight on this movie. I don't go to movies too much but may want to catch this one.

[Kellie O'Malley]

Thanks for the great blog and insight on this one.

I absolutely LOVED this movie and was amazed that it came out of Hollywood. It stirred something deep within me and made me realize that I have taken for granted the written Word. I loved how the fictional Eli really heard God, and knew what he needed to do, and how he stayed strong to stay on the path, and how he stayed peaceful and confident in the midst of all. Even in the most difficult circumstances where he was tempted to veer off, even for good reasons, and he just repeated to himself, "stay on the path, stay on the path, stay on the path". I think even that was symbolic of the Word he made his own. It reminded me of that old quote, I think it was in Lifestyle of a Believer, "Those who hear the call of God most clearly, most easily justify the sacrifice they make in following it." It reminded me to not forsake the gift within and to not neglect the pure joy of just reading the Word and it made me appreciate good ole retemories and all the Word that I have made my own over the years... yet I found his example raised the bar on how much more I could make my own. It really was an amazing movie!!!!! Thanks for blogging about this one.

[Steve Burch]

Dang, I was going to blow this one off, such is my mistrust of Hollywood. But that whole parable approach has me thinking I'll check it out.