I know I may be one of the last people to see Precious, but we just watched it on Friday night.I had many thoughts
First, I understand my mother better. She grew up very much like Precious, except for the sexual abuse (as far as I know). But she was beaten and constantly was told that she was garbage and pig crap. She is 89 years old right now and still finds it difficult finding herself to be precious to anyone, no matter how many times we tell her that she is. I think this is why she likes Joel Osteem so much, and why I don't dare stand in her way of liking him. He could never say enough positive things to fill that void in her, but he is welcome to try.
Secondly, Precious was and IS a true story. As I sit here typing this type of injustice is going on all over America and around the world.
Thirdly, Monique did an incredible job acting. She played a very convincing mom from hell.
I think the Christian doctrine of Hell is one of its most unpopular. I've heard many times, "Do you really believe in a literal Hell?" At times, Hell doesn't seem like it could come from the God that I know. But then I see people (or the portrayal of them) that are like Precious' mom and I know who Hell was created for. Along with many of the Benny Henn-types.
Lastly, it is one of those movies that many Evangelicals would oppose . . . because of the "F word." However, it is a movie that it is "Christian" because it is a window into the great injustice of the real, fallen world, which we have been called to part in redeeming. The "F word" is part of that reality. Monique played it exactly like it would happen.
1 comment:
I don't know - maybe I have run in more "liberal" evangelical circles than you, but I remember back in the day when "Good Will Hunting" was all the rage, it was recommended to me by more than a half dozen evangelical "church people," despite all the F-bombs. I was in college at the time, and these were friends of my mom, incidentally. So yes - I can see these same people watching a film like "Precious" if they felt it was an important film to watch, regardless of Monique's use of the F-word.
I've lurked on your blog for some time now, and it's very interesting to me that one of your more successful attempts at evangelicalism happened in Duluth, MN - I grew up an hour north of there and spent 10 years in Minneapolis before moving to a more conservative area of the country.
Maybe we Minnesotan Christians are just more groovy ;o). I'm actually planning a move back there in about a year [which is why I am posting anonymously...I am on staff at a church, and I need to keep that "hush hush" for now, as I'm sure you understand!], partially because I just haven't been able to fit in with the super conservative flavor of Christianity...
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