Movie Review: The Invention of Lying
Reading reviews of "The Invention of Lying" informed me that it mocks the idea – or, I should say, naive ideas -- of God and Heaven, etc. Reviews praised the movie and also tempted me to “dare” the movie to shake my faith. (See, for example, Roger Ebert's review .) I gave in to that temptation and took my wife to see it.
The religious ideas it mocks are pathetically simplistic ideas about God and world events and the afterlife. On the way home, and afterward, Shelley and I talked about how people need to grow up in their faith instead of give it up.
There are childish ideas of God and Heaven which need to be abandoned instead of defended. For example:
1. That God is a “man in the sky.”
2. That he has promised good people “mansions” after they die.
3. That those who commit enough “big sins” are doomed to live forever in “the other place.”
4. That God is “in control” of everything that happens on earth.
God is not a “man in the sky.” He's spirit (John 4:24) and not confined to one place (Psalm 139: 7-10). He fills the universe with his presence (Jeremiah 23:23-24). Certain biblical writers use anthropomorphisms (describing God and his actions in human sounding ways), but informed readers should know not to take those as literal descriptions. God is spirit.
To speak of “our Father in Heaven,” does not mean God lives in the sky. The word “heaven” or “heavens” can apply to the sky where the birds fly (Genesis 1:20 NASB), or to what we call outer space (Genesis 1:14,17). But, the “place” (or could we say “dimension”) where God manifests his presence fully is called the “third heaven” (2 Corinthians 12:2), or “Paradise” (12:4). It is not the sky (first heaven), or outer space (second heaven), but is beyond the space-time universe.
In John 14, Jesus said, "In my Father's house are many rooms," not "mansions" (even though the King James Bible uses that unfortunate rendering). In other words, Jesus assured his disciples that there'd be plenty of room for them in “the Father's house” (i.e., in Heaven). I do believe that. I don't believe we’ll live in mansions.
Nor do I believe that we will be disembodied souls or spirits forever. The New Testament speaks of our being resurrected in an immortal body (1 Corinthians 15:20, 42-44) -- modeled after that of the risen Christ (2 Corinthians 4:13-14). And I believe in Jesus' resurrection because of the eyewitness testimony of those who saw him alive from the dead (Acts 1: 8,21; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8); and because he's changed my life (2 Corinthians 5:17).
When the Bible speaks of God's sovereign “control” of things (e.g., Daniel 4:34-35, etc.), it doesn't mean he's micromanaging everything on earth. It means God is superintending the overall flow and outcome of history -- like a cruise ship captain who's "predestined" his ship for Hawaii, but, along the way, a lot of unplanned stuff could happen on board because of the choices of the crew and passengers.
In the same way, God has a goal for world history ("thy kingdom come"), but in the meantime, a lot of awful stuff can happen that's positively against his will.
The Pollyanna Theology that thinks God is making everything happen that happens, and that it's all somehow OK, deserves to be mocked. Lots of things are evil and unjust and grieve or anger God. Just read the Bible! And look at Jesus' response to injustice, evil, selfishness, and suffering. His reaction mirrors the Father's response (cf. John 14:9-11).
The movie’s main character tells people that the “man in the sky” will send them to “the other place” if they do at least three really bad things, such as murder, rape, and hurting people on purpose. That is not, of course, what the Bible says. It speaks good news to those of us who’ve done more than our quota of bad things: it says God will forgive everything when we respond to the good news of God's saving grace in repentance and faith (cf. Acts 3:19; 10:43).
I don't believe those who reject God’s grace will live forever in some other place; I believe the Bible says they'll eventually be destroyed and cease to exist completely (Matthew 10:28;
2 Thessalonians 1:7-9). Eternal life is a gift from God, not some kind of natural possession (Romans 2:7; 6:23).
For Christians who are fairly firm in their faith, “The Invention Of Lying” is a movie that could be a good conversation starter with non-Christian friends. (Be forewarned that it has some sexual references that may be offensive to certain viewers.)
Besides being very thought provoking, it has a heart-warming love story and a lot of funny moments. I give it a “thumbs up,” and I give the religious ideas it mocks a “thumbs down.”
Tom P. Warner 11/21/09
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