Often God is appalled at what men applaud.
Consider God’s assessment of Judah in Jeremiah 5:30-31,
“An appalling and horrible thing
Has happened in the land:
The prophets prophesy falsely,
And the priests rule on their own authority;
And My people love it so!
But what will you do at the end of it?
I was watching (for the 18th time) my kids new favorite animated film, Ferdinand, when I finally began to see the point. I really like the movie. It’s full of bright colors, gardening, silliness and problem-filled characters all uniting around a bull, Ferdinand, who has figured out the secret to harmonious living, “Be true to yourself.” The final scene shows the bull, Ferdinand back in his happy place, full of peace and harmony. He has followed his own path, and in the end all has gone well. The other animals ascend up his hill to join him in his euphoria. He has become his own authority and he approves of himself.
The tired theme of tolerance/pluralism is given a very warm champion in Ferdinand, who tells his repressed dog friend, “Looks like weird is the new normal!” The background music offers a redefinition of “family” and “home” based on wherever one feels accepted for who they are. Also, the music repeatedly encourages the viewers to “do whatever you want with whoever you want.” So, in a film where the “traditional family unit” [Father, Mother, Children] is completely absent, we come to realize what Ferdinand represents. All the cultural authorities in the film get it wrong in Ferdinand’s enlightened view. The police, the matador, the rancher… they all keep to “tradition,” to doing things the “proper” way. The catholic nuns are mocked for their cross-wielding-fear of everything. Only Ferdinand is at peace as long as he’s not being forced to be or do something contrary to his own nature. Thus the message is “Be true to yourself. You’ll find acceptance and be at peace.” This is a theme widely applauded in our day by human beings. Yet God is appalled at the notion of His image, ruptured from His life by sin, doing whatever comes into our minds, or whatever festers in our desires. “The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; Who can understand it?” –Jeremiah 17:9
This film is really well done. I like it a lot. Ferdinand cuts an interesting Christ figure, full of power and compassion, who seeks to lead others into the freedom of his wisdom. He leads, converts and disciples other animals, succeeding even with the hardest of cases. He even “sacrifices” himself through “non-violence” and in the end is kept from execution by the approval of the masses. I heartily disagree with the message only in one sense. We can never be true to our “selves” not truly living in the human sense unless we know Christ, Who is the Image of the invisible God. We’re made in God’s image. We are only true to that design by a living union with Christ, Who renews us in His image. He changes our hearts and fills us with Godward desires. Indeed, Christ has a different way of looking at things. His disciples are full of problems. He redefines family in light of faith and eternity. He does sacrifice Himself for us, and we will know His peace as we follow Him.
God is appalled at Ferdinand’s path so attractively laid out for children and families. Men may applaud it, but God is appalled at it. Insofar as I can help my children to be reminded of Christ through some of Ferdinand’s story, I will do so. I want them to applaud Christ.
