And now for the obligatory post regarding the glorified Smurf movie.
The Burner saw Avatar last night and agrees with the majority of movie critics that it is truly an astounding step forward in cinema. As you should know by now, a significant number of moviegoers are paying a 25% premium over a regular movie ticket to see this awesome display of cinematic skill by director James Cameron.
What does Avatar have to do with church? In the movie, (minor character spoiler ahead) Sigourney Weaver plays Dr. Grace Augustine, who is shot during an escape from the military base. It is soon clear that she will not survive without medical help, and the only hope of that is back at the base from which they just escaped. A plan is hatched to bring Grace to the Na’vi in an attempt to ask for help.
The Na’vi prophetess brings Grace to the luminescent weeping willow-like “Tree of Souls,” the clan’s sacred site and most spiritual connection to their deity, Eywa. The prophetess lays Grace’s unconscious body down at the Tree of Souls and the process of prayer and chanting begins for Eywa to take the soul of Grace from her human body and enter Grace’s avatar/Na’vi body (just go with it).
Interestingly and—finally—relevant to the church, the entire clan takes part in this process. In concentric circles they place hands on shoulders and sway, pray and chant the night away. This is a beautiful picture of the power of prayer and what the community of the church would like coming together to devote their spiritual groanings for the cause.
Likewise, earlier, when Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) is inducted as a full-fledged member of Na’vi, the community pulls together to accept his new status—literally pulls together, nearest member placing their hands on Jake’s shoulders, with the rest of the crowd doing the same to the member in front of them, on and on in a manner that reminds of many prayer services I’ve been a part of. It is a beautiful and accurate picture of the acceptance and solidarity of the community to its newest member.
Get past the strong pantheistic undertones and you’ll notice a great demonstration of what the church could look like during times of corporate prayer and longing, while celebrating and pledging support for its newest member. Show this to your lay leaders as picture of what a community looks like. Show this to your youth—they love to lay hands on each other, and community as a part of worship of God is way more exciting than Facebook. Or create studies that examine the social, political, moral, environmental and spiritual themes that are crammed into the 162 minutes (consider the example of Christian discipleship that Jake undergoes becoming a part of the Na’vi, or the fact that the entire religion’s focus is at the Tree of Souls [Tree of Life?]).
More importantly, take a moment for yourself, both to witness the Star Wars of this generation and a heck of a beautiful thrill ride to boot.
