Sin at the Movies

I am about to give away the ending to a great movie. If you don’t want to hear the predictable ending to the movie “Cinderella Man” (CM) then stop reading and go to your favorite game website and play that extra fifteen minutes of “drop-squeeze-word”. Don’t worry Russell Crowe enthusiasts; it is one of those movies that giving away the ending of the movie does not ruin the experience. Such as my brother did to me with “Sixth Sense” and how I could have done it to him with “The Village” or “Million Dollar Baby”. My mom first saw the trailer for CM and told me about the new movie with Crowe and Zellweger. Both great actors and a great recipe for quality entertainment. Rated PG-13 for boxing violence and some SOB’s it was generally wholesome. Now in going to the movies we find an escape for ourselves and a place and time where we can forget our circumstances and focus on the story. Such is art. Music and books do the same.

So my family this last Friday take some back roads to Alexandria VA to the REGAL THEATRE!!! Stadium seating…What a great invention. I am fully convinced that a man of my stature invented stadium seating. Finding a seat in normal theatres for a guy like me is a tedious decision. Where won’t another person sit in front of me??? So…Stadium seating comes to my rescue!!! Not only is there no possible chance that someone may be in my way (if Shaq did show up to the movies that I was at this would be a different story) but these seats have headrests and rock back and forth!!! Oh the comfort!!! So I buy the biggest soda known to man (you could baptize a Chihuahua in that thing, full immersion not that catholic sprinkle junk) and down an entire bag of peanut butter M&Ms before the previews are over and thus begins the story of Jim Braddock. What an incredible movie!!! Some might say its Gladiator all over again but that’s okay. Basically he is a good boxer, gets a run of bad luck, then the Depression hits, so they go poor and eventually he makes a sweet comeback. Yes he does win the last fight and you see it coming the whole way. In fact, I knew that before the movie and it is still in my top ten.

So then where is the sin?? No, there was no buckwild sex scene where mom is reaching over telling you to cover your eyes and the awkwardness abounds. No, the violence was not distasteful or the language outrageous…I did sin that night, a lot worse if I would have enjoyed watching a sensual scene, or a lot worse if I emulated the violence or cursing on screen. I committed an act so defiling to the most holy God…I coveted. When Braddock won the last fight by decision one woman in the audience actually gave a cry of victory and clapped a bit. I coveted. When I saw the story of this inspirational man I wanted every second of it for myself. I wanted to be him. I wanted to be lifted on shoulders and given praise for giving someone else hope like he did with his accomplishments. I wanted to overcome the lowest point that he endured, I mean he was a boxer in a world that couldn’t afford to watch him box. I remember getting the feeling that Jim Braddock could not get any lower in life. At that point in the story he was worthless to society. Then an hour later he was a victorious man. And I sat in my comfortable rocking seat wishing and hoping that one day I could be that victorious.

How dare I!!!

What blasphemy. The degree to which that man in that story rose to triumph does not pale in comparison to the victory I enjoy in Christ every passing moment. The lowness I was at before my salvation is unthinkable, not only was I useless I was rebellious and unwanted, my righteous deeds were like waste we flush away, out of sight out of mind. Jim Braddock’s economical situation was child’s play in comparison.

What Blasphemy. My conquest given to me over sin and death and my own selfishness is far greater than any boxer (or character in any story) will ever experience conquering any odds against him. The victory for Braddock was won and thousands of people gave him praise for it. When my victory was won, angels of the Most High watched and gave applause. Braddock was saved from a life of poverty to go on and live a middle class lifestyle. I was saved from eternal rejection to utter unconditional acceptance by the most beautiful being in the universe.

And I wanted the lesser. “God, Your victory is not worthy of my heart’s desire. I prefer to covet this story of redemption. Not my own” Oh the graveness of my sin and the deceit of my heart. My desires must change and my heart must realize the depth and reality of my victory in Christ. The journey that He has taken my soul on is far more dramatic and romantic than any movie could ever begin to portray.

We like movies because they bring us to another place and time where we can forget our circumstance, let my heart always be wooed to the glorious circumstance of redemption that He has won me with His blood.