Sunday Matinee #38 Max Max: Fury Road II of IV
You call them "wastelands." I call them road trip vacay!
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Quotes With Notes
Philippians 2:5-8
Full Text: Philippians 2:1-13 (Revised Common Lectionary)
18th Sunday after Pentecost (October 1, 2023)
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Context: Paul writes what is often called the “Christ Hymn,” a poetic theological statement about how Jesus connects with humankind.
5 Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,
6 who, though he existed in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
as something to be grasped,
7 but emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
assuming human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a human,
8 he humbled himself
and became obedient to the point of death—
even death on a cross.
Mad Max: Fury Road | 2015 Village Roadshow Pictures, Kennedy Miller Prod., Warner Brothers | IMDB
Starring Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult, Hugh Keays-Byrne, Richard Norton, Rosie Huntingon-Whiteley
Written by George Miller, Brendan McCarthy, Nick Lathouris | Directed by George Miller
Context: The tyrant Immortan Joe barks out a declaration of his (false) messiahship to the crowds.
The Prime Imperator: Rev it up for the Immortan Joe!
The crowd cheers!
Immortan Joe: Once again, we send off my War Rig to bring back… guzzoline from Gas Town and bullets from the Bullet Farm! Once again, I salute my Imperator, Furiosa! And I salute my half-life War Boys who will ride with me eternal on the highways of Valhalla.
The crowd cheers!
War Boys: V8! V8! V8! V8!
The crowd cheers!
Immortan Joe: I am your redeemer! It is by my hand you will rise from the ashes of this world!
The crowd cheers!
Commentary:
This brief passage in Philippians chapter 2 is sometimes known as the Christ Hymn, for its flower poetry sings of the paradox of God having God’s power in Jesus while also emptying himself of that power or denying himself that power or holding back on that power or using that power in a very particular way and in that action dying in all the divinity and humanity of Jesus, suffering and dying on the cross. There are many scripture passages that explore why this happened, and no matter their focus, they all seek one thing: the Why of Jesus on the cross. They call that atonement theology.
What, then, is atonement theology? Simply, it is your interpretation of the why and how of Jesus. His life leading to the cross, his death on the cross, his resurrection after removal from the cross. What does that work accomplish? And why is this the work God uses through Jesus? It’s an attempt at wondering what the problem is between God and humankind - what is the separation between Creator and creation and what is the cost of separation - what is the solution - what does Jesus in life, death, and resurrection mean - and the results - in some cases, perceived as eternal results. Atonement makes us “at one” with God, as we were always meant to be. Atonement.
There are many atonement theologies out there. While there’s theoretically endless real estate on the internet, not all are created equal (I don’t really feel like giving ink to those atonement theologies which I find damaging or unbiblical) and for today let’s just focus on one: the Wondrous Love of God atonement. God created the world in love and for love. The image of God is a relation of love and obedience toward God, while sin is a break in relationship with God caused by pride, greed, self-centeredness. This alienates humans from God as well as from one another. Jesus appears in the world as the Son of God to reveal the eternal love of God in human form. By his life of obedience and love, his suffering and death - obedience to the point of death on a cross as written in the Christ Hymn of Philippians 2 - by his life of obedience and love, his suffering and death, the wondrous love of God is demonstrated. In his resurrection God vindicates the crucified and makes him Lord, thereby establishing a new community of love for the sake of the world’s redemption.
Immortan Joe is a false messiah. He claims to redeem his people. He demonstrates what he thinks is mercy and generosity. He promises them they will rise up through him.
Immortan Joe is dangerous. Not because he’s a smarmy politician or a greedy liar or a hoarding narcissist. He’s dangerous because desperate people are desperate to believe anything that will save them. Who knows where stories of today’s religion are in this future dystopia. We see the rise of a pathetic V8 Vahalla Warrior mishmash religion where prayer has been traded for guzzoline. It’s not just the people at the foot of the citadel who should be wear of Immortan Joe. It’s also us. We should be weary of any false messiah who promises he is our savior, he’s the only one who can save us, and if they’re against him then they’re against us. That’s not redemption. That’s bait.
Contrast the humility of Jesus on display in this hymn to the hubris of Joe on display in this speech. One dies in agony for love. The other starves people in agony for fear (which he may or may not mistake for love). There is only one redeemer. And it ain’t the fella in the pretty horse tooth tube mask!
Who is a leader you trust? When have you been a leader and people trusted you? What has redemption looked like in your life? What has faith done for you? What does obedience to love mean?
Thanks, everyone, and I hope you have a wonderful day. May you find holy wisdom anywhere you look, whether in the scriptures or even at the movies. And to today’s preachers, may worship bring you closer to the holy as you do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly in the name of God. God’s peace and good movies to you!
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