Run Lola Run

This past week I spent a few days with my denominational colleagues in ministry from the East Coast, up at Pilgrim Pines Conference Center in Swanzey, NH. It was a good week of fellowship, worship, and lots of laughs. I appreciate those times of connection and return home refreshed and thankful to be part of something bigger than my local congregation.
Our times of continuing education were led by the husband and wife team of Robert Johnston (Professor of Theology & Culture at Fuller Theological Seminary) and Catherine Barsotti (former director of development for Centro Hispano de Estudios Teologicos), co-authors of Finding God In The Movies: 33 Films of Reel Faith.

The premise put forth by Johnston and Barsotti, is that film has become the common language of our post-modern culture, and through that common language, a meaningful and rich avenue for dialogue has developed on matters of spirituality. As the church, and as members of the clergy, that opportunity for dialogue is one that we should recognize and embrace.

One of the more humorous times of the week together was when we would watch a film and then discuss it. We were a diverse group to be sure: old-timers, young pastors, big churches already using multimedia on a regular and grand scale, small churches with one VCR (probably broken). As you might expect, the opinions towards the use of film as a starting point for dialogue were equally varied. So when we gathered to watch the cult-classic, subtitled (the dialogue is in German) film Run Lola Run, which I had seen parts of before, I was expecting some interesting opinions.

And there were.

And yet, it worked, even with such a strange film as Run Lola Run (and believe me, it is strange!). It worked, because as we began to discuss it, the conversations and arguments ran through the gamut of deep theological questions that are at the heart of faith in God, and faith in Christ as Savior. It really did create an opportunity for dialogue that was fruitful, and more than one pastor could be heard muttering "I get it." (even if we did not "get" the film itself)

Throughout the scriptures we find God using individuals and peoples and events from "the outside" to awaken his people, and challenge their faith, and expand their understanding of him and his mercies, so that they might better be the light to the world that he intended them to be.

Is it possible that even something as bizarre as Run Lola Run could be that means in our post-modern world?