Journey at the Movies 2012
“The Hunger Games” – Living Above the Violence
based on a sermon preached at Journey United Church of Christ on Sunday, July 29, 2012
Every summer Journey “goes to the movies” with a worship series that invites us to look at current films from a faith perspective. While folks are not required to see the movie in advance, they are encouraged to see it if at all possible. The worship services includes an intro to the movie, related scripture, video clips from the movie to help us make the connection and a message that brings it all together. Our thanks to www.christinculture.com and www.holllywoodJesus.com for their insights. Special thanks to Cara B. Buckely for her article "The Girl on Fire", found at Hollywood Jesus. The video clips used in worship can be found at www.wingclips.com and www.youtube.com
Introduction to the Film:
Let’s start today with true confessions of a pastor: A year ago, I had no intention of reading “The Hunger Games”. Last year, my students at UAlbany started talking about them … over and over again. I first excused it as the latest fad … and one that I wasn’t particularly interested in. Who really wants to read about kids killing other kids? and the idea of making a “game” of it seemed really repulsive to me. I figured, at most, I could read a few chapters, and I’d have enough evidence to censure the book series, ban it from my library, and discourage them from seeing the movie.
But, at last, in an attempt to be a “good campus minister” and to stay “hip and cool” I downloaded the first one and decided to give it a look. Well … I couldn’t put the first book down, and finished it in a single, 48-hour period. Then the second and then the third – I got nothing else done for about a week until I flipped that last page of book three… and then of course, I had to see the movie!
Now, I’ll acknowledge that I’m still uncomfortable with the violence … and even more so in the wake of the recent shooting spree in Aurora, Colorado ... I understand that as a culture, we are fascinated with suspense and emotionally enthralled over battles between good and evil … but the violence still makes me uncomfortable… the violence that is woven in and though “The Hunger Games”
For those of you who haven’t seen it or read it, here’s the premise… Every year in the ruins of what was once North America, the evil Capitol of the nation of Panem forces each of its twelve districts to send a teenage boy and girl to compete in the Hunger Games.
Pitted against highly-trained Tributes who have prepared for these Games their entire lives, Katniss is forced to rely upon her sharp instincts as well as the mentorship of drunken former victor. If she's ever to return home to District 12, Katniss must make impossible choices in the arena that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.
It’s all part of a twisted punishment for a past uprising and an ongoing government intimidation tactic, The Hunger Games are a nationally televised event in which "Tributes" must fight with one another until one survivor remains.
Join me in watching the official trailer to help set the stage
(YouTube: The Hunger Games Trailer Official 2012 [HD] - Jennifer Lawrence)
Reading of the Day:
In direct contrast to what we viewed, I now invite you to listen to our reading for the day from Matthew where Jesus teaches about peace and new way to live with each other.
Matthew 5:38-48 (Contemporary English Version)
You know that you have been taught, "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth." But I tell you not to try to get even with a person who has done something to you. When someone slaps your right cheek, turn and let that person slap your other cheek.
If someone sues you for your shirt, give up your coat as well.
If a soldier forces you to carry his pack one mile, carry it two miles.
When people ask you for something, give it to them. When they want to borrow money, lend it to them.
You have heard people say, "Love your neighbors and hate your enemies." But I tell you to love your enemies and pray for anyone who mistreats you.
Then you will be acting like your Father in heaven. He makes the sun rise on both good and bad people. And he sends rain for the ones who do right and for the ones who do wrong. If you love only those people who love you, will God reward you for that? Even tax collectors love their friends. If you greet only your friends, what's so great about that? Don't even unbelievers do that? But you must always act like your Father in heaven.
The Message:
So, earlier this summer, you may remember that we did a worship series on the life and of David – the life and times of King David as recorded in the Old Covenant. You may remember that the story has all the intrigue of a made for TV movie – or maybe the drama of reality show … or maybe even a soap opera. There was sex – lots and lots of sex – which made for some interesting – if now awkward discussions.
But what was sometimes even more disturbing than the sex, was the violence. Remember, all the talk about battles and slaughter; it started with slaying Goliath and it just grew from there; and it wasn’t just the battles against the enemy. There was a lot of murder and attempted murders even with David’s family. At times it was difficult to keep track of who was trying to kill whom… brother against brother, brother against father … it’s a rather violent story.
Often, that’s one of the main critiques I hear from people who are trying to read the stories of the Old Covenant. Remember back to when you started E100? Did you find any of it disturbing? There’s so much bloodshed. So much killing. So much murder. How can God’s story be so violent?
Violence makes us uncomfortable? Or does it?
We would like to think our culture has moved beyond that … but sometimes I wonder. A quick flip through the newspaper or the evening news sometimes proves otherwise. It’s been said that we live in the most violent culture in the world.
Consider the statistics from the Student Peace Alliance (http://www.studentpeacealliance.org/learn/stats-violence)
· U.S. youth homicide rates are more than 10 times that of other leading industrial nations, on par with the rates in developing countries and those experiencing rapid social and economic changes. [World Report on Violence and Health, World Health Organization, 2002]A New Way with Jesus
· Persons under the age of 25 accounted for 50 percent of those arrested for murder and 65 percent of those arrested for robbery in 2006. [Youth Violence Facts at a Glance, Summer 2008, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)]
· In 2005, 5,686 young people ages 10 to 24 were murdered--an average of 16 each day. [Youth Violence Facts at a Glance, Summer 2008, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)]
· About 1 in 3 high school students say they have been in a physical fight in the past year, and about 1 in 8 of those students required medical attention for their injuries. [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Youth risk behavior surveillance – United States, 2001. In: CDC Surveillance Summaries, June 28, 2002. MMWR, 51(SS-4), p. 5.]
It all stands in stark contrast to the teaching we have from Jesus in our Gospel reading today.
Jesus' life and teachings were viewed in his time as a revolutionary and provocative. Where His people wanted war he taught peace. Where they were rebellious against the Romans, He taught obedience. Where they wanted violent justice, he taught mercy. He was not afraid of popular opinion, which made a big impression on the leaders of Israel, both religious and governmental. They killed Him for it. He emerged triumphant, but the powers that be opposed him all the way for DOING A NEW THING.
Many parallels have been drawn between Jesus – the Messiah and Katniss Everdeen - the character at the center of the center of The Hunger Games. Probably could do a whole series sermon on the movie instead of just one week. Jesus turned the world updside down with his revolutionary life and teachings. Katness turns the world upside down for the Districts of the Capitol with her revolutionary new approach to their Hunger Games.
In the end, it appears that maybe she’s turned too many heads. It begins as an attempt to save her sister - Primrose's - life and it ends as a legacy that shakes the Capitol to its core. She never expected to survive the games, let alone to win them. It was a desperate attempt to keep her sister alive. She is peaceful and selfless, even throughout the games. Note how she never deliberately murders though she does engage in a questionable “mercy killing”; it stands in stark contrast to the approach of the youth from the richer districts who have been carefully trained to systematically eliminate their competition beginning with the blood bath at the beginning of the games. At the start of the games, she resists the urge to take the bow and arrows and acquires a survival pack instead. It keeps her alive. Instead of killing, she fights to keep her friends, Rue and Peeta, alive at risk of her losing her own life. She becomes beacon of hope for the Districts.
The Capitol uses games to strike fear into the Districts to prevent another uprising. What they don’t count on is that hope for a new way is stronger the fear. The President underestimates Katniss' capacity for love and mercy. When Rue dies, her grief and anger spreads to District 11. The results contrast the Capitol's intentions. Peeta captures the essence of this new way with these words: “… I keep wishing I could think of a new way … to show the capital they don’t own me. That I’m more than just a piece in their games …”
I think when it comes to the presence of violence in our society, we may feel the same … we desperately want things to be different, but we’re not sure how to do it. Great efforts have been made by the “powers that be” to convince us that there is a way to deal with the violence. Most of it focused on the fear that comes from the violence outside our borders. We’ve been told that we can be safe if we engage fully in the “war on terror” and just take the necessary precautions at places like airports and train stations, but I don’t think it’s cutting it folks. One of my colleagues recently posted these comments on Facebook: “Wow, I was scanned AND patted down at the airport on Saturday, and I had to prove I didn't have more than three ounces of shampoo. And STILL. . . we cannot limit anyone's "right" to amass caches of assault weapons and inordinate amounts of ammunition. Seems like we're straining at gnats and swallowing camels, and THAT'S why we live in one of the most violent societies on earth” – David Gregory
So how do WE create a new way? I believe we can at least make a start by considering two sides of the anti-violence coin:
Limit it: We need to begin by limiting access to violent video games, toys, movies, music, etc. (i.e. what’s on your Wii?); We must limit access to guns. I don’t want to get into a debate about constitutional rights. I grew up in Iowa where I often went hunting with my father; I was allowed access to a gun after being thoroughly trained and when we weren’t using the guns for hunting they were very, very carefully locked away. Yet, while there may be a need for hunting rifle out in the middle of no where, there is never a need for an assault rifle that can shoot 50-60 rounds. We need to limit access. So if you haven’t already done so, I would urge you to advocate for a ban on at least some forms of guns by contacting your politicians. Given the recent mass shooting in Aurora, CO, there are tons of petitions and steps to take towards this goal. Check out facebook, watch your email, look at the media. The options are endless. Just do something.
Alternatives: But limiting access to the tools of violence is only part of the solution. The other side of the anti-violence coin comes in being proactive in offerings alternatives for our children and youth who are most at risk – those who live in urban environments, underserved neighborhoods, places where violence has unfortunately become the norm. This summer our mission funds helped support a children’s program run by Unity House; Volunteers helped with the JC Feeding Program in Arbor Hill aimed at getting kids off the streets and offering alternative programs and events along with a good mea. We offer programs through Arbor Hill Community Center and Koinonia Primary Care. We need to continue to partners with organizations in our community who are struggling in the midst of the overwhelming violence, in places that make “The Hunger Games” look mild.
It’s not going to be easy. It’s taken us a long time to reach this point with many choices that led us to where we are today. The damage wasn’t done overnight and it will not be undone in a day, a week, a month or even a year or two. Yet, as people of faith, we follow Jesus and the new way he came to embrace and model for us. May we live in peace and lead the way for the rest of the world…
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