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    Aug 07, 2016

    Mission Impossible 5 - Rogue Nation

    Passage: 1 Corinthians 12:1-11

    Speaker: Rev. Vivian McCarthy, Pastor

    Series: Faith at the Movies

    Category: Discipleship

    Keywords: redemption, team, violence

    Action/thriller/spy movies are often fun to see. What might we learn from MI5 that can inform our faith?

    Please note:  The Tech Notes throughout the sermon script refer to the dvd version of the movie.  We left the references in the script so that you may enjoy the scenes that underscore the points made in the meditation.

    I admit it.  I love a good mystery or thriller.  One of my guilty pleasures is that I’m an adrenaline junkie!  I read at least a chapter of Patterson or Kellerman, Cornwell or Evanovich every night before I go to sleep.  I look forward to the next Bond or Bourne on the big screen and yes, I was a big fan of the original Mission Impossible – the one on TV.  I lost interest in the IMF movies for a long time, though.  Maybe one of you can explain to me why in the world they made Mr. Phelps a bad guy in the movies!  What was up with that!?! 

    TECH – Play sound clip from beginning – I will keep talking – fade cue below…

    I’m guessing that I’m not the only one who feels a little stir of excitement when that music starts.  You just know things are heating up when you hear those sound cues – right?  In my house we call that “dangerous music!”  Something exciting or scary is about to happen!  Fade sound

    In the latest Mission Impossible or IMF blockbuster, the Impossible Missions Force is again the good guys and they are tracking The Syndicate, the epitome of Evil mentioned at the end of MI4.

    TECH – Clip #1 – 6:30 to 9:06 (from “we’re about to close” to “this message will self-destruct in 5 seconds” – smoke – Hunt looks out door)

    The Syndicate is out to use Ethan Hunt and the IMF to control the world and establish itself as supreme, ruler of the world.  They are after power and control and will stop at nothing to get it.  Of course, Hunt and his team are not about to let that happen. Those of you who have followed all of the MI movies are probably hearing the trademark quote that gets resurrected in every film in the franchise – right?  “This is not mission difficult, its mission impossible.”

    There are 2 faith-related issues raised by this movie that we will touch on this morning.  The first is a theological issue raised by commentator Jonathan Butrin called the myth of Redemptive Violence.  Essentially, redemptive violence is a conundrum.  He put it this way: 

    The “bad” guys need to be stopped by any means necessary. Save the “innocent.” Kill or be killed. But Christians know that justice isn’t bad guys getting what they deserve. Justice is bad guys getting transformed and set free.[1]

    I’m often appalled by my own reactions when the bad guys are defeated.  Whew!  They killed the bad guy!  Yay!  Wait!  What!?!  Talk about a “what would Jesus do” moment!

    Again and again in this film, the really bad guy – the baddest of the bad – talks about human nature and using human nature to achieve his desired ends.  The IMF, as most of the “good guys” in action/adventure/spy flicks just about always see violence as a means to a good end, directly in conflict with the biblical message about what Jesus WOULD do!

    Our United Methodist Social Principles has a statement that speaks to this issue:

    In the love of Christ, who came to save those who are lost and vulnerable, we urge the creation of a genuinely new system for the care and restoration of victims, offenders, criminal justice officials, and the community as a whole.  Restorative justice grows out of biblical authority, which emphasizes a right relationship with God, self, and community.  When such relationships are violated or broken through crime, opportunities are created to make things right.[2]

    As Butrin said in the article I quoted earlier, “Justice is bad guys getting transformed and set free.” 

    He also notes that he was surprised that this film addresses the dilemma – portrayed in this clip where Ilsa has led the IMF and the Syndicate on a dramatic chase and is now confronted by Ethan Hunt.

    TECH – Clip #2 – 1:30:00 (Ilsa and Hunt nod at each other in crowded public space) to 1:31:46 (“that’s what we choose to believe”)

    Some Christians will decide that they should not ever watch a movie or TV show or read a book that portrays such violence.  Others will not make that decision.  What I hope we will all remember to do is to look at our reactions, our own motivations, our own beliefs – whatever the stories we choose to read or watch – and hold them up alongside the message of Jesus, allowing the kind of self-examination that peers deeply into our souls for what our reactions and the stories have to say about ourselves and our community – and then make decisions on how we enter into the life of the community as disciples of Christ.

    Another faith other issue raised by this movie – in fact, by all of the MI films – relates to the scripture we read.  Unlike many adventure/thriller films and stories, Ethan Hunt works in a team.  Each team member is essential.  Each one has a particular skill or knowledge set to offer in order to accomplish the mission. 

    Jesus calls us to be part of a body – HIS Body – and each person has a role that, as the scripture says, that role is to show others who Jesus is.  Admittedly, that last bit is not evident in the ways the IMF team members accomplish their tasks – I wanted to be sure that we don’t put some Superman – I can do this on my own – message!  The scripture says, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me – as Darlene so eloquently reminded us last Sunday.  Through Christ.

    This clip is fun and somewhat subtly illustrates the “Body” image of the IMF.

    TECH – Clip #3 – 29:35 to 29:45 (begins with text on a page changing and ends with Benji saying “see the world – on a monitor – in a closet”)

    Jonathan Butrin again:

    In the Gospels, we see a story of Jesus healing a man possessed by demons. After he’s in his right mind, the man’s first desire is to become one of Jesus’ disciples. But Jesus says no. Jesus tells him to stay behind and share what God has done for him. We all want to be part of the inner circle, but maybe that’s not our job. We all want to save the world by ourselves, but we’re called to a team. We need to be willing to play the part God assigns us, so that his mission can be accomplished on earth as it is in heaven. 

    A message of faith according to the IMF:

    You have essential gifts.  Use your best thinking, your best motorcycle riding, your best analysis, your best questions to overcome evil.  Listen to the team.  Take some risks.  And always keep your eye on the mission to bring about good for the world.

    [1] Jonathan Butrin, CinemaFait,h August 7, 2015 blog, as found at http://cinemafaith.com/reviews/mission-impossible-rogue-nation/

    [2] The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church 2012, Paragraph 164G.