Since the release of "Frozen" last November, the theological world has been abuzz with the film's depiction of true love being a commitment of self-sacrifice, rather than the fulfillment of self-centered emotions. Much of this discussion comes from the surprise of many that the film broke from the traditional plot-line of a princess in search of a handsome prince to whisk her away into the sunset. Instead, Frozen's climax took place when the princess Anna gives her life to save her sister, Queen Elsa. The theme of self-sacrificial love is repeated several times in the movie.
Such a definition of love from a secular movie (from Disney, no less), fired up the Christian world, whose writers then pointed to Frozen's definition and illustration of love to show the agape love Christ showed for us when He died on the cross for our sins.
Typically, I don't look for meaning or theological truth when I watch movies... especially if I went to the theater to watch them. If I go to the theater, I am going to escape reality for a couple of hours... that, and I'm going to eat popcorn and drink coke. For two hours, there are no phone calls, no texts, no Facebook messages, and no responsibilities. No breaking news, no strains of the pastoral ministry, no sermons to write, no bills to pay, and no taxes to file... it's just me, my kids, and talking snowmen, cars, planes, or minions. It's a good time.
However, Frozen was different. For you to understand why, I must first confess that I struggle with depression. No matter how much God blesses me, I find myself going through times of hopelessness and fear, doubt, and even sadness. I have a tendency to allow myself to become overwhelmed.
So, when the movie depicted two sisters who were separated by a large door... the one being kept from the other for her safety, I could relate. All the young Princess Anna wanted to do was play with her sister, Elsa, and enjoy the freedom and fun they had enjoyed before. For safety reasons, however, Elsa had to be kept from Anna. I could only think of how I wanted to go back to a time when I could freely enjoy my family. I also thought of how I would love to go back to a time when Jessica and I could spend hours together without the responsibility that come with being a missionary couple who have to work full-time to make ends meet.
At Elsa's coronation, things broke loose, the kingdom was frozen by Elsa's reaction to Anna's newfound boyfriend, and the newly crowned queen retreated to the mountains, her secret power of being able to create snow and ice having been revealed to the kingdom.
As she approached the mountain top, she broke into song... "Let It Go," an anthem of breaking free of unrealistic expectations, self-isolation, and living life on one's own terms. That song hit me, as well, because it captured the young princess' struggle with containing and concealing her power in order to maintain order in the kingdom, and to spare the fears or opinions of others. To sum it up, she basically had been living in a self-imposed prison, her every move subject to scrutiny, and the ever burdensome responsibilities of the kingdom on her shoulders.
This song is resonating with pre-teen and teenage girls, for a variety of reasons. Whether it is the increasing pressures we place on our school children, to the ever increasing social pressure being placed on tweens. You get to a point where you just want to say, "forget it!" and retreat to your own world. In an article from The Gospel Coalition, the dangers of this song are spelled out. The Gospel Coalition writes:
Thousands of little girls across the country are singing this song – a manifesto of sorts, a call to cast off restraint, rebel against unrealistic expectations and instead be true to whatever you feel most deeply inside. What’s ironic is that the movie’s storyline goes against the message of this song. When the princess decides to “let it go,” she brings terrible evil into the world. The fallout from her actions is devastating. “No right, no wrong, no rules for me” is the sin that isolates the princess and freezes her kingdom.While Elsa's retreat into her self-made ice castle was self-centered and brought about destruction in the kingdom, the Gospel Coalition ignores the factors that led into that "meltdown," for lack of a better word. Elsa was under a lot of pressure to perform and be perfect. That is the pressure that teenagers face today, which is why the song resonates with them. While I see the danger in the lyrics being translated into a "rebel at all cost, disregard the consequences, and make yourself happy," the fact is that the song can help us better teach our kids how to deal with such emotions.
However, it's not just teenage girls that face this kind of pressure. When my family and I watched the movie, I was fresh out of the annual Missionary Baptist Association of Texas meeting, where, for the fifth consecutive year, my request for salary support for Grace Pointe MBC had been approved. We had hoped to ween ourselves off support by year three. We are two years behind schedule.
While the association was understanding of our plight, not all individuals were. Back home, I was facing pressure. The church had plateau'ed, and it was alleged that the lack of growth stemmed from a spiritual stagnation, which "begins at the top and filters down." Translation: The church is not growing, and it's my fault.
My life is lived in a glass house. My spirituality is constantly scrutinized. People can say any abusive or insulting thing they want to me, and any reaction other than "Thank you, God bless you, I'll pray that the Lord heals me of (whatever you're complaining about)" means that I am not spiritual, and am living in rebellion against God. If someone needs money, I am not a Christian unless I give it to them. If I don't witness to 100 people a day, I am not fulfilling my role as missionary. And on those rare times that I have let down my guard, and shared my weaknesses with someone else, I have found myself wishing I hadn't said anything.
So, the lyrics hit home. "Don't let them in, don't let them see, be the good (boy) you always have to be." Until, that is, the breaking point comes. Now I know that the worst thing that could happen is that I reach that breaking point and go running off into the mountains to isolate myself. I'm not justifying the character's actions at all. What I am saying, is that I can relate. (And isn't it the mark of a great writer to create characters with whom the audience can relate.)
So, as I listen to the song, "Let it Go," I don't hear a call to rebellion. I hear a character who struggles with her day to day life... and I can relate to that. I have a feeling that you can relate to it as well. Preachers, pastors and missionaries aren't the only ones who feel under the gun, who struggle with the daily pressures of life. I bet you feel those pressures, too, and if you think it'd help, you can share those struggles by commenting on this post.
I pray daily for God's healing of my heart, and for God's strength and wisdom as we forge ahead in Brownwood. If I need to add you to my prayers, please feel free to let me know. God bless you.
