Finding Christ Through The Hunger Games

    In case you didn't know, Hannah and I love movies. Seriously. The artistry that's poured into television and film is truly amazing to me.  It seems like these visual mediums are the artistic form of choice for our generation.  It speaks to us. Film is the native language of our culture, creatively speaking.  When I watch movies or television shows, I like to try and identify Christian concepts embedded within the so-called secular world.  The Hunger Games series is certainly filled with subtle tenets of our faith, and I want to show you all a little bit of what I see when I watch these movies.

   A few days ago, we bought The Hunger Games: Catching Fire on DVD, and despite the fact that we already saw it multiple times in theaters, the film moved us emotionally once again. After finishing the book series and watching it on DVD, I've realized that the same elements that move me in the story of Katniss are the most powerful elements of the gospel story.  In fact, I think that most powerful films have a representation of grace and redemption in them that reminds us of Jesus, because these concepts are some of the most universally touching experiences we can imagine.

   In The Hunger Games, we find that there are so many characters willing to die for the benefit of others.  They seem almost ready to die.  This is Christlike love, and it has a cost. We learn through this film that love is not simply the forlorn glances of affection and desired exchanged between young people. It requires sacrifice. If that doesn't have Jesus written all over it, I don't know what does.

    (Spoiler alert!) One of the primary conflicts in Catching Fire is actually centered around which combatant will die to let the other one survive.  Early in the film, Peeta insists that Katniss must prevail, and Katniss makes a deal with Haymitch to protect Peeta.  Then, Peeta wears a locket around his neck in the arena that reminds him to protect Katniss at all costs.  They're literally fighting to die for one another. That's love.

    Though the citizens of Panem appear to live in an amoral, religion-free society, they demonstrate the gospel story of love through their actions. We can observe a lot about the reality of John 15:13 through this movie. "There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends." It's beautiful, moving, tragic, and a little scary, but most of all.... it's true.

    I guess my point is this:  if you're looking for redemption, you will find it.  Grace and love are the most moving plot points that any creative person can weave into their own creations. You can find Christ in the most unlikely places, if you decide to look for Him. The gospel is everywhere you look, and I encourage you discover it and celebrate it wherever you possibly can.