Noah - What we should be talking about.

As a follow up to my review of Noah posted yesterday; the film leaves us with some incredible opportunities for conversations with unbelievers who will see it. 

1. Let’s talk Bible, particularly Genesis 6-9.  The film gives us a marvelous opportunity to discuss the differences in Aronofsky’s film and the Biblical story.  It will not be helpful to be irritatingly know-it-all about this.  Let’s not point out the differences for difference sake.  Let’s talk differences because the Bible’s account is much more hopeful.  If anything Aronofsky does, he gives us a darker backdrop on which we can bring the Biblical epic to light.  I think after people watch the film they will be relieved to hear the real thing.
2. Let’s talk God.  If non-believers walk away from this film without conversation I think it will be like Adam and Eve’s journey from the garden.  The question Satan posed is about what God actually said and believing the lie cost them dearly.  I think it is critical that we bring to light the goodness and grace of God as revealed in Scripture.
3. Let’s talk sin.  Aronofsky’s offers an insightful exploration of depravity and sin.  It is in all of us.  Are we any better off after the ark?  With the film Aronofsky seems to mix messages here.  In one sense he seems to say, perhaps there is enough good in man to be great without God’s help.  On the other hand, Aronofsky seems to say that post-ark, in and of himself, man has no chance.  I would agree with the latter assessment if it is what Aronofsky is saying.  But when it comes to sin, we should point out, we cannot help ourselves, but indeed it is God who has provided for us a way of escape once again.  The new world is not one that emerges from water, the new world is the one that will emerge from those who become a new creation in Christ Jesus (2 Cor. 5:17).
4. Let’s talk green.  There is an important conversation that should be had concerning Christians and the  environment.  God’s people, as Noah rightly portrays, should be the ultimate environmentalists.  We have done a poor job communicating the environmental concerns of the gospel.  This is a message we need to recover quickly.
5. Let’s talk judgment.  I think Aronofsky has invited Christians to come to the table and offer a Biblical explanation of God’s judgment.  I think the film alludes to the fact that the water was merely round 1, fire comes next.  Noah offers a great line, water cleanses, it separates the innocent from the guilty.  It brings new life while fire completely destroys.  What a great opportunity to talk about the New Heavens and the New Earth that is to come post-fire.  God is about new life and He wants a redeemed people to be a part of the truest of new worlds.  The Noah film is a great conversation starter.  People need to realize another judgment is coming and God has provided in Christ, like He did for Noah in the ark, a way of escape.
6. Let’s talk life.  I loved the emphasis on life Aronofsky brought to the film.  In a culture in which life is minimized, particularly human life, I think the film championed the importance of humanity.  I found it ironic that in such a moment of time in which we hear so much of the homosexual agenda, the importance of man and woman and their capacity to bring forth the blessing of life found a prominent place in the film.  Even in the end, it was Shem and Ila who have the only hope of fulfilling The Creator’s initial agenda of being fruitful, multiplying, and filling the earth.  Furthermore, as we are bombarded with secular environmentalist concerns of population control and man being so bad for the planet, this final scene that emphasizes the blessing of birth and population multiplication was refreshing.  Man is not a burden to the planet, he is its greatest blessing.

There are probably a dozen other talking points that could be raised here, but I’ve said enough.  I would like to thank Aronofsky for his film.  I enjoyed it and will be talking about it for quite some time.