Sin Will Turn You Into an Ass: Finding Truth in Pinocchio

Pinocchio has been described as one of the most Christian films out there and with good reason. The wooden boy is brought to life, and immediately enters a world of temptation; Pinocchio has to learn to counter these temptations and be courageous and righteous. Faith is represented throughout the film in different characters and adventures. Pinocchio is the story of every man, their temptations, short comings and triumph.


Summary:

Pinocchio is the tale of a little wooden boy who was brought to life by the Blue Fairy after Geppetto wishes upon a star that his puppet would become a real boy. Geppetto's wish comes true and the story begins. The Blue Fairy appoints Jiminy Cricket, one of the most beloved Disney characters, to be Pinocchio's conscience.
The next morning Geppetto sends Pinocchio of to school. Along the way two sly characters, Honest John and Gideon, confront Pinocchio and trick him into becoming an actor. Jiminy Cricket was running late on Pinocchio's first day of school and finally catches up with him during this scene. Jiminy tries to convince him that becoming an actor isn't the right decision, but that going to school is. However, Pinocchio is not persuaded and instead ends up under the control of Strombolli. Jiminy temporarily gives up proclaiming "What does an actor want with a conscience anyway". Pinocchio realizes the situation he has gotten himself into after he attempts to go home and Strombolli simply laughs at him and locks him in a cage. Luckily, Jiminy decides to say goodbye to Pinocchio and finds him in the cage. Jiminy is unable to rescue Pinocchio himself and so the two sit and cry. At this point the Blue Fairy sweeps in and asks Pinocchio what has happened. Instead of telling the truth Pinocchio lies and with each lie his nose begins to grow. Eventually he tells the truth and the Blue Fairy unlocks the cage and Pinocchio and Jiminy are able to escape.
On the way home, Honest John and Gideon spot Pinocchio again and this time convince him to go to Pleasure Island. On Pleasure Island Pinocchio can do whatever he wants. He ends up drunk, smoking a cigar in a pool hall with his new friend Lampwick. The two are having the time of there lives until Lampwick starts to turn into an ass, literally. He grows donkey ears, a tail, etc. Jiminy finds Pinocchio who has grown donkey ears and a tail and they are able to escape the island. The two finally get home to discover that Geppetto is not there, but has instead gone looking for them. Geppetto has been swallowed by a whale while attempting to find his son. Pinocchio sets out to find his father, but first must find Monstro the whale. Pinocchio and Jiminy get swallowed by the whale and discover Geppetto. They are eventually spewed out by the whale and in a heroic act Pinocchio dies saving his father's life. Geppetto and the other's weep over Pinocchio and while they are grieving the Blue Fairy comes and changes Pinocchio into a real boy.

The Characters:

Pinocchio represents "every man". We're all tempted to sin every day and unfortunately often choose to sin. Sometimes we don't even necessarily realize we are doing wrong and often we don't know the consequences that will come from these choices. Also like Pinocchio we will sin over and over again, but also will be given the chance to be forgiven over and over again. Also just like Pinocchio became a "real boy" we too have the chance to become the creatures that God designed us to be.


Jiminy Cricket represents not only our conscience, or our innate moral sense, but also represents ministers who attempt to guide us on the straight and narrow path of life.
Jiminy is ordained at the beginning of the movie when the Blue Fairy "knights" him; she says "I dub you Pinocchio's conscience, Lord High Keeper of the knowledge of right and wrong, counselor in moments of temptation, and guide along the straight and narrow path." Like many ministers one of the first conversations he has with Pinocchio is about sin and temptation, and throughout the story he gets frustrated with Pinocchio as many people of the clothe I'm sure do. At times he feels like giving up declaring, "What does an actor want with a conscience anyways?", but always comes back to help Pinocchio. Jiminy shows the struggle of our own conscience with our choices, as well with those who are trying to teach us about right and wrong.

The Blue Fairy represents God, mostly in the form of the Holy Spirit. The Blue Fairy is the one that gave Pinocchio the gift of life, and throughout the film she is the only one able to save Pinocchio. She also turns Pinocchio into a real boy in the end, resurrecting Pinocchio, as God will do for us. Even when Pinocchio doesn't know that the Blue Fairy is there, she is guiding him. For example, when Pinocchio discovers his father is not home, disguised as a dove she drops a note telling Pinocchio where his father is. The Blue Fairy also gave Jiminy the power to act as Pinocchio's conscience, or minister, an act only God can do.

Honest John and Gideon represent temptation. The Devil will often use others to trick people to sin. For example, the serpent to trick Eve in the Garden of Eden. To trick Pinocchio he used Honest John and Gideon. However, you have the power to defeat Satan by choosing to not sin, or reciting Bible verses, or asking God for help. Pinocchio's tools were whistling which could be equated to stating Bible verses, or praying for help; and letting his conscience be his
guide, or choosing not to sin.

The Coachman and Strombolli represent Satan. Both attempt to attract kids to sin in order for their own gain. Satan gains power through our sin, just as these two characters gained power through other sins. They also commission people to do some of their dirty work for them, just as the Devil does. Also while dealing with them may seem good in the short run, in the long run they are just using you. Both don't care about the people they are dealing with are only concerned for their own glorification.


Sin Leaves A Mark:
On his journeys Pinocchio encountered a number of temptations as we all do in our everyday lives. Temptation comes to Pinocchio in the forms of Honest John and Gideon. They fill Pinocchio's head with ideas of fame and fortune and Pinocchio becomes so enthralled with the idea of being an actor that he chooses wrong over right. Now becoming an actor is not a sin, but Pinocchio was given a command to go to school, and not following that command is a sin. Pinocchio finds himself performing a song called "I've got no strings".

Pinocchio here is singing about his free will which was granted to him by the Blue Fairy when she removed his strings. In the same way we are not God's puppets, but were given free will to make our own decisions. However, Pinocchio has abused his free will and chosen wrong and at this moment only sees the good that has come of it. While we should always be thankful that we don't have strings attached to us, our free will should be used to make the right decisions and the glorify God, not just to have fun and glorify ourselves. The film teaches us that our choices to do wrong have consequences. Pinocchio ends up locked in a cage because he chose to disobey and follow the "easy road" (as Honest John put it). Jiminy Cricket tries to rescue Pinocchio, however, only the Blue Fairy is able to save Pinocchio from his fate. This shows that ministers and Christians cannot save people, but only God can. Before the Fairy lets Pinocchio out of the cage, she asks Pinocchio what has happened to him. Instead of telling her the truth he lies to her. However, as he does this his nose begins to grow.

Just as Pinocchio's sins show, so do our own. The effect us, not only spiritually, but mentally and physically as well. After Pinocchio tells the truth and asks to be forgiven the Blue Fairy erases the marks of his sin. This symbolizes how our sins can only be washed away through the grace of God. Pinocchio finds himself choosing wrong over right once again when Honest John tricks him into going to Pleasure Island. At first Pleasure Island sounds like an amazing place. You can do whatever you want; drink as much as you want, smoke, vandalize things, get in brawls; and no one is going to tell you that you are doing wrong, no guilt! However, as Pinocchio learned before they're are consequences for every action. In this case sin turned all these boys into asses both literally and figuratively, once again proving that your sins will show. Once your life becomes consumed with sin as it does on Pleasure Island you change and are not the way God designed you to be, and might as well be a donkey. Also this life can turn you into a jerk, or a jack ass. Also in a life of sin you are likely to make a fool out of yourself, or make a jack ass of yourself. Pinocchio's sins show once again through his donkey ears and tail and he is unable to get rid of them. He is only able to rid himself of the symbolism of his sin after his "baptism" (explained in the next section).

Jonah and the Whale:

The book of Jonah in the Old Testament tells a story of a man who was ordered by God to go convert a group of non-believers. Jonah hated the group that God wanted him to save and instead of following God's commands ran away. He ended up on a ship going over very rough waters. Eventually Jonah was tossed off the ship in order to calm the waters. A "big fish" swallowed Jonah and after 3 days and 3 nights the big fish vomited up Jonah, who then went and followed God's command. Just as Jonah was given a command by his Father, so was Pinocchio. Pinocchio was told to go to school, and to not stray from the path. However, instead of following his father's commands he tried his hand at acting and at Pleasure Island; and ended up inside a "big fish". While inside the whale Pinocchio changed; he gained courage just as Jonah had. After he was vomited from the whale he was able to act on his courage and save his father's life. In the Gospels of Luke and Matthew Jesus also made a reference to the story of Jonah. Jesus stated " Just as Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights (Matthew 12:40)". Jesus was hinting at his death, and resurrection. In a letter to the Roman's Paul wrote "For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives (Romans 6:4)". When Pinocchio entered the whale he had made the decision to turn away from his old life of sin and do what was right. Just as being dunked under water represents our death when we are baptized, entering the whale represented this for Pinocchio. Rising out of the water represents our resurrection and Pinocchio turning into a real boy represented his own.

Conclusion:

As you can see there is a lot of Truth in Pinocchio. However, one important fact to note is that good works will not save you. It seems as though Pinocchio's courageous act of sacrificing himself for his father is why Pinocchio becomes a real boy. However, a courageous act will not save you, only the belief in Jesus Christ can. However, Pinocchio becoming a real boy was a gracious gift from the Blue Fairy, who forgave Pinocchio of his past wrong doings. This is the part to focus on, not the good works. This does not mean that you should not choose right; it simply means that choosing right is not enough. Full repentance requires turning away from one's past life of sin, and towards a new life. Good works glorify your Father and are thus essential. I'll leave you with the words of Jiminy Cricket.

When you get in trouble and you don't know right from wrong,

give a little whistle!
Give a little whistle!
When you meet temptation and the urge is very strong,
give a little whistle!
Give a little whistle!
Not just a little squeak,
pucker up and blow.
And if your whistle's weak, yell "Jiminy Cricket!"

Take the straight and narrow path
and if you start to slide,
give a little whistle!
Give a little whistle!
And always let your conscience be your guide

Finding Truth in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

I’m starting with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs for two reasons: it’s the first of the Animated Classics and it tells the basic human story from falling into sin to the salvation of the human race. No there weren’t dwarfs in the Garden of Eden nor does the Bible describe our entrance into Paradise as riding off into to the sunset with a hot Prince (but if that is how I enter heaven, I’m not going to argue); instead Snow White offers the essence of the Fall of Man and our salvation in an amazing tale.

Snow White was originally written by the Grimm brothers; however, I am going to make most of my references to the Disney classic. The basic summary of Snow White is as follows: a young beautiful princess, with skin as white as snow, has been forced to live a life of servitude to her stepmother. The stepmother becomes jealous when she learns that she is not the fairest in the land, but that her stepdaughter Snow White is. The wicked queen sends a huntsman to kill Snow White, however, he does not have the heart to do such a thing. Instead he tells Snow White to run away and never return. She ends up staying at a house with seven dwarfs, which Disney playfully named Doc, Grumpy, Bashful, Sleepy, Sneezy, Happy and Dopey. Meanwhile, the Queen learns that Snow White is still alive and sets out to kill her herself. She disguises herself as an old peddler woman who sells apples. However, she has made one apple especially for Snow White. This apple has been cursed and whoever eats from it will fall into a sleeping death, in which the only way the victim can be revived is through love’s first kiss. Snow White bites into the apple and immediately falls into a sleeping death. The wicked queen is chased away by the dwarfs and falls to her death. The dwarfs cannot bear to bury her because of her beauty and instead place her in a glass coffin. One day The Prince finds Snow White and kisses her. Snow White awakens and the two ride off into the sunset.

Snow White represents humanity as it was designed by God to be. She is the fairest in the land; people being designed in God’s image are designed to be the greatest, fairest beings in the world. Her skin being as white as snow represents Snow White’s innocence and purity; which is that state that humanity was in before their “fall”. When I speak of the “fall of man”, or the “fall” I am referring to the moment where sin entered the world. When Adam and Eve chose to disobey God and eat an apple from the tree of knowledge. Here is the passage from Genesis of the Fall of Man:

“¹ Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?" ² The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, ³⁴ "You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. ⁵ "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." ⁶ When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. ⁷” but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.' " After God discovers what has happened he curses the snake, women, and men, banishes Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden and now humanity has fallen from grace and will no longer live eternally but will face death, as God says “By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return."

Snow White, as stated earlier, represents how humanity was supposed to be pure. However, Snow White falls just as Adam and Even did. Just as Satan seized an opportunity to corrupt mankind in order to glorify himself over God, the Queen attempts to become the fairest in the land by killing Snow White. The queen knows there is one way she can kill Snow White, to appeal to her desires and to trick her. Thus, just as Satan did, she disguises herself and convinces Snow White, against her better judgment, to take a bite of the apple. Throughout the movie Snow White “wishes for the one she loves” and in a beautifully crafted scene we actually see her go to God in prayer for her wishes as well as to bless the dwarfs. Snow White is relying on God for all her needs just as Adam and Eve did before they ate the apple from the Tree of Knowledge. However, once the Queen offers Snow White another way to make her wishes come true, by eating the apple, Snow White turns away from God and falls into a sleeping death because of her decision. God told Adam and Eve that they would die if they ate from the Tree of Knowledge and not only did Adam and Eve become cursed with death, but so did all of mankind.

However, God offered a way to beat death. Mankind needed to be saved and God provided a savior. The only way for mankind to be saved was for God to sacrifice His only son. Snow White had one way she could be saved as well “love’s first kiss”, which represents God’s sacrifice. The Prince, who represents, Jesus, was in the beginning of the story and Jesus stated that He was there when the heavens and Earth were made. The Prince provided “love’s first kiss” for Snow White, who then awakened from death; just as we are promised through Christ. The two then ride off into the sunset towards a castle that appears to be amidst the clouds; representing our entrance into Heaven after our earthly death.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is an allegory for the history of man; highlighting before the Fall, the Fall and it’s consequences, and our ultimately redemption, which every one of us need, even the fairest one of all.

Intro

Alrighty guys, Courtney's Blog is back. I moved from Xanga, b/c I figured I needed a fresh start. For those of you that don't know I am currently working for a company called Art Within. It's a Christian company that is developing playwrights screenwriters of faith to produce good quality films from a christian perspective. I've gotten to meet a lot of neat people and have heard some interesting pitches and have gotten to read scripts that they are currently developing. So it's been a great experience so far. What this has inspired me to do is to start writing a series of article type things that approach films from a Chrisitian perspective that I will be able to use as a teaching tool later in my life. I'm going to start with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, yes Disney's Version; and I'll get a draft up ASAP. Along with working with Art Within I have also been painting my parent's house; which has been a lot of fun. So with these two jobs hopefully I'll be able to start my last year at Chapel Hill with a lot of experience under my belt and some cash. That's all I'm going to write for now, but Aaron I hope this makes you happy.