Faith in Film 4, Devil

"Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." — 1 Peter 5:8

With that Scripture, the film "Devil" begins. It has an ominous name, and was the victim of a terrible marketing campaign, but it's really a movie that strikes at the heart of an important theological principle, which is forgiveness. This film dovetails nicely with the film we looked at in week 1, "Atonement," but offers a more hopeful take on the idea. The ending of this film, and the journey for the hero, Det. Bowden (Chris Messina), is remarkable. It brought me to tears when I first saw it, and did the same for many last night.

The film comes from writer M. Night Shymalan. Shymalan, as he does with all his films, has many religious themes in "Devil." He is a seeker in the truest sense. He was raised in a Hindu home, but spent his youth attending Episcopal school. He grew up with dueling ideologies, and that influences his work today. For this film, that ideology surrounds loss, anger, grief, guilt, and how that ties into forgiveness.

As I said last night, the film uses a physical manifestation of the devil as a storytelling device. From a theological standpoint I don't know if I'm sold on that idea. Anything is possible, and we know Satan has influence in this world, but I am not certain he takes physical form. But that isn't the concept I'm interested in with this film. Rather I appreciate that it never shies away from the role men's decisions play in the evil deeds they commit, and it is interested in grief, anger, and forgiveness, which is central to the message in the Bible.

We are presented with so many powerful examples of forgiveness in Scripture. One of my favorites is Stephen, the first martyr. In Acts 7, Stephen is literally stoned to death for proclaiming the Gospel. Yet, with his dying breath, he asks God to forgive and bless those who were persecuting him. That is a powerful example of the kind of spirit God would have His followers embody in this world. And it is a powerful example we are to strive to meet.

What is inspiring to me about "Devil" is that the film, in many ways, models that idea. It is a powerful, emotional, and unexpected ending. That last part is what makes it memorable and somewhat sad to me. This film is unique because it is unexpected — Det. Bowden is able to forgive, a rare quality in this world, even among the Christian community.

Yet it shouldn't be like that. We are to model Christ's love to all through our actions, which means offering forgiveness even to those who would seek to harm and oppress us. That is what Stephen did. In Colossians, Paul offers a model of what it means to be a Christian. Colossians 3:12-13 says, "Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." "Devil" is the rare film that embraces that ideal, which is what makes it fascinating, inspiring, and worth checking out.