“Movies are our way of telling God what we think about this world and our place in it. . . . Movies can be many things: escapist experiences, historical artifacts, business ventures, and artistic expressions, to name a few. I’d like to suggest that they can also be prayers.” — Josh Larson
Movies do more than tell a good story. They are expressions of raw emotion, naked vulnerability, and unbridled rage. They often function in the same way as prayers, communicating our deepest longings and joys to a God who hears each and every one. In his book, Movies Are Prayers, Filmspotting co-host Josh Larsen brings a critic’s unique perspective to how movies function as expressions to God of lament, praise, joy, confession, and more.
In August, we’ll use Josh’s book as a springboard to explore three current and one not-so-current movies and how they express our deepest longings for God. God’s omnipresence means that you can find him whether you’re sitting on your sofa at home or in the seats at the theater. You can talk to him wherever movies are shown. And when words fail, the perfect film might be just what you need to jump-start your conversations with the Almighty.
You are invited to meet God in the movies, and start-up a conversation with the God who created us, beings with thoughts and feelings who need to bring both to God. Our series is Movies Are Prayers. We’ll dive into Babe, the Pig, Shazam, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, and Yesterday.
