Lars and the Real Girl: Community & Grace

For me, one of the obvious topics that came to mind when thinking about discussing "Lars and the Real Girl" was community. Throughout the film, I was continually surprised by the direction their community took to support and love Lars. Even in spite of a few initial reactions by some members of the community, they eventually all authentically love and support Lars despite of his problems. The awesome thing about the community found in "Lars and the Real Girl" is simply that they loved him and kept him close and did not just try to make him fit into their mold. They didn't try to change him because, in the end, that would accomplish nothing. They let his delusion play itself out, and they let it do what it needed to do.

I think about the community that surrounded Lars in the film and think about how we do church and community in our lives today. All I know is that in "Lars and the Real Girl" is a picture of what our community should be as Christians and a times it is just that - but, sadly often it is not. All too often the church community pushes away, for example, homosexuals from the Church or our Christian community because of their lifestyle. But I am telling you, there is a way to live with solid biblical convictions and still be in the world. Furthermore, we as Christians and a nation have all too often separated ourselves from those who have different political viewpoints than ourselves. I guess all I am really trying to say with all of this is that I have a desire to see diversity in our Christian communities that does not have lines drawn in the sand. I have a desire to see the walls that seem to protect us from the outside break down so that we can interact with the community around us, and I have a desire to actually interact and love with those who do not yet know the truth of the gospel.

This film made me want to try even harder to love those who are different than I am, those who have baggage that I don't have. Loving someone unconditionally is perhaps the most radical thing on earth. I can't really change anyone's behavior, no matter if I think it is wrong or right, but I can love them. Society, religion or otherwise, often tells us that this kinda love is crazy or that this is a "watered down gospel," but I don't believe it is. The gospel of Christ is the most radical thing I have ever heard in my life. People understand hell, people don't understand grace. It makes me really think about how, as Steve Brown puts it, scandalous the freedom found in grace is.

I am still trying to work this one out. But the following is audio is from a podcast entitled "The God Journey" hosted by some of the guys that were involved in writing "The Shack" - and while I cannot claim to agree with everything they say, the following audio brings up so many great points for conversation.

The God Journey Podcast - Pathway to Real Freedom

Agree or disagree, either way it is an interesting conversation. And honestly I am still sorting through this one myself as well.