I was a bit surprised when, a few days after Thanksgiving, my Facebook newsfeed blew up with comments by folks who had gone to see Disney’s Frozen and proclaimed it a total delight. I like a talking snowman as much as the next moviegoer, but the previews I had seen didn’t really light up my imagination, and I figured Frozen was just a mildly humorous family-friendly flick designed to get the kids out of the house during the holiday season.
However, I finally saw the movie this weekend, and I will unabashedly admit that those posts on my Facebook feed were right. Frozen was delightful. And not only did it make me laugh and smile, it honestly also pointed me to the Lord. I’m no movie critic, but I’m all for Biblical wisdom no matter where it’s found. So here, without further ado, are three Bible verses I thought of while eating gummy worms at the movie theater, watching Frozen. (Plot spoilers ahead. Sorry.)
1. “Then the Lord God said, ‘It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.’” Genesis 2:18
Our main girl Elsa spends so much of the movie being alone and afraid, and the impression is given that much of her childhood was spent that way, as well. Anna’s exuberance when the gates of the castle are finally opened reminded me of the truth that I am prone to forget—it’s not always good to be alone. (There’s even a whole song in the movie about it!) I loved this in the ending as well—Elsa’s acceptance in the community as her true self is part of what helps her cast off her fear and shame. We need each other!
2. “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay his life down for his friends.” John 15:13
When it was revealed that “an act of true love” was all that would save Anna from turning to ice, I was mentally prepared for Kristoff to charge in there and rescue her, standard Disney-style. So I LOVED it when instead, Anna used her last bit of strength to save her sister Elsa. Sacrificial love. That’s what I’m talkin’ about.
3.“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.” 1 John 4:18
I got a huge smile on my face when Elsa realized that expressing her love for her sister could turn back the harsh winter storm that enveloped the kingdom. Her fear is what drives the winter power, and Anna’s love and acceptance of her breaks that and brings back summer. Happy ending!
Be discerning moviegoers, friends. There’s good stuff out there.
You can find her on Instagram @bookishredreads, sharing more books that are lovely, fun, or interesting.
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I was just listening to Jars of Clay’s “Shelter” this morning and the line “In the shelter of each other we will live” has been resonating in my mind today. There is so much truth that we are not meant to live life alone, stretching from Genesis to Revelation. And I love it when we see echoes of the Truth in unexpected places like animated Disney movies. Thanks for this reminder to have eyes to see.
Yes! Yes! Yes! Thanks for posting this. I love it when we can show our children Biblical principles in mainstream media.
Resounding Yes! I saw an article (from one Christian’s perspective) yesterday talking about how Disney had touted it’s own agenda, how some of it flew in the face of scripture. But I saw it with similar eyes that you have shown. The Lord hijacked most of the movie to deal with me. Thank you for this.
Yes! I’ve got to add that when Elsa uses love to overcome the storms, I thought of Jason Gray’s song, “Fear is Easy, Love is Hard,” especially the lines, “Fear will leave you hiding in the dark, but love will bring a light into your heart, so do not be afraid.” That sums up a lot of Elsa for me.
Ooo, yes, I hadn’t thought of that, Holly. Love that song.
Great job, Laura. I am always wary of these stories, thinking they will inevitably hammer us with modernity’s substitute/false religions of envy and rebellion. But I was delighted with the movie as well, and found so much that resonated with the way God made the world and has revealed himself to us in Scripture.
I agree with those who said about the song, “Let it Go,” that it’s a sad part. It’s strange that the movie goes to credits with it, but the movie was excellent.
Thanks, Sam. I’m with you on “Let It Go.” Musically I really like it, but lyrically (and the role it plays in the movie) it ends on rather a sad note. (Ha! Pun!)
I totally agree. I was getting vaguely annoyed, expecting the movie to go in the usual direction, to teach girls that the love of a boy is all they need to make everything right. I was relieved and surprised and thrilled when the act of sacrificial love was turned on her sister, the one closest to her and the one most in need. Also, your first point about shame made me think of Ellie Holcomb’s “Marvelous Light.” “I walked out of the darkness and into the light, from fear of shame into the hope of life….”
Yes, Helena! I did a little cheer in my seat at that turn of events.
“Perfect love casts out fear” was the verse that rang through me as Elsa realized how to conquer her curse. I loved that so much. And it definitely made for fantastic discussion with our kids as we headed home after the movie. It was so fun to talk about how God’s truth was all over it.
If I may add a point in regards to the song, “Let It Go….” As a person recently saved I enjoy the song because before I was saved I thought the only way to Heaven was by the law. I gave up when I was a child. Now, as a born again Christian, saved by grace, I feel like I am free. While I know that this is not an excuse to go out and sin, I do feel like I can let go of the chains of the law that binded me, the guilt, the shame. Jesus took all that away.
Saw it for this past week for the first (and second) time (kids….). I loved it. And the conversations it has spawned have been beautiful. The imagery of the cold getting colder, the darkness getting darker, the fierceness getting fiercer is such a great portrayal of what happens to a loveless heart that says “forget everyone….” Makes me think of Rich Mullin’s line (We didn’t know what love was until he came, when he gave love a face and gave love a name….).
Once Elsa experienced true, self-sacrificial love, she was then able to love. 1 John 4 was resounding in my heart as that last scene played out.
Secondarily, Let it Go is such a commentary on our culture and yet the movie does a great job of showing that no matter how much you try to rationalize isolation, your actions always affect others. Always. Sin is never a privatized affair.