Theological Reflections on 'Inception'

Recently, we watched 'Inception', starring Leonardo DiCaprio, during our Church youth night. It took all of us by surprise, as we wondered about how this much loved secular film that confuses many, could have any relevance to Christianity. We were proved wrong.

Note: I will not be re-telling the story, as I do not wish to spoil it for those who may not have watched the movie yet. However, I might have to expose some vital parts of the movie to explain my points!

'Inception' is full of important, controversial themes that have been woven together intricately and beautifully to produce such a fast paced, thought provoking, engaging film. The themes and issues raised throughout, are important as they reflect our minds and our deepest, inner desires; there is much we all can learn and be wary of. In this post, I will be focusing on two of my favorite themes from the movie. If you haven't already watched it, I would strongly encourage you to do so.

No Regrets

This is, by far the most prominent and salient theme in 'Inception'. 'Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien' by Charles Dumont is played extensively, on many occasions throughout the film, especially just before the characters wake up from their dreams. Why? The title of the song translates into: 'No, I Have No Regrets' - this reflects their desire to live a life without regrets, something that the protagonist, Cob, earnestly longed for - something, I am sure all of us can relate to, ourselves! 

All of us are alive once, with trends like '#YOLO' (You Only Live Once) on Twitter, it is clear that the world pressurizes us to make the most of life. However, it stumbles terribly on what '...make the most of...' truly means! Making the most of life has very little to do with settling for temporary pleasures found in numerous relationships, sex, drugs or alcohol, instead it refers to living a life where we are truly joyous, truly happy and at peace naturally, not as a result of a stimulus, that leaves us feeling worse once it wears off. Moreover, these 'temporary pleasures' are not the answer, instead of escaping regrets, they bind us to more! 

To live a life without regrets, we need God. We need His grace, forgiveness and ransom. In Isaiah 43:25, God says regarding Israel: "I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions, for My own sake, and remembers your sins no more." - Now that is a prodigious promise! Inevitably, we all have 'fallen short of God's glory' and are rooted firmly in sin, which with itself, has bound us to barrels of regret and guilt. Only God's grace and His blood shed, in the person of Jesus, on the Cross, can manumit us. 

We live once, make the most of this life to live a life free of guilt and shame. Instead of relying on deceiving worldly pleasures that offer very little for what they promise, seek God and His help to wipe the slate clean, to gain forgiveness and fill your heart with the joy, peace and guidance, it yearns for. Ensure that your life has a meaning and purpose, and that you don't live it selfishly but strive to love and leave a lasting, worthwhile legacy, in the lives of those around you.

Reality

Ever so often, we can be trapped by our ambitions, dreams, hopes and assumptions. We might end up believing a lie, being deceived and living in a dazed state and struggle to distinguish reality from delusion - just like Cob and the other characters in 'Inception'. For example, a person suffering from anorexia - he or she isn't able to see their real state as they're mentally accustomed to the lie they hold dear, likewise, someone who might be suffering from depression - a bit like Mal(Cob's wife), she believed the lie Cob had himself planted in her, that eventually led to her tragic peril.

Every character involved in the dreams, has their own 'Totem' - an object used to test if a person is in their own or someone else's dream. In a person's own dream, the totem will work and feel correct as they know it well.

We all need a point of focus, a totem, one that is steady and reliable at all times. The only steady point of focus, is God! He is the same, 'yesterday, today and forevermore', He 'doesn't lie', He can be trusted at all costs. When our point of focus is on God and we are driven by the desire to please and love Him, we can never go wrong. Our totem, needs to be God, we need to know our Totem well, to be able to get back to reality, establish our identity in Him and proceed, with peace, joy and satisfaction - something these characters were miserably deprived of. Unlike the characters' inanimate totems, if our totem is God, EVERY TIME we focus on Him, He will straighten our paths and relinquish clarity.


In conclusion, there are a lot of interesting themes in the film, however, I would call those 'sub-themes' as each one can be categorized into one of the two mentioned above. The above themes are absolute and universal, they are not only relatable but also teachable. 'Inception' might have been targeted at the secular world, however the themes dealt in it are far from secular; they reiterate the importance of a God centered life, free of sin and full of forgiveness and redemption through His grace alone. Like Cob and the other characters, we are flawed, inside out, searching restlessly for something that satisfies us; God still sees something in us that He can transform, He is the one we ought to turn to, to put that search to rest. 

True Love Waits

I was listening to Kim Walker, one of my favorite worship leaders and randomly stumbled upon her blog - didn't know she had one! I read one of her posts on 'Love' and 'Singleness', she beautifully offered advice, to all the young women reading, using some exquisite, vivid imagery. Here is an extract from her article titled, 'All the single ladies!':


'Imagine that your heart is locked away behind lots and lots of gates. When a guy comes along who is interested in you, only put a little, tiny piece of yourself out there. In other words, you don't just give away your whole heart and tell him every single thing about you and in you. Just let him see a small glimpse of who you are and what you hold dear inside you. If he handles that well; if he honors it and treats it like the treasure it is, then maybe you open the first gate and let him through. With each time you put a piece of yourself out there, you see how he handles it. Does he honor and respect it? Is he kind? Does he treat it as a treasure? The moment he doesn't treat you well or handle a piece of who you are well, he doesn't get through the gate. there is only ONE man who will get through all the gates and win your heart, and he is the man who will stand at the altar and vow to love you and protect you the rest of your life. Does this make sense? By doing this, you are protecting your heart, but also allowing someone to get to know you. But not just anybody gets to know you deeply...be careful! Let a man pursue you and see where he leads.'


I cannot agree more! Adding to what Kim beautifully depicts, lock all those gates up and give God the key; let Him control who enters and who doesn't!

The world's 'normal' is 'following your heart', a Christian should know that not everything you 'feel' is permissible...your heart isn't always right, why else would Solomon write, 'Guard your heart above all else, for it is the wellspring of life' ? Something needs 'guarding',only if it is vulnerable to the environment it is in.
How do you 'guard your heart' from yielding to every desire of the flesh?


1. God First

God has instructed us to not be yoked with an unbeliever, however, sometimes, we might find ourselves drawn to someone who is just not on the same spiritual spectrum as us or who doesn't share the same passion for God as us. When we find ourselves in those situations, let us remind ourselves of Matthew 6:33 - Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you - This 'seeking' rule also applies for a potential spouse.
This is important, you've got to realize that by looking for a relationship with someone, you're viewing them as a potential spouse... Thus, if you find yourself allured to someone who doesn't share your love and passion for God, move on, no matter how hard it may be.


2. Make every thought captive in Christ

Easier said than done! I know! However, this is one of the most important measures to take to strive to live a life of purity. Give a little thought to the following quotes:

'Where the mind goes the man follows' ~ Joyce Meyer
'An idle man's brain is the devil's workshop'
'You can't stop birds flying over your head, but you can stop them from building a nest on it' ~ Billy Graham

How true! When you like someone, you're bound to think about them, A LOT! As it is, there is nothing wrong with 'thinking' about a person, however, it is certainly wrong to dwell on the thoughts and turn them into 'mental fantasies'. These can soon, turn from thoughts into actions, and before you know it, you're down a slippery slope! As they say, 'better safe than sorry', so when you catch your mind wandering and fantasizing, pray and ask God to make every thought captive in Christ.


3. No Haste!

Just because everyone around you has a boyfriend/girlfriend, doesn't mean you need one right now too! Wait for God's timing! Many Christian teens I speak to, including myself, agree that purity, in mind and body, is one of the hardest things to maintain. We are pressured to be in a relationship, but remember, don't be hasty! Your hasty response could be the result of a fleeting, temporary, infatuation - True love, grows deeper with time! Strive to preserve those special moments in life for this special one God has predestined you to be with, even your first kiss - remember, that is why the priest, at the altar says, "You may NOW kiss the bride!"
God's timing is always right, wait for Him to show, lead and guide you to 'the one'. God has already chosen someone special for you, you have to wait for Him to reveal this person to you.

God has assigned ONE MAN for ONE WOMAN - obviously, 'free-will' comes in the way, thus we have to find the right person, the ONE that God has preassigned. Don't seek to establish your identity by a relationship, you've got a God who loves you immeasurably, more than anyone on earth ever could, may your identity be rooted in Him. Hence, trust God alone, seek Him and His will first and remember (girls especially!), in the words of Kim Walker, "...you are worth the fight!"

There is a lot more that can be said on this topic, however, I am still learning, thus I'll let the experts do all the talking...

Be sure to read or listen to: Paige Omartian, KimWalker, Practical Purity for Christian Young Ladies, Moriah Peters, Every Young Woman's Battle and Jamie Grace.

FEAR NOT!

I have recently been struggling with fear, a fear that inhibited me from sharing the gospel, I'd have a handful of tracts but will not have the guts to give it to anyone. This is a fear, I am ashamed to own-up to but, inevitably suffer from. The fear of 'rejection'. However, WHY do I fear 'rejection'? I am trying to please men!

This powerful, self-explanatory video attached below was a wake-up call, reminding me that as Christians, we are called to be fearless for God - a calling that isn't easy, a calling that we all try to dismiss or ignore, yet, a calling that is vital and determines our commitment and love for the Savior. 

We are being called to fear God not man. We are being called to rise up without fear for the sake of the gospel. We are being called to be fearless for God.

What is your response?

Is your flame on a stand or hidden under a basket?

Listening to friends argue about Scientology, I picked up something which distressed me...
Scientology was being commended and advocated for its self-less, self giving, charitable attributes - while many may disagree, this opinion does exist, and it makes me wonder why we don't hear this about Christianity!

Christianity is built upon love - loving others as ourselves, treating others the way we would want to be...but why isn't 'loving' or 'charitable' or 'self-less', the first things that come to the minds of unbelievers? Instead we hear, 'hypocrisy', 'selfishness' and so on!

We preach forgiveness, but do we forgive?

We preach love, but do we love?

We preach kindness, but do we show kindness?

Where is the evidence for the changed life? Of God transforming and working in us?

We, as believers, first and foremost, are called to evangelize and spread the good news of the Gospel and the love of Jesus. However, mere words or sermons aren't going to convince this generation, we need to live it out and educate them about God's love, by example. All of us may constantly SAY the right things, but do we DO them? Message and manner go together; people may undermine our message but they can never undermine our testimony. When we live the Gospel out, expressing brotherly love, obedience to God, discipline, care and kindness, others become witnesses and will be challenged to follow - they will SEE the DIFFERENCE!

In 1 Thessalonians 2:1-15, Paul exhibits how to set a good example. Three key points pointed out by our Church Pastor, Pastor Derek Sewell are:

1. Lead the way in pleasing God and not man
2. Lead the way in giving our all
3. Lead the way in living a life worthy of God

May I take this opportunity to encourage you to explore this truly eye-opening scripture, with these points in mind.

We ought to live a life of self-giving - demonstrating an honest love, gentleness and intimacy. Preaching alone is no use, if we do not share our lives with others by building relationships and spending time to care and love them. Love that we exhibit needs to be 'from the heart' - an earnest love.

Moreover, we are called to be 'salt and light' - salt makes food taste better, do we make others' lives feel better? Light leads the way, comforts the hurting and provides security; do we do that? Are we reflecting the light of the Savior, who is the Light of the world?

Matthew 5:14-16 ~ You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

We have a flame burning within us, a flame set alight by God when we accepted Him into our hearts. You are called to make it shine brightly, for all the world to see...but it is your choice! 

Are you going to keep your flame hidden under a basket? Or are you going to dare to be different and place it  on a stand?

Remember, a candle soon burns out when it is covered due to the lack of oxygen! Don't let that happen to your flame!

How are you going to finish the race?

Tests come in all forms and are inevitable...we aspire and long to overcome each one victoriously...but seldom, we remember that the greatest test is life!

Romans 14:12
So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.

Life itself is a test. With every choice, every word, every action, we choose to honor or dishonor God. This is what determines how we finish this race...in Heaven or in hell!

The Bleak Road

The unbeliever is on a bleak road. He tries to work his way up to Heaven and misses the beauty of life passing by. He accumulates good works upon good works or just relies on the times he got it right, to win God's favor on the day of judgement. Much to his surprise, he will find out that his good works are of no worth if they weren't the product of genuine faith in His grace. Unfortunately, many who call themselves Christians, also make this mistake.

Why won't 'good works' bridge the gap between us and God?

Firstly, by relying on good works, we are relying on ourselves. This unveils the pride within us as we boast in our goodness. James 4:6 says, 'God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.' Being prideful prevents us from seeking God's help.

In addition, 'good works' cannot cover up sinfulness! This was one of the points that shocked me, before I became a Christian! Many believe that God would weigh their 'goodness' against their 'sinfulness' without realizing that the 'sinfulness' is still present, it doesn't vanish. Besides, no matter how many good deeds we've done, God's standards are very high, we can never measure up, thus our 'sinfulness', on the scales (if it were to be weighed), would weigh A LOT more than our good deeds. Heaven is a place WITHOUT SIN, NO SIN IS PERMITTED. All our slates need to be wiped clean of sin, if any of us were to enter Heaven.

The Light at the End of the Tunnel

Yes, it's not all bad news! There is a way our slates can be clean, if the price, for our violation of God's Holy Law, is paid. As of ourselves, we are imperfect, we cannot pay for our sins; our offerings are worthless and inadequate...
There is only one hope, only one way...Jesus! The only perfect man who ever lived on earth, God-incarnate, died on the Cross to pay for all our sins and redeem us, so that we do not have to face the fiery jaws of hell! All we need to do is believe and trust in this sacrifice of His. By believing and relying on Him, we understand our incompetence, practicing humility and receiving grace and forgiveness as a gift from God. That is the only way out!

The Road is Long

It doesn't end there, in fact this is where it starts... Salvation isn't just believing, but also repenting. We need to show the evidence of our faith in Jesus by a changed life. Resent sinfulness, strive in the Lord for purity and accompany it all with good works. Ah! So this is where good works come in! James 2:14 says, '...faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.' Good works here, are a result of the faith, you're not relying on these to work your way to Heaven, you're just obeying God because of what He has done for you first.
More importantly, we need to live a God-centered life, living sacrificially for the sake and glory of the gospel. This is long, hard, unpredictable, yet a worthwhile road that many have given up on...don't make that mistake, press on. All the struggles we face will be worth it when we hear God say, "Well Done!"

Acts 20:24
However, I consider my life worth nothing, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me - the task of testifying to the Gospel of God's grace.


1 Corinthians 9:24
Run in such a way as to get the prize


There is only one winning road and it is not easy, but we have a God who is always by our side! With this in mind and practice, we can be assured of how it'll end. With Jesus at the center, we are guaranteed a victorious finish...
May we, with Paul be able to say:
'I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.' - 2 Timothy 4:7

Are you on your way to victory or peril? Are you eager to hear a "Well Done!" from God? How are you going to finish the race?