Lessons from Wall-E

I’ve been out in the wilderness for a while and am just returning to civilized things like cinema. So I recently watched Wall–E, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Here are some random observations I made:

1. The wall mounted singing trout is the final word in comedic household decorations.
2. Cockroaches, like Hiluxes, are indestructible.
3. Firelight is the only genuine light.
4. Carving two initials and a love heart into any convenient object is not graffiti, it is entirely acceptable social expression.
5. There is no game greater than pong.
6. The fire extinguisher is the ultimate mode of transportation.
7. People love an unlikely hero.
8. We love to see the weak elevated, the broken repaired and the rejected valued.
9. We are to take care of the earth.
10. As much as we may dream of it, doing nothing is not fulfilling. We are made to work.
11. A true saviour must be self sacrificing.

It never ceases to amaze me how often popular film and television aligns with the teachings of the Bible. In the film Wall–E, all sorts of biblical principles are evident, and I have listed some above. Obviously not all of my observations from the film are specifically biblically endorsed (although I could have sworn I read something somewhere about the wall mounted trout).

The one Biblical principle that you very rarely see ratified in film or literature, however, is a very central one – the doctrine that humanity is created by, lives in willing or unwilling submission to, and is created for the worship and service of God. Humanity is almost always portrayed as the supreme being, with no power over it, with no limitation to its power, and with no purpose other than to live, enjoy life and rule responsibly over the world. The command to love your neighbour is extolled in a great deal of popular art, but the command to love your God is conspicuously absent.

I would be interested to hear any thoughts you have on the convergence and divergence of the Bible and popular art, and of any films or literature that affirms a Biblical principle very strongly. I would be particularly interested to hear of any films that assert that it is proper and fitting that humanity should live in submission to anything at all in any way.