This talk was delivered at a Youth Club in Sunderland in April '08
The Italian Job - where right is wrong!
Watch clip from 'The Italian Job' (2003 version) - 0:25:07 - 0:28:23
Stella's Father, himself a bank robber has been killed - double crossed and shot by his own man after a dramatic robbery organised by Charlie. But now, Charlie and the gang have discovered the whereabouts of the bank robber. Does Stella join Charlie's gang for retribution? How should she decide what to do?
Films like 'The Italian Job' are clever. Clever and deceptive. Throughout the movie we are increasingly drawn in to the plans of the team and want them to succeed. But do we ever stop to ask - what is really going on? What should Stella really do when confronted with the opportunity to get payback for her Father's death? We want her to say yes - made worse by the fact she is a woman, good looking, intelligent, strong minded and drives fast.
But we, just like Stella have been conned. Of course, what she should really do is say no to Carlie, call the police and put an end to the whole thing by making sure justice is really done. But she doesn't and we are quite relieved too - it would make a rubbish movie for starters. But we want her to get involved.
We, like her have become convinced that what is wrong is actually right. Why? Because we, like her decide on what is right by what we feel.
How do you decide what is right and wrong in your life? What guides you in making decisions? If it is what I feel then wrong and right are always changing. Who is to say Hitler was wrong - he 'felt' he was right, so who can argue...?
Is there any truth that is not found within ourselves, but externally? Is there any objective, absolute truth we can base our lives, and decisions upon. Without it we are like a plastic bottle on the waves - blown and tossed around depending on where the strongest wave comes from.
Jesus claims to bring that objective truth. He said
'I am the way, the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me' John 14:6
Notice what Jesus claims here - not to know the truth, but to be the truth. Jesus claims to be the answer to what is right and wrong. Jesus claims to be the external absolute that we need to guide and direct us. But how does he claim to do that?
Does he direct our feelings? Well he can do, but this can be notoriously unpredictable. He has primarily chosen a more concrete form than that.
The Bible claims this about itself -
'All Scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.' 2 Timothy 3:16
Now that verse says a lot of things, but one of the things it claims is that is the way we are equipped for every good work. Jesus made reality the truth of the universe that should and can direct all we do and are - he is God. But the Bible spells this out for us in black and white. We can read it, discuss it, decide how best to do it, and all the time have confidence that it is the truth.
Not that it is always easy. It can be painfully true. Elsewhere it says -
'For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.' Hebrews 4:12
Sounds painful - and it can be! But it is right, true and always best.
Stella listens to her heart and does what is wrong. Jesus, through the words of the Bibl judges the attitudes of our hearts and tells us where we are wrong.
So next time you need to know where to turn, by all means listen to your heart. But before doing what is says, have a dig around in it, painfully with a sharp sword and see what you find. Then do what is right.
Got it, Stella?