We often see prostration of Christianity in Hollywood films with how Christian characters are portrayed and Christ’s teachings slurred. Yet many times, often without the filmmaker’s intent, we can use these movies to draw examples and analogies to Christian principles as expressed in the Bible. One of these principles is expressed in the 1986 film Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.
In the movie, Ferris and his friend Cameron allegedly “borrow” Cameron’s father’s prized 1961 Ferrari without his father’s consent. While Ferris, Cameron, and Sloane spend the day in Chicago, the Ferrari was left in the care of parking attendants who spent their time joyriding. After it was returned to Ferris and his group, they found that excessive miles had been put on the car. Taking it back to the garage, which resides over a bluff, they jack the end up in attempt to remove the miles by running it in reverse. After Cameron realizes their efforts are not working, he understands dealing with his father is more frightening than the car’s miles. Expressing frustration at how his father has enshrined and loved his Ferrari more than his family, Cameron begins kicking the car and denting the hood. Realizing his outbreak of anger, he leans against the hood with just enough pressure to make the car fall off the jack and fly out the back of the garage. It lands in the ravine below. In shock, they look over the edge only to see smoke coming from the once-pristine supercar.
In disbelief, Cameron asks, “What did I do?”
Ferris replies, “You killed the car.”
It is the universal Christian experience to have daily, inward struggles of righteousness versus our sinful desires. Paul identifies with this in Romans 7:15-20, expounding on the lucrativeness of sin. Our temptations will always appear desirable, and oftentimes if we give in we may even have some fun along the way. However, similar to how borrowing the Ferrari seemed appealing and enjoyable, once we realize our fault, and perhaps the damage we have caused, any fun we once enjoyed is turned to fear and regret.
We may attempt to fix the problem and stand against our fault in our own strength, but we only worsen the situation. But there is a deeper problem.
What wrong belief have we held that led us to this reaction? Every reaction we have comes from a belief we held before the event we are reacting to happened. So if we are trying to stand against our fault in our strength, we had a belief prior to our failing that we could be righteous by our own power, or that we could achieve righteousness on our own terms. That in and of itself is something to repent of. The Bible instructs us to acknowledge our fault before God and seek forgiveness from Him. Psalm 32:5 and 1 John 1:9 demonstrate this truth.
If Cameron would have sought his father for forgiveness, the Ferrari may not have ended up in the bottom of a bluff. This should be a lesson for us. God is standing, calling us to repentance and to come back to fellowship with Him. After Peter rejected Christ at His bondage, Peter left in sorrow for his alienation of Jesus. Christ came to him after the resurrection and extended His arms open to Peter. But beyond that, we must also be careful that we are not coming to God in repentance simply so He can fix the problem. We come to Him in repentance because our sin has formed a wedge in our fellowship and intimacy with Him that only He can remove. So our end goal is not a fix to the problem but to see restoration of intimacy with our Father.
**Please note, the mention of this film is not an endorsement, nor an acceptance of any explicits that take place in the film. The scene is just used for illustrative purposes.**
