I Don’t Want To Be God

This afternoon, I watched my VCD titled ‘Bruce Almighty’ & it brought back memories of my reflections about this show after having watched it several times in the past. This show is acted by Hollywood actor Jim Carrey, George Freeman & Jennifer Aniston.

Contrary to the controversial remarks that I have heard & read about when this movie was first launched in cinemas a year or so ago, I still take my stand that this is a marvelous show, with a deep & important meaning towards the end of the movie.

Being a Hollywood production, it isn’t a surprise that some of the early parts of the show do portray a few instances of so-called ‘outrageous & unacceptable’ scenes such as Bruce parting the bowl of red soup (after he had God’s power), mimicking God parting the Red Sea as recorded during the Old Testament. Other typical Hollywood themes include a highly electrifying night of incredible love making between Bruce & his girlfriend Grace. But that scene wasn’t shown, but just a few seconds of that film.

Some critics have said that these are unacceptable, blasphemous & having no respect for God. Well, I personally don’t view it in this manner… because although Hollywood films are one of the main culprits of influencing modern day people of society, I also see this avenue as a highly effective source of media that can be used to turn things around & influence lives in a very positive way.

That said, I believe that it all depends on how one chooses to use something. For example, the internet can be used for good or bad, depending on how someone chooses to make use of this means of technology.

In my opinion, this movie script attempts to bring across the hypothetical scenario, in the form of a storyline, as to how often Man tries to take the role of God in their lives. This is not blasphemous, but indeed true! Everyone, at some (or even many) point of time of their life, has had their experiences of railing their frustrations at God, demanding that things should be done their way & implying that we ourselves know better.

The truth is that this isn’t something strikingly new. This was first ‘exemplified’ as sinful human nature, since the very first time that Adam & Eve sinned against God by taking a bite from the fruit from the forbidden tree, hoping & desiring to be LIKE God. This is nothing new, boys & girls…

Thus, the script-writer puts in place this hypothetical storyline to show movie viewers how it could end up like, if we think we know better than God. Coz the truth is – we don’t… & we will never be able to know as much, or even more than God. If this works, then Adam & Eve would have attained such ‘enlightenment’ already… & so much way before we even attempt this thought.

The truth is, this script-writer didn’t do anything wrong, but portray the ‘what-if’ thoughts, hopes & dreams of us based on the tendencies of human nature!

With this underlying consideration of human tendencies, how many of us would completely & honestly deny that we do not wish to personally right our so-called wrongs in our lives?

Just look at children, they get so awed by super heroes such as Spiderman, Superman, Batman, X-Men, etc. I can most truthfully testify to this, being a kid who once craved for such power too. Each of these children wants this power too! So we can do great things!

Since this can happen to kids, what more us as adults? Can we deny that there isn’t anyone who wouldn’t wish that IF we had the power, to change things in our lives? Score straight A’s, have a great job, be liked by everyone, etc? I would even go as far as to say, how many wouldn’t desire incredible love & intimacy with our spouse? And even to get things done with one snap of our finger, e.g. getting our dog to just suddenly learn toilet-manners… & not having to clean up everything it dirties the house?

These are but some of the common tendencies of mankind, trying to get things done in the way which they assume best. To me, I would rather let movie viewers see how much chaos one can create, if we try to usurp the place of God & push away His hand at work, than to really see it actually happening in their lives in reality.

If this is considered blasphemy, then our very thoughts of thinking that God doesn’t know what in the world He’s doing & that we think we know better, should be considered a blasphemous thought, isn’t it?

Towards the end of the show, I cried again (just like I always cry at this scene when I watched it previous times) coz I just felt so moved when Bruce knelt down at the road, shouted out in desperation & raised his hands in surrender to God, saying…

“You win! ... I’m done! … Please! I don’t want to do this anymore… I don’t want to be God…. I want You to decide what’s right for me… I SURRENDER TO YOUR WILL!!!!!”

I watched Bruce in such pain & desperation… & that’s what happens when we are broken before the Lord. I know, coz I myself have walked with hunched shoulders in the midst of rain… taking each step with much sadness inside…

I have been there… & I know… & I just wish to tell everyone that it would only bring much pain & sorrow to us, if we keep trying to usurp the throne of God in our lives. God so loves us… & He want us to love & trust Him too… Please… Give Him a chance… & I promise He won’t let you down…

Right now, typing this… I just feel like crying again. I can hope & pray that through honest, true & inspiring movies like ‘Bruce Almighty’, ‘Passion of Christ’, ‘Radio’, etc… many more people will come to discover & live within the will of God for their lives. Especially for the celebrities who watched these shows themselves.

Last, but not least, the movie ends with the catch-phrase, “Be the miracle!” I love this phrase, for it is just so true when George Freeman, playing the role of God, said to Bruce, “You know, everyone wants me to do something for them… but they don’t realize that they have a part to play in it too. You want a miracle? Be the miracle.”

That’s so true… everyone wants all that they see is good for them. We want this, we want that. And when we don’t get it, we think God is selfish & don’t want to give us good things.

We want people to be good to us… We want good things to happen to us… but how often do we do good to others as well? And God’s word says it all so true, that we should treat others the way we want ourselves to be treated too.

Joy in life doesn’t come from having good things. It comes from learning how to see the good in things & people, and playing our part in contributing towards the good that we see around us.

And may our gracious Lord be with us, clear our thoughts & trod with us each step of our life each day. Amen.