If you’re new here…before you start reading…you have to stop and read my quick post ‘Why Look for the Gospel Story in Movies?’ It’s important to understand the ‘why’ before you use this blog and our other resources to help you with the ‘how.’ So I would encourage you to stop, take 3 minutes to take in the ‘why’ — and I will see you back here for ‘how’ to find the gospel story in Moana!
Creation and Fall
With some movies, it’s harder to uncover the gospel story but that’s not the case with Moana. Moana is a deeply spiritual Polynesian Tale about a fallen world in need of a savior. Gramma Tala introduces us to this fallen world in her opening monologue. Her first words “In the beginning…” recall a similar harmony found in Genesis 1:1 where their creator god the Mother island, Te Fiti, creates life and shares it with the world. It wasn’t long before her people, those she created and loved, stole her heart in hopes of acquiring her power for themselves. But instead of finding life, they unleashed great darkness into the world.
Sound familiar? Creation living in perfect harmony destroyed by the pride of man trying to be ‘like God’? Yes, even in the fictional world of Moana the wisdom of Proverbs 16:18 rings true, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” Maui, a demi god, being part-human and part-divine, desired the love of humanity over the love of Te Fiti, his god. So much so that he wanted to be equal with god and therefore chose to steal her heart in hopes of gaining her power. It was this pride that would lead to death and darkness over Moana’s land and propel Moana on her hero’s journey to save her people.
We have a similar story as believers. Our ancestors, Adam and Eve, made in the image of God to be in perfect fellowship with their Creator, instead chose their pride over a relationship ushering sin and death into the world. Thankfully, our story doesn’t end there! God immediately starts His rescue mission promising a deliverer who would crush the head of the serpent. Gramma Tala speaks this same word of hope of a deliverer that would return the heart of Te Fiti and save everyone once and for all.
Need for a Savior
When you’re living in what you consider ‘paradise’, it’s easy to forget your need for a Savior. What do I need to be ‘saved’ from? Look around everything is going great! The comforts of this world lull us to sleep. We are quick to forget that the way things are isn’t what they were intended to be. Chief Tui’s first words are an example of the traps of this ‘paradise allusion.’ “No one goes outside the reef. We’re safe here. There is no darkness. There are no monsters.” He’s forgotten who he is and who his people were created to be. The Motunuians were voyagers. But following the fall of Te Fiti to Te Ka, the outside world beyond the reef was now too dangerous. They were ‘safer’ in paradise. Until they weren’t.
The devil is a great deceiver. He presents this world as a paradise. He convinces you the riches of this world are more valuable than any God has to offer. That there is no darkness and you don’t need Him. That is until the fruit rots, the fishing nets come up empty, and the darkness finally reaches paradise. Only then do we recognize our need for a savior.
The Call
Chief Tui finally recognizes his own need. The darkness has reached his island. Chief Tui looks to his daughter to step into her responsibility as the next chief and lead her people out of this. Moana’s heart is for her people. She wants to step into her role as the next leader of her tribe but not in the way she is expected to. Though she is unsure of herself, her heart knows the answer, it’s been calling her since she was little. Grandma Tala reminds Moana the ocean chose her before she even knew what that meant. And it is calling her yet again. Moana must decide whether to follow the voice inside into the unknown beyond the reef or whether to stay and earn the approval of her father.
And like Moana, we too are chosen. Ephesians 1:4-5 says, “Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us[a] for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will.” Before we are born, know why, or do anything to ‘deserve it’ we are chosen and given a purpose and a calling. The ocean calls to Moana as the Holy Spirit calls to us. The still small voice inside whispering to our souls reminding us who we truly are and what we are created for. We, like Moana, have a choice to make. Do we listen to what our hearts know as true? Or follow what the world says is the way?
Jesus said in Luke 14:26, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.” Moana faced with this very choice, chooses to trust the ocean and takes a step of faith.
The Sanctification Journey
Moana doesn’t get far before she realizes she isn’t equipped for the journey. She can’t sail. She doesn’t know how to navigate. Frustrated, she cries out to the ocean for help. The ocean answers by causing a huge storm that shipwrecks her boat. Not exactly the answer she was looking for. Or was it? Moments later, Maui appears. Isn’t that just like God to use the storms that Satan meant to shipwreck us to deliver us to exactly where we need to go? In Moana’s case, to an island where a demi-god needed rescuing…in more ways than one.
Maui crashes into the story like a bull in a china shop full of sharp edges, sins of his previous life literally tattooed all over him. Banished and left alone on a deserted island without the powers of his hook to save him. Consequences of his pride. Yet none of this seemed to humble him. The self-proclaimed ‘hero of mankind’ claims it was he who created the world and not the mother island Te Fiti. In fact, humankind should be thankful ”For the tides, the sun, the sky” as he so arrogantly sings ‘You’re Welcome.’
Sounds ridiculous doesn’t it? And yet, this is exactly what we sound like when we take credit for the things God has done in our lives. I love the sarcastic tone the Lord often takes in response to this type of pride. In Job 38 God answers it this way, “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. 5 Who determined its measurements—surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it 6 On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, 7 when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?” Here, God puts mankind in our rightful place. We can’t take credit for anything. God doesn’t need us, we need Him.
Redemption
It’s true, God doesn’t need us but He uses us. God can accomplish everything He wants with a mere word, and yet, in His divine wisdom, He’s chosen us to be the means by which His purposes are accomplished. Maui asks Moana in a moment of vulnerability, “Why doesn’t the ocean just return the heart itself?” Because it’s about more than the heart being returned. If that was the case yes, the ocean could do it. But instead, it’s about the sanctification journey along the way.
Through the trials of this journey across the ocean, Moana is gaining confidence in her identity. The confidence she will need to lead her people when she returns. Contrarily, the journey is humbling Maui. Maui is the ultimate people-pleaser. He realizes everything he did was to make ‘humans’ happy but it was never enough. He was never enough. In that moment, Moana reassures him when the gods grabbed him out of the ocean when his human parents discarded him that he was worth saving.
Maui doesn’t believe Moana’s words and instead claims without his hook he is nothing. And determines he’s not willing to sacrifice for the sake of Moana or humanity for that matter. Maui leaves and Moana is left alone. Again, she cries out to the ocean begging it to please choose someone else.
The Chosen One
God always chooses the unqualified. God chose Moses – a murderer – to save his people from Egyptian bondage. Moses didn’t think he was worthy of the mission. He cried out to God in Exodus 4:13, “Lord, please send someone else.” But God doesn’t make mistakes in calling. Hebrews 13:20 confirms He equips who He calls. So like Moana, we can walk confidently, remembering ‘who we are’ and the calling He’s put on our lives, trusting He will give us everything we need to accomplish the mission He’s set before us.
Moana defeated the crab, navigated the seas, and continued to follow the ocean’s leading even when all seemed lost. She trusted her call. Her obedience humbled Maui. He recognized her as the chosen one. And finally, instead of glorifying himself, he chooses to glorify her. Serve her and come alongside her, in her mission to save the world. Maui saw himself rightly…as a servant.
Moana was the ocean’s rescue plan from the very beginning. She was the chosen one. The only one able to save her people. She, like Jesus, is the promised redeemer born of royalty and yet humbles herself in order to serve others and sacrifices her life to save theirs.
Restoration
In the end, she stands alone. Courageously facing the demon of darkness inviting Te Ka to come to her. “I have crossed the horizon / to find you / I know your name / they have stolen your heart / from inside you / But this… does not define you / This is not who you are / You know who you are… / Who you truly are.” Moana looks past the fire of Te Ka to see Te Fiti. She returns her heart and the darkness immediately crumbles as new life bursts forth from the ashes.
Life returns to Te Fiti and the rest of the world. Moana’s courage paves the way for her people to return to who they were created to be… Voyagers. Restoration even comes to Maui! Yes, even the one who caused all of the mess receives redemption.
Oh, what an amazing picture of the gospel story! Jesus leaves his place of royalty humbling himself to save sinners like us – the messmakers! But unlike Moana, he humbled himself to the point of death. A horrific death. And through His death, we are given new life and a restored relationship with God.
Friend, Jesus came to seek YOU out and leaves the 99 to find YOU, the one. Jesus knows YOUR name. The devil tries to steal the word from your heart daily to cause you to sin. (Luke 8:12) But thankfully, your sin does not define you. It is not who you are. Jesus knew you before you were born. He knows who you truly are. A forgiven, redeemed child of God. Adopted son/daughter…heir. That is who you truly are.
“For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons (and daughters), by whom we cry Abba! Father!” (Romans 8:15). So when the darkness comes to paradise, when fear overwhelms you, when you feel ill-equipped for His call, don’t be afraid. Step out onto the water, the Spirit is calling.
Your Turn to Find the Gospel Story!
Now it’s your turn to use what you’ve learned to start those intentional gospel centered conversations!
We have a few resources to help you:
Infographic: Image at the top of this post outlining the gospel story found in the movie. Great starting place to clearly see the main gospel points in the film. Easy to save/share to use in conversations.
Discussion Guide: These questions provide a deeper dive into the movie using elements of that particular story to direct the conversation to the gospel. Great for post family movie night discussions.
Video Guide: Filmed conversations with me and my family using the Discussion Guide to lead our conversations. These are a great way to see a real-world example of how to navigate these discussions for a variety of movies/ages.
I pray this helps equip you to use the movies you love to tell others about your greatest love…Jesus.
With salty grace,
Kendall
Leave a Reply