Arrival with Paul McDonald and Britt Mooney
This week on the Men at the Movies podcast, we welcome the heptapods in Arrival starring Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, and Forest Whitaker. We discuss the power of language and the importance of communication. The conversations we immerse ourselves will reshape and rewire our minds. And we see that we have to give, open, and risk in order to win the thing we most long for—connection. Say yes to the invitation, and let’s discover God’s truth in this movie.
Quotes
Knowing the language is more than just words.
The point of the Bible is to get us into relationship with God.
One of the best ways to communicate meaning is through story.
Our conversations are shaped by the context.
If you want to learn how someone thinks, you have to learn their language.
We must be immersed in Christ.
The more we learn God’s language, the closer we get to Him.
Our salvation is both joy and sorrow.
The most powerful memories include joy and pain.
Themes
The power of language and the importance of communication. “Language is the cornerstone of civilization.”
Language is more than just words. You have to know the culture. We have to be face-to-face.
Our background determines our perceptions, priorities, and the questions we ask.
We must understand basic language and vocabulary before asking the big questions. Our relationship with God should start with “Who are you?” and “Who am I?”
Language starts with vocabulary, then rules, then abstract meaning.
Language rewires and shapes your mind. Learning a language requires being immersed in the culture.
The structure of language shapes your perceptions. The language you immerse yourself in shapes your worldview, and determines what you think.
Jesus is the Word of God. He is the gift of God’s language to us.
Stories take complex issues and make them simple.
Life as a non-zero sum game. Joy and sorrow are connected. When we protect, guard, and fear, we lose the very thing we long for—connection. We have to give, open, and risk to win. So what if we lose? What do we actually risk or lose? Louise risked entering the spaceship, taking off her hazmat suit, returning to the ship, calling the Chinese leader, marrying Ian, making a baby.
Resources
Abbott and Costello—Who’s on first?
“In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him,
and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness can never extinguish it.” - John 1:1-5 (NLT)“So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit.” - Ephesians 2:19-22 (NLT)
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” - Romans 12:2 (ESV)
“For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” - Hebrews 12:2 (NIV)
“There is no safe investment. To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket – safe, dark, motionless, airless – it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. The alternative to tragedy, or at least to the risk of tragedy, is damnation. The only place outside Heaven where you can be perfectly safe from all the dangers and perturbations of love is Hell.” - C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves
“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” -Romans 8:28 (NLT)
Questions
How can we know God if we don’t get face-to-face? How do you get face-to-face with God?
What language and conversation do you immerse yourself in? How does it shape your perspectives?
How have you been misunderstood?
How have you misunderstood others?
Where has that misunderstanding caused problems?What language/conversations do you immerse yourself in?
What conversations do you have with yourself? Others? God? How does this shape your thinking?
Where have you risked in the past? What did you lose? What did you gain?
Where have you hidden in fear, guarding what you were afraid to lose? What did it cost you? What did you save?
How is life is a non-zero sum game?