The Shawshank Redemption with Paul McDonald, Britt Mooney, Patrick Creehan, and Ricky Furr (part 1 of 2)
We celebrate our anniversary episode with the Shawshank Redemption starring Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins. In part one, we look at Andy as a model of Jesus—an innocent man sent into prison to bring freedom and hope. And if Andy is Jesus, we are Red, in danger of becoming institutionalized by the struggles and systems of the world. But we find that, even in the middle of fresh bruises and testing, a taste of freedom is a powerful thing. Happy podiversary, and let’s discover God’s truth in this movie.
Quotes
Andy is an innocent man who comes to bring hope and freedom for Red.
Andy was free on the inside.
Every character in the movie except Andy had become institutionalized.
Andy’s name breaks through the walls.
Whatever the system is that we rely upon threatens to institutionalize us.
Conformity is the belief that all my motivation is externally driven.
Just because you become a Christian, it doesn’t mean everything will become butterflies and bunny rabbits.
Our patterns are our prisons.
We all have fresh bruises.
I have an opportunity to improve my life in prison.
A taste of freedom is a powerful thing.
We are the ones who need the rescue, and the rescue begins with the restoration of hope.
Themes
Andy as a picture of Jesus:
Andy is an innocent man who comes into the land of the guilty.
Does a lot of things to give them a sense of identity and hope.
He leaves, going through a dark place, to prepare a better place for Red.
Andy saw the prisoners as people, asking the name of the one who died.
He doesn’t appear like he belongs in prison.
He maintains his identity even inside the prison.
Andy humanizes everyone—the prisoners, guards, and even the warden.
His name breaks through walls.
Opened conversations with questions, invitation.
Gives us a taste of freedom that turns into hope.
Gives them a picture of another world (with the beer, music, library)—reminding them that there is a better world outside of the prison.
Red as a symbol for us. We live in a prison of this world, and have lost hope, freedom, even our identity.
Victor Frankl: When in a concentration camp, saw most people respond to the brutality with either a sense of hopelessness (to the point of killing themselves) or they become dehumanized, acting like their captors/antagonists. But he saw a select few retain their humanity: The difference was they had a reason, a hope, something they believed in that was bigger than themselves.
The idea of being institutionalized—you become an animal, fighting for your survival. You grow to depend on the walls that you used to hate. They lock you into a state of being where you’re not free.
Discipleship is about learning to think free, to renew our minds and our thinking. It’s the same as being conformed to the standards and rules of this world/prison we live in.
The idea that we fail when our faith is tested and/or we show up with bruises. Tommy was more ashamed that he let Andy down, feeling like he failed the test. We act the same way with God, we don’t trust the teacher in the trials and testing. Struggle feels like prison and failure, but is how we increase our strength.
How to maintain hope while contained in the walls of a prison
Resources
Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” - Romans 12:2 (NLT)
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” - Romans 12:2 (NIV)
“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” -John 16:33 (NLT)
Questions
What situations make you feel hopeless? Is it global (like a pandemic or disasters) or more personal (sickness, loss within the family)?
How free do you feel on the inside? What traps you (like expectations, shame, guilt, etc.)?
What is meant by the term institutionalized? How were the prisoners, guards, even the warden institutionalized? How have you been institutionalized by the prison of the world we live in?
What comes to mind with the term discipleship? Is it about new thinking, or new behavior? Being or doing?
What prison keeps you locked up, keeps you conforming?
What fresh bruises do you try to hide? How would you like someone to respond? How can you respond when others show up bruised and beaten?