Toy Story 3 and Theology

This summer I am taking 11 hours at DTS, most of which are done. I am currently taking one class online and another on campus. The class on campus is called “Issues in Theological Method”. That might not sound like a class worth taking, but it is. A better title for the class might be “Theology and Culture” since it teaches us to look at the media, music, art, and other cultural goods around us. My professor’s view is that God’s revelation (His speaking to us, His making Himself known) is apparent in Scripture, nature, and even much of the media we consume. Not all films have the Biblical Story, but many show themes like grace, salvation, unconditional love, and sacrifice. Some of the films include these themes intentionally and others by accident.

Films regularly center on a savior, redeemer, or Christ-like character. As human being we are fascinated with stories of redemption. We love it when one person is willing to sacrifice everything for the good of his friends. We want evil to lose and we want good to win.

Today we watched Toy Story 3 and discussed some of the Biblical Story features found in that movie. Woody, the cowboy, is the Christ-like character. In the movie he is willing to risk everything to save his friends and even his enemy. He leaves Bonnie’s house to save his friends from the evil Lotso Huggins Bear. When Lotso is trapped and about to die, Woody comes and rescues him. At the end of the movie, when Andy’s toys are about to go to hell, represented by the “eternal” fire at the dump, the cross-like claw comes down and rescues them. The characters avoid being burned up because of the work of the cross. The interesting thing about the claw is that this is the only claw in the Toy Story Trilogy that has five “fingers”. The two other claws have three fingers (Pizza Planet game from the first movie and toy claw at the daycare in the third movie). Later when the daycare is shown, it has been made new. The daycare is like the eternal kingdom where everything will be set right.

You might think I am seeing something that is not there. I am merely looking at what is included in the film and giving it an interpretation. You don’t have to accept my interpretation, but I believe my interpretation is correct. There are too many details that all fit together which are unexplainable otherwise. The writers of this film intentionally wanted to show Woody as a Christ-like character. For more evidence, rewatch the movie and find the scene at the end where Woody is in Andy’s “College” box. His mom is choking up at the thought of Andy going away to college. Woody is looking out of the box’s handle. On the side of Woody you will see an NIV Bible. The N is in the shadows, but it is there. The Bible, the cross, hell, sacrificial-unconditional love, and even a future hope are all there.

If you have not already been rescued, may the claw come and rescue you.

-JMG