State of the Groundhog

It probably won't surprise you much when I inform you that I passed up the opportunity to listen to my president's State of the Union address last night.
Instead I popped my DVD of Groundhog Day into the player, and watched it for the eleventy-second time. It was almost shorter than the president's speech, and definitely less repetitious, from what I've read.

And it's the right time of year.

I think Groundhog Day is my It's a Wonderful Life. As I've mentioned many times to friends, IaWL just depresses me. The only message I get from it is “George Bailey has a wonderful life, BUT YOU'RE NOT GEORGE BAILEY!”

Groundhog Day, on the other hand, presents a lesson I can agree with—“If I had the chance to do my life over about a million times, I might eventually figure something out.”

I understand the original script was written by a Buddhist, and that the filmmakers cut out some of the more explicitly Buddhist elements. I suppose, to be consistent with myself, I ought to reject the film for the merest taint of Buddhism.

But what kind of theology does It's a Wonderful Life present? Salvation by good works and self-esteem. “You may think you're a miserable sinner, George Bailey, but they think very highly of you in heaven!” Not exactly Christian law and gospel.

What I like about Groundhog Day is the non-theological material—the simple moral journey of a man who does actually come to realize that he's a sinner, and then works to become somebody whose life contributes. It's not a saving knowledge, but it's a good thing for the people who have to live with him.

To a large degree, it's about humility. I could name some prominent people who seem to think that humility is for their country, but not for them as individuals. Such people need to wake up and see their own shadows.

(Crossposted at Brandywine Books)

Comments

[Christopher Hathaway]

Groundhog Day is one of my favorite movies to. It can draw me in to watching it even if I come into it in the middle of the film.

[Juli]

I love Groundhog Day. I also love IAWL, though I have the same feeling of inadequacy relative to George (and Mary) Bailey.

I'm glad, though, that I did watch and listen to our president's SOTU address.

[Clifford Simon]

Lars, regarding the message of Wonderful Life on how to be saved, I just don't think the movie deals with that question in any substantial way. Which is to say, I exonerate it from un-Christian teaching on how to be saved. It's about making right (secular) choices and living with the costs of them (which is depressing, we'll agree). Add to that a boyish angel and feeble prayers, and you don't get a theology of sin and salvation.

[Clifford Simon]

Delete "feeble."

[A L White]

Groundhog Day offers us a helpful insight into the natures of heaven and hell. For in the next life what we have done on earth will everlastingly be part of who we are.
As a Narcissist, Phil Connors (the protagonist of GH) would rather die than live the same day again. In other words, once he sees himself as he really is, he discovers that he hates his life. Once he has learned to be generous and caring toward others, however, he can not only keep on living but even enjoy his life, even if it involves reenacting the same day over and over again.
Certainly, the author wasn't aiming to make a statement about eternal life. But Christians who reflect on this tale will gather from it that part of what we will enjoy in the next life will be the story of how, in our earthly lives, we have freely cooperated with God's gifts.

[Rob G]

"But what kind of theology does It's a Wonderful Life present? Salvation by good works and self-esteem."

IAWL is not about that kind of salvation. George Bailey may or may not be saved from sin; he is, however, saved from despair and suicide. Maybe I'm just an old semi-Pelagian, but I tend to think that is a good thing.

[A Mere Observer]

"As I've mentioned many times to friends, IaWL just depresses me. The only message I get from it is “George Bailey has a wonderful life, BUT YOU'RE NOT GEORGE BAILEY!”

"But what kind of theology does It's a Wonderful Life present? Salvation by good works and self-esteem. “You may think you're a miserable sinner, George Bailey, but they think very highly of you in heaven!” Not exactly Christian law and gospel."

This seriously misreads IAWL in several ways.

First, as C. S. Lewis pointed out (in his analogy of train passengers oblivious to an impending train wreck, an idea he then used to frame "The Last Battle"), objectively speaking we all should think we are all "miserable sinners." And, if so, then we ought to think of ourselves as such.

Second, the fact that God chooses to think highly of some such anyway, by redeeming and exalting them despite their total unworthiness, is thoroughly Scriptural -- cf. Luke 14:7-11.

Thus, on both counts, IAWL does not promote self-esteem. It is about humility, in spades.

Third, AWL also does not promote salvation by good works. Rob G. makes a good point. Furthermore, the real point of IAWL is that doing the right thing, because it is the right thing to do, regardless of cost to self, has consequences for others far beyond ourselves. George Bailey does not stand up to Henry Potter because he seeks salvation by good works, but because what Potter does is evil and needs to be opposed. He does not save his brother from drowning, or intervene to prevent the druggist from accidentally poisoning a customer, or help people avoid losing their savings and homes in the Crash, because he seeks salvation, but because he is his brother's keeper. The result, whether conscious or unconscious, is the doing of good, which is God's will.

Fourth, another point of the movie is that, potentially, we are indeed all George Bailey. Following the Scriptural principle of "Give us this day our daily bread," our daily bread is (among other things) to love others and do what is right without regard for self, and let God prosper that as He will. Is that the entire Gospel? No, but the movie (like Groundhog Day) is not intended to be a gospel tract. Is it entirely consonant with the Gospel? Absolutely.

In short, with respect to IAWL this post is a grievous disappointment. I suggest that everyone read Tony Esolen's marvelous piece on IAWL in Touchstone from some months back for a proper understanding and appreciation of what IAWL is about from a Christian perspective.

[Emil]

A Mere Observer wrote: "Is that the entire Gospel? No, but the movie (like Groundhog Day) is not intended to be a gospel tract. Is it entirely consonant with the Gospel? Absolutely."

Thank you. That was very helpful.

Also, I am glad to learn about "Groundhog Day."