THE BFG: Royal Family and Vulnerability | FCC 135

Finding Christ In Cinema

In Steven Spielberg’s film adaptation of Roald Dahl’s classic children’s story THE BFG, Sophie (played by Ruby Barnhill) uses her own vulnerability to help the BFG (played by Mark Rylance) get the help he needs. Then, she is adopted into the royal family. Join us as we discuss these Christian themes and so much more on the Finding Christ In Cinema podcast.

For your convenience you will find each podcast segment at the time referenced below:

• 00:00:00 – Introduction and Previous Episode Recap
• 00:03:25 – Movie Discussion
• 00:21:40 – Christian Themes in THE BFG
• 00:45:19 – Listener Challenge and Feedback
• 00:49:36 – Well-mannered Frivolity
• 00:51:49 – Lightning Round
• 00:53:28 – Upcoming

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Sophie and the Royal Family

Sophie is an orphan who longs for relationship. She can’t find it at the orphanage; the matron is insufferable, and the other kids stay away from her. She can’t find it in a city fraught with bar-room brawlers and town drunks. She is waiting to be rescued from her despair, and the BFG unwittingly comes to that rescue.

Compare her situation to that of anyone who is not in covenant with God. In writing to the Ephesians, for example, Paul says it plainly:

…remember that at that time you were separated from Christ [excluded from any relationship with Him], alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise [with no share in the sacred Messianic promise and without knowledge of God’s agreements], having no hope [in His promise] and [living] in the world without God. (Eph. 2:12 AMP)

As Sophie longed for a family, Gentiles longed for God. They both wanted the relationship, and in the end, they both got it. Sophie is adopted into the royal family of England just as the Gentiles were adopted into God’s own royal family. What Paul tells the Ephesians next sums it up perfectly:

But now, thanks to Christ Jesus, you who once were so far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. (Eph. 2:12 CEB)

The BFG and Vulnerability

Something else magical happens when the BFG reaches out to Sophie: Sophie reaches back. Specifically, when she realizes that the other giants of Giant Country need to be stopped, she realizes that she can’t help the BFG in the way he needs. Those other giants already call the BFG “Runt” and toss him around like a football.

And she can’t stand up to them – at least, not by herself.

But thankfully, she knows someone who can: the Queen.

Sophie brings the BFG to the Queen, and the Queen is abe to help the BFG. It echoes what John the Baptist told the remnant of his followers when their brothers left John for Jesus:

You yourselves know how plainly I told you, ‘I am not the Messiah. I am only here to prepare the way for him.’ It is the bridegroom who marries the bride, and the bridegroom’s friend is simply glad to stand with him and hear his vows. Therefore, I am filled with joy at his success. He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less. (John 3:28-30 NLT)

In order to help the BFG in the way he needed to be helped, Sophie took a back seat and introduced him to the Queen. Let it be so with us whenever we have a friend or a loved who needs help that we can’t provide.

Don’t forget: we know a Guy.

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Finding Christ In Cinema is the show where we discover Christian themes in movies past and present. Join us and together we’ll dig deeper into the silver-screen classics of yesteryear as well as the box-office hits of today. Brought to you by the Great Commission Transmission Network. View the complete show notes – including links to articles discussed – by clicking here.

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