How to Share Your Faith Using Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
As the summer box office hit Charlie and the Chocolate Factory makes its appearance in the DVD world, hoards of teens, kids and adults will have the opportunity to once again imagine living in a world of chocolate. Ever dreamed of having all the chocolate you could want or eat?
The movie follows Willy Wonka, an odd, isolated, chocolate factory owner, as he sets in motion a contest to choose an heir to his candy empire. Charlie Bucket is one of five lucky children who land a coveted invitation to spend a day at Wonka's chocolate factory and win a lifetime supply of chocolate. Only one of these five kids will receive Willy Wonka's surprise special offer of the BIG prize - the chocolate factory itself.
The five kids reflect some of the best and worst in human nature. As the plot unfolds, each of the children reveals their true character. Selfishness, greed, gluttony, pride and disrespect are on full display. In the end, only Charlie Bucket, the poor, but generous, kid from the loving family is left in contention and worthy of the big prize. But Willy Wonka, in his confused and socially stilted way, requires that Charlie say goodbye to his family forever in order to inherit the candy empire. Riches and chocolate are not enough to lure Charlie away from the important things in life - especially his loving relationship with his family - and he point-blank refuses. Intrigued by Charlie's commitment to his family, Willy Wonka glimpses what he's missed out on all his life, and decides to reunite with his own father and make amends with his family.
Like the kids in Charlie, all of us struggle with selfishness, pride and other inner attitudes that damage our relationships with others and distant us in our relationship with God. We may not be as bratty as the obnoxious kids in Charlie, but our vices are on display for the world around us to see - whether we realize it or not! Phil 2:15 challenges us to "Go out into the world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society. Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God. Carry the light-giving Message into the night." Putting on the character of Christ draws us into closer relationship with God and infuses our efforts to share his Gospel Message with power. That's not to say that we have to be perfect, sinless followers of Jesus before we can share our faith, but it's not news to any of us that walking the walk helps with the credibility when we open our mouths to share our faith.
Willy Wonka's conflict with his family is a relational dynamic that will shout out to many teens. The pain and hurt resulting from distant or damaged relationships among family members surrounds us and sometimes overwhelms us. Wonka's father went to the extreme of promising that he would not be around if Willy should have a change of heart and try to return home - going so far as to move his whole house. The good news we can remind ourselves of and share with our friends who are hurting is that God, our heavenly father, will never reject us or abandon us. He will never move away so that we can not find Him if we want to return home. He is our 'Abba' (literally Papa or Daddy), who has adopted us into his family. Gal. 4:6-7 says,
"You can tell for sure that you are now fully adopted as his own children because God sent the Spirit of his Son into our lives crying out, 'Papa! Father!' Doesn't that privilege of intimate conversation with God make it plain that you are not a slave, but a child? And if you are a child, you're also an heir, with complete access to the inheritance."
The story of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) also provides a clear, visual picture of the truth that we are always welcomed into a loving relationship with God when we come to Him in humble repentance.
So as you watch Charlie and the Chocolate Factory with your friends, use it as a springboard to deeper conversations. Try some of the following discussion starters:
- Is family important to you? Why or why not? Could wealth ever tempt you to walk away from your family forever?
- Which character in the movie do you think you're most like?
- What character flaws do you struggle with? How can a relationship with God help you in your struggle?
Even more than chocolate, most people crave unconditional love, strong family bonds and personal strength of character. The amazing truth is that God longs to freely give us those gifts that we hunger for - let's share that awesome truth with our friends!
