“Barbie” (the fantasy film) was launched just a few weeks ago and it has already counted more than 18.5 million viewers and over $155 million in theater tickets. The nostalgic feature is about female and male dolls (Barbies and Kens) enjoying supposed happiness, pseudo-perfection and self-fulfilling identity in a perfect world.
But, these qualities of “Barbie-land” are false advertising for the real world. Ours is an imperfect world, and we are all beset by sin and in need of a Savior to deliver us from the same soulish toxins and spiritual consequences all humans share. More about these spiritual realities will soon follow.
The film is rated PG-13 and I do not endorse it. Some of its language and themes I feel are inappropriate and offensive. But, as a cultural phenomenon that some already think will soon be considered a “classic,” our friends will be talking about it.
I’d like to share these considerations about “Barbie-land” before I share spiritual realities to ground us.
What’s It All About?
(Spoiler Alert) When Barbie (the doll) ventured into the Real World, she was shocked by the “patriarchy” she observed. Rolling Stone magazine has characterized the agenda of the feminist producer as “heady notions about sexualization, capitalism, social devolution, human rights and self-empowerment, under the guise of a lucrative, brand-extending trip down memory lane.”
Barbie’s male friend, Ken, snuck into the real world with her and was enamored by the prominent role of the patriarchy there. He returned to the idealistic Barbie land to exercise these male roles and overthrow the matriarchal/feministic hierarchy he had come to identify there.
While Ken struggled with his new self-identity and the same with his male “bros,” Barbie perceived her pretty, pink and “perfect” life in Barbie-land had not prepared her for the unreal expectations for many women in the real world. Women there had to confront their perception that women in that culture are “set up to fail” in many ways and circumstances.
Finding a positive self-identity in an imperfect world was challenging for both Barbie and Ken. The plight of modern women in our Western, secular culture was personified in the film by an emotional monolog (“rant”) by a Mattel receptionist (and mom) named Gloria.
She started with this essential, existential summary: “It’s literally impossible to be a woman. You are so beautiful and so smart and it kills me that you don’t think you’re good enough. Like, we have to always be extraordinary, but somehow we’re always doing it wrong.”
“Good Enough”
“Good enough”—his catchphrase—became the emotional kicker for both Barbie and Ken. Their “perfect” sense of self-worth and personal self-identity began to wane in the real world. They had to come to grips with who they really were and what they wanted out of life. They needed to individually become at ease with themselves in an imperfect world.
Ken personified this new reality with an empowering affirmation, “I Am Kenough!” This personal discovery and declaration is now available as a trademarked, tie-dyed hoodie in Mattel’s Barbie merchandise. “I Am Kenough!” (™).
Spiritual Realities in an Imperfect World
As promised above, it is time for us to consider some spiritual realities in this very real world you and I live in. We need to find self-identity and spiritual purpose as we learn to live life as God has intended.
Our first “takeaway” for today can be this personal affirmation: “With Jesus, ‘not enough’ is MORE than enough!”
At the very center of our very real-world quest must be none other than Jesus Christ, the Son of God! Repent to Him and turn from our sins to receive His forgiveness. Then, be water baptized in His name, as an outward declaration that we are “all in,” and, finally, receive the empowering gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8 and 38).
A second “takeaway” for forgiven sinners is the realization that now we belong to Christ and His grace is “Amazing.” The Apostle Paul gave the Corinthian believers this very encouraging, triune benediction in 2 Corinthians 13:14 (NIV): “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”
May His grace be alive in you, for He has promised to never leave us, nor forsake us (Heb. 13:5b).
A third “takeaway” is the reality of our “spiritual I.D.” in Christ. Paul taught the Ephesians, in chapter 1, verses 3-14, that due to our new relationship in Jesus, we are:
- Blessed with every spiritual blessing (v. 3)
- Chosen in the foreknowledge of God, before the world was made (v. 4)
- Adopted into the family of God as sons and daughters (v. 5)
- Free and forgiven by the unmerited favor of God (v. 7)
These are spiritual realities we can claim and on which we can stand. We are “complete” in Him (Col. 2:9-10).
Our final “takeaway” for today is the reminder that now we belong to Jesus and He belongs to Father God (1 Cor. 3:23) and—through them—we are MORE than enough!
This truth is magnified in the lyrics to a modern worship song and video by Jesus Culture, featuring Kim Walker-Smith. It prophetically speaks to us this same theme we have studied today: “Jesus, You Are More Than Enough.”
As we read in James P. Gillis’ “Overcoming Spiritual Blindness,” all too often our modern society lacks both sight and insight resulting from a refusal to see the reality of creation. {eoa}.
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Ordained to the ministry in 1969, Gary Curtis is a graduate of LIFE Bible College at Los Angeles (soon to become Life Pacific University at San Dimas, California). He has taken graduate courses at Trinity College in Deerfield, Illinois and Fuller Seminary in Pasadena, California. Gary served as part of the pastoral staff of The Church on The Way, the First Foursquare Church of Van Nuys, California, for 27 years (1988-2015), the last 13 years as the vice president of Life on The Way Communications Inc., the church’s not-for-profit media outreach.
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