I think this is an absolutely phenomenal idea! I had discussed something like this in the past, maybe assigning parables to teams of youths and ask them to write a script and film short movies based on the assigned parable. I thought it would be great experience for the teens and a wonderful way to teach parables to others. Not to mention, this all would have been loads of fun!

Well, my idea remained nothing more than an idea. And, while these aren’t made by teens in some church youth group, they are modern tellings of Biblical parables. And they look like they’ll be good!

The Widow and the Judge

(HT:  George Grant)

A young man, working a part-time job during high school, comes home one evening quite disturbed.  His father, quite aware something was wrong, questioned him regarding this. 

The son replied that day in and day out he would go to work after school and be hit with a barrage of struggles.  His coworkers were backbiters and tale-bearers, his supervisors cared nothing for the employees or the customers only their own skins, and he felt like he was being sucked into this mindset and attitude.  Further, the supervisors and the coworkers only ever spoke with sharp tongues and a tone of disdain for the person whom they were speaking with.

The father, recognizing the struggle this would be, asked him if he had been in prayer about this and for the folks he worked with. 

The son acknowledged he had and declared further that this was not the reason for his being disturbed.  His distress came from the way he had responded that afternoon.  One of his supervisors was seen showing total disregard for the customers.  The supervisor had the opportunity to help a customer (obligatory help as far as the company would have been concerned) and refused–on the grounds that no one else cared, so why should he?  The son knew that it was right to help the customer, and that other customers would see the lack of help thereby negatively affecting their own view of the company.  The problem, though, came when he confronted the supervisor and found his continued response was, “I don’t care.”  This aggravated the son and he finally responded angrily and loudly that the supervisor had a bad attitude.  He followed that by slamming a door open and stomping out of the workplace.  This is why he was disturbed.

The father understood his frustration, his son was feeling like he had failed to reflect the image of God to those he worked with.  He had responded rashly and foolishly, he thought.  The father also understood this wasn’t exactly true, and he went on to explain why.

He told the son that sometimes this is the response required.  In this case, the son wasn’t upset and responding angrily to defend himself or his own pride, but rather to defend others–those being abused by the supervisor.  The supervisor needed to see that these were worth being passionate about.  In fact, Jesus himself had righteous indignation toward those who had made His Father’s house into a den of thieves.  He had responded loudly and angrily and had slammed tables over, stomping about.  Sometimes passion and anger do go together.

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mattb