Spongebob Squarepants
Suspend your disbelief, dust off the child inside, and take your kids to see The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie. “I don’t have children,” you say. Well, borrow some and take them along with you. You will be doing yourself a great favor because there is nothing so freeing as enjoying the genuine amusement of children and remembering what it feels like to be just plain ridiculous. If you insist on going with other adults, be sure that you choose companions that can still stand to get their “silly” on.
SpongeBob SquarePants is the creation of Stephen Hillenburg, who just may turn out to be one of the geniuses of present day culture. Mr. Hillenburg has managed to bring to prominence characters that appeal to a wide array of age groups and who transcend the formulaic routine of cartoons that quickly become passé and boring. One just can’t help but root for SpongeBob and Patrick even while recognizing that they aren’t the brightest light bulbs on the block.
The skeptics among you who are familiar with the Hollywood Jesus philosophy and intent may be waiting for this reviewer to step in quicksand up to her neck, especially since this is my inaugural foray into the world of movie reviewing. “There is no way that you can find spiritual content in SpongeBob SquarePants,” you might be saying. Ah, but to the contrary, my friends! I know nothing about Mr. Hillenburg’s spiritual background, but his feature length cartoon is full of enough protein to feed many family conversations for as long as folks want to make an effort to talk to their kids about things that really matter.
First and foremost, SpongeBob could be the poster child for James 1:2-4. SpongeBob perseveres through trial after trial doggedly pursuing maturity. James tells us that perseverance is the most valuable arrow in our quiver of spiritual growth. It is the character trait that God wants us to develop so that we will be “grown up” in our faith. The main theme of this movie is SpongeBob’s desire to be a man rather than a child so that he can be the manager of Mr. Krabs’ restaurant, the Krusty Krab. Along the way, however, SpongeBob learns another valuable lesson that also has a Scriptural counterpart. At the end of the movie SpongeBob realizes that being childlike does not eliminate him from being mature but rounds him out and makes him complete, valuable, and usable. Jesus told his disciples in Matthew 18 that to be great in the kingdom of heaven they must “change and become like little children” or they would never enter it. King Neptune and Mr. Krabs finally see the maturity of being childlike in SpongeBob. How often in our culture do we hear people sarcastically telling children or teens that they are too young to do anything meaningful or that they don’t have any worthy ideas in their heads? The King in The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie discovers that the weakest creature in his kingdom was able to succeed in the most arduous quest because he remained true to who he was. We should be encouraging our children and young people to see that just as King Neptune came to understand the value of SpongeBob, God sees their value and worth and will use them as they are, who they are, and wherever they are in life if they will respond to His presence in their lives.
Another topic worthy of exploring with your children is the meaning of friendship. The relationship between SpongeBob and Patrick is the epitome of Proverbs 17:17 – “A friend loves at all times.” Patrick and SpongeBob share the good times and the bad times. One falls down; the other picks him up. One of them gets discouraged and the other becomes the cheerleader and encourager. Even though scared spitless, they would die with or for each other. There is no real celebration if they do not share it together. God does not mean for us to live in a vacuum, dealing with life on our own. We were made for relationship with Him and with others. He brings special people into our lives so that we may be encouraged and give encouragement; be accountable and hold accountable. This is the honest and true way to live and something we should pattern for our children and teach to them.
Still not convinced? Here’s one more… selflessness. SpongeBob puts his very life in peril for a man whose main love in life is money. Mr. Krabs is interested only in his own self-preservation, and that only because he will be separated from his money if he is gone. SpongeBob takes verbal, emotional, and physical abuse from Mr. Krabs, but the moment his life is in peril, jumps in to redeem him even though most of us would say he doesn’t deserve it. Hmmmm… sounds suspiciously close to what Jesus did for us…
The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie is rated PG because of mild, crude humor. Believe me, it is so mild as to be unnoticeable, so don’t allow the rating to scare you away. Take your family and enjoy!
—Overview
—Trailers, Photos
—About this Film
—Spiritual Connections
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