Jupiter Ascending -- Trailer -- Official Warner Bros.

Finding God in Cinema: Pulp Fiction

Jules tells Ringo why he is going to spare his life

"Wait, did I read that correctly?" Yes you did, God and Pulp Fiction are in the same title. I had the same reaction as well when I was reading that Quentin Tarantino's action film was sprinkled with more than just blood. When I learned that this film was supposed to contain certain Christian themes and allusions, I was a bit skeptical, but then I set out to watch the film (for a second time) and be on the lookout for these things, and what I found was remarkable. But before I get into what I found, allow me to give an overview on not only this article, but a series of articles that I intend on writing over the next several months.

God works in the most mysterious ways. He no longer chooses to reveal Himself physically to us, as He did back in ancient times, but that does not mean that He no longer chooses to reveal himself at all. God can be found everywhere, most of all in the Bible, the supreme force for which He reveals himself to us today. But not every Christian has become a follower of God solely through the reading of Scripture. Many have their eyes opened to the glory of God through other things in this world such as the beauty of nature, the complexity of science, or a miraculous event. This brings me to the subject of film. There is no denying that movies have become one of the top tentpoles in popular culture. Even in recent years when our nation's economy is struggling, it seems that movies make more and more every year. Since it is very likely that millions of people will see the newest blockbuster being released, it is common for directors to put their world views and ideas into their movie (just as an author puts their thought/ideas into their books). This is why I've been inspired to write this series of articles titled, "Finding God in Cinema." 

The Matrix, Finding Nemo, X-Men, The Conjuring, these are examples of films that believers and unbelievers alike may not expect to find elements of God's truth in. Whether directors know it or not, God is using them as a tool to showcase his glory through the art of movie-making. Now I am not saying that one viewing of Pulp Fiction will result in conversion to Christianity. What I am saying is that the ideas and elements of truth that are to be found in a film like this can lead to discussion and questions that may challenge the viewer the think more deeply about the film and its meaning. Movies are modern-day parables. To those who are not Christians, they have the capability to be a seed that God plants in their hearts that one day could blossom into faith. To those who are Christians, these films can act as methods of discussion among believers and can challenge us to make these connections between movies and Scripture. Now onto Pulp Fiction. 

To give a very brief plot summary of this film (if that is even possible), Pulp Fiction is told in chapter and revolves around three main characters, and a couple secondary characters. For the sake of this article I will only be focusing two of the three main characters. Vincent Vega (John Travolta) and Jules (Samuel L Jackson) are two enforcers that work for a ruthless mob boss. In the events of the film, Vince is asked to "baby sit" the boss' wife, while Jules realizes that he needs to stop being a criminal. 

There are two major scenes that really stick out to me containing elements of truth and Christianity, each revolving around one of the two characters mentioned above. One is more obvious, one is more subtle, but they are both surprisingly profound for a Tarantino action movie. First for the more subtle one. Near the start of the film, Vincent and Jules are having a debate concerning where the line is with adultery. This conversation is prompted by a rumor that their boss threw a man out a window for giving his wife a foot massage. Jules thinks that nothing is wrong with a foot massage, claiming that something as "simple" as that has no meaning behind it. He goes on to say that he believes adultery only occurs when the two engage in a sexual act. Vincent believes quite the opposite. He insists that something as little as touching her feet is wrong, even thinking about another man's wife is wrong. In his argument he says to Jules that acts like that mean something, "We act like they don't but they do." 

And this line stood out to me. Isn't that what we tell ourselves when we sin. Isn't that how we try to reassure ourselves that we will be fine and that no consequences will arise. We lie to ourselves, thinking that these "little sins" don't mean anything. 

"Oh it was just a little bit of someone else's work I used on that paper, the professor will never notice." 

"I just wont tell my wife that I had took my female co-worker out to dinner last night, I don't want her to think anything of it."

"I'll never see that girl that I slept with again, everything's fine." 

We act like our sins don't mean anything but they do. We hind in our own deceit instead of accepting that we have done wrong and asking God, and those we have wronged, for forgiveness. Proverbs 28:13 states:  

"Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy." 

One of the hardest things for us as sinners to do is to admit that we have done wrong. But how comforting it is to know that when we admit to our sins and ask for forgiveness, we are doing so in the loving arms of our heavenly Father who has shown us mercy. 

The second scene (actually a couple scenes) that is of importance is near the end of the film and I was so surprised in what I saw. Tarantino, whether he knows it or not, has provided an example of special revelation through the character of Jules. This occurs after Jules and Vince are about to leave a room of men they have killed when suddenly, another guy jumps out from behind a closed door and shoots off an entire round point from his pistol right in front of the two...but he misses all of the shots. Jules cannot wrap his head around how all of those bullets missed, and this event has a profound impact on him when. After thinking on it for the remainder of the film he decides that he has witnessed a miracle. This is when Jules and Vincent get into another debate. Vincent argues that what they witnessed is simply and "occurrence," while Jules insists that they witnessed a miracle. And this is when Jules says two key lines:

"Whether or not what we experienced was an 'according to Hoyle' miracle is insignificant. What is significant, is that I felt that touch of God. God got involved."

"You can choose to be blind but my eyes are wide open."

This event has a profound impact on Jules, so much so that he decides right then to stop being a criminal and pursue a good life. He is willing to give up everything from his job, to his home, to his money because he has felt God intervene in his life. This is also the first time that Jules actually thinks on a Bible verse that he recites whenever he kills the men his boss tells him to kill, Ezekiel 25:17. 

"The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he, who in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who would attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee."

Throughout the film, Jules never thinks about what the verse actually means, he just likes it because it "sounds cool." But for the first time in his life, he wants the one that "Shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness," not the one who kills with "Great vengeance and furious anger." In the final scene he even tells a man who is threatening him that if this was any other day, he (Jules) would have no problem blowing his head off. But then Jules tells him that this isn't any other day. Instead, he tells him that, "I am trying really hard to be the Shepherd." This miraculous event has caused a complete 180 degree turn in Jules' character, showing just how much of an impact God's power can have over a person. 

Believe it or not, there is a lot more that can be discussed about parallels between Pulp Fiction and Christianity. I was so surprised with what I was able to pick up on in my 2nd viewing of the film and I would encourage everyone who is interested to watch it with these things in mind to maybe gain even more appreciation for the film. Why did I choose to write on Pulp Fiction first? Because honestly is it one of the last films I would think of when trying to think of films with Christian themes and lessons. And that is why it was so interesting to dissect these scenes and discover the messages that they tell. For those of you who would look at a trailer for this film and dismiss it as just the same old Tarantino movie with senseless violence with bad language, I would challenge to "not judge a book by its cover"...God works in mysterious ways. 

**Keep in mind that I am not saying that every film should be watched because you can find God's truth in it (ie don't watch Saw 7 and Project X to find what they say about Christianity). Just as films can be good to watch, many films (probably the majority of films) can also be harmful to the mind and soul to watch. This is a time where a friend or even the internet can be a useful tool in knowing what is in a film before you watch it.