Faithspotting "Mission Impossible 7: Dead Reckoning Pt.1"

Hosts Kenny and Mike discuss and spot faith reflected in the lastest Mission Impossible film, Dead Reckoning. Starring Tom Cruise and directed by Christopher McQuarrie, Ethan Hunt (Cruise) and his IMF team must track down a device that threatens political and civil stability throughout the world. Ving Rhames and Simon Pegg reprise their rolls as IMF members Luther Stickell and Benji Dunn. Henry Czerny also reprises his roll as Agent Eugene Kittridge from the original MI as well as Michelle Monaghan reprises her roll as Julia Meade. Vanessa Kirby, Esai Morales, and Hayley Atwell also co-star. 

Faith Issues Spotted:

Forgiveness and Peace:

The importance of dealing productively with pain, loss, anger and guilt, rather than ignoring or burying those feelings and experiences.  As depicted in the film, Ethan's failure to process his grief, anger, and guilt surrounding losses of persons close to him earlier in his life and career have had a negative impact on him. In the course of the film he is made more vulernable through his carrying that pain and desire for revenge. Carrying and allowing anger, guilt and other emotions to build up can make one susceptible to damaging one's health, career and relationships.

Christian faith, and the promise and hope of redemption and new life can assist in working through such pain, anger, and guilt. In Romans 8 Paul teaches that current suffering and trials cannot compare to the goodness of the life to come in God's Kingdom, that God works for Good in all things, and that nothing can separate one from the love of God in Christ. God's love and peace can help persons move through pain and struggle including the power to seek to offer forgiveness instead of resentment or revenge.  

Jesus and Paul also calls for followers to love and forgive others rather than live with anger and resentment. Matthew 5 & 22, Romans 12

Living out of Faith Rather Than Fear:

Related to this is not living and acting from a place of fear, especially in the midst of changing times and circumstances beyond one's control. Acting from and through fear leads to behavior that accepts negative means to be justified by perceived "good ends." Faith in  God, who is a God of love who works for our good, even in the midst of struggle, helps one live in a place of faith and peace. 

Temptation to Use Gifts and Power for Good:

The tempation to exploit gifts and power in negative ways rather than use them for good. Technology has emense power that can be used for the benefit of an individual or society, or be exploited an used for harm. In the film a technology that could be used for great good in society is in danger of being used to cause great harm and bring power to an individual or group / nation. The pursuit of the technology becomes desperate with the nations and groups willing to do anything to secure it for their own use. This theme was also reflected in the film Oppenheimer.  Technology can be used in less dramatic but still damaging ways. The internet is a tool that can be used to lear and develop or hurt other or even waste time and opportunity for personal growth and development.

As persons of faith, Christ calls followers to pursue rigtheousness and the good including love for others, including one's enemies.