Disney Princesses and the Bible


Before I start, I just want to say, I am not endorsing or condemning the Disney movies, nor writing a review sufficient for deciding to watch them or not. Girls, please ask your parents before watching any movie. Your parents are the only ones who really can make knowledgeable guidelines for you and your home.

In the last few weeks, I’ve been watching a few of the old Disney princess Classics,- most of them for the first time. I don’t think it is always wrong to watch movies, I just haven’t had time up until this point. Movies are just not high on my priorities. Anyway, when I watch movies, I try to watch them actively. As in, I try to think about what is going on; what character quality is present or lacking, what Scriptural principals are exemplified or ignored, and in general, sorting the fact from fiction.

A few things in the Princess stories got me excited, and I just had to share them with you all.

Y  Being princess stories, a common thread is of course, a prince, and discovering “true love.” Usually the prince rescues the damsel from slavery/servitude or death.  Jesus Christ, heaven’s prince, wants to rescue all people from the slavery of sin and eternal death. He offers His Truth and Love to all who accept it.
Y  Another similarity is the character of the “star” players. Not only are they outwardly pretty, but their good character makes them beautiful from within. This gave them favor among [most] people. “Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman that fears the Lord shall be praised.” Proverbs 31:30
Y  In the story Sleeping Beauty, the prince has to overcome evil to rescue the girl. The three good fairies (coincidence? God has 3 parts?) give him a “shield of faith” to ward off the darts of death and a “sword of truth” to prevail over dark lies. “Put on the whole armor of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. …taking the shield of faith, and the sword of the Spirit…” Ephesians 6:11-17
Y  A few of the princess stories tell of a girl who is asleep and can only be awakened by “true love’s kiss.” Not only is this a neat picture of Christ awakening our spirits through His True Love on the cross, but it also reminds me, as a girl to wait. Don’t let any man steal your love. Wait for the selfless love of a true prince. “I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, until he please.” Song of Solomon 8:4
Y  Cinderella goes to the ball, and on her hurried way home, she drops her shoe. The prince says he will only marry the girl whose foot fits the shoe. Though the kingdom was searched far and wide, no such girl was found, until Cinderella. She is saved because she fit the “standard.” God requires all of us to be absolutely perfect to be in heaven, but “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23 The only way we can be saved is through “putting on” the righteousness of the Perfect Son of God, Jesus.
Y  Snow White disobeys the dwarfs’ command not to entertain strangers, and dies from the poison of apple which she eats because she thought it would grant her wish. Even though Eve knew the command not to eat of the fruit of a certain tree, “when the woman say that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat…”
Y  Each story has a wicked person, some of which also had “power” to appear in disguise. (Satan too, has this ability.) However, in every story, good prevails over the evil and all live “happily ever after.” Just as, in the end of time. Christ will prevail, Satan will be crushed, and there will be a new heaven and a new earth. There, Believers can truly live “happily ever after” in the joy of Christ’s full presence.
Y  Then, there is the element of time in Beauty and the Beast. The Beast only had until “the last petal falls” to find true love, or he would be doomed forever. The girl did not know how much time he had; quite frankly, the Beast didn’t either. He could just see as the petals fell. He didn’t know the exact time. Each person on earth today only has a certain amount of time to find the true love in Christ before they will die and spend eternity in hell. God alone knows the timing. I must urgently share the gospel -the true love- with others, praying they will see it and accept it before it’s too late.

There is so much more, but I can’t remember them. Perhaps, if you have seen these films, you can think of some to add. (I would LOVE to hear your comments!)  If you have not seen these movies, please do not watch them unless you have parental permission.

God’s Princess,
Barbara

Comments

Natalie said…
These are great! I was thinking the other day about this, and the Lord gave me the idea of looking at Disney princesses and teach lessons from those stories that parallel to scripture! I am a high schooler and a small group leader, and will most definitely be sharing these with my girls! Thank you so much for posting this!! :) God Bless!
Anonymous said…
I just watched The Little Mermaid. There's a scene at the end where Triton takes Ariel's place to die and be cast as a 'poor and unfortunate soul.' Just as He did for His children, Jesus also took our place on the cross. I also noticed how the triton has both the power to restore and to destroy. This is similar to the sword of the Spirit!
Unknown said…
This was awesome! Some people spend so much time putting these movies down...I'm so glad u brought something uplifting from them. I have to speak at a young girls retreat this weekend at a church themed 'Inheritance of a Princess' and this may be incorporated...Thanks! & God bless you!!
Anonymous said…
Thank you for this, these are some great topics for discussion!
Lauren said…
interesting read! ty! i will have to share with my family. we love disney and God
Unknown said…
I LOVE these and a year ago God had started me on the same thinking! They were brought to my mind a week ago and would love to write a bible study involving these! I hear so many christians saying not to believe in these fairy tales but I disagree! Christ gives us the best happily ever after and maybe we need to be teaching our daughters more of believing and having hope!