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Faith and Disney Movies: Is Frozen a Christian movie?

I recently read an article in The Guardian about Frozen being a Christian movie. According to the article a Southern Baptist professor, Collin Garbarino, suggests Disney’s Frozen “might be the most Christian movie I have seen this year”. The professor sees Anna as a Christ-like figure and Elsa as Satan-like. In the movie, Anna saves her sister from death, even though Elsa is shunned and despised.

I agree with Disney animator Mark Hen who said, ” Christian families can use [Frozen] to talk to their kids ultimately [about] honest, sacrificial love … [T]hey can just peel back the layers a little bit and … just have conversations about that”.

Is Frozen a Christian movie?

One of the reasons I love Disney is that good always defeats evil. For me, that is a perfect picture of Jesus eventually winning over Satan.

Frozen’s storyline is different, though. In my opinion, there is no apparent villain until the fireplace scene. Elsa was born with the powers she had. Ignorance and fear kept Elsa from knowing how to use her magic for something good. I don’t see Elsa as Satan-like. She didn’t choose to be separate from good. Satan chose to be higher than God thus separating himself from God.

Isaiah 14: 12-15 describes how Satan fell, ” How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart,  “I will ascend to the heavens! I will raise my throne above the stars of God;I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon.I will ascend above the tops of the clouds;  I will make myself like the Most High.” But you are brought down to the realm of the dead, to the depths of the pit“. Elsa wanted goodness. It was the desire to be good that kept her locked up and afraid of people.

Garbarino, misinterprets what Elsa is feeling when she sings, “No right, no wrong, no rules for me. I’m free!”. She is free from being oppressed by the powers she possessed. I see Elsa more like us. We all have gifts or “powers” but if no one teaches us how to use them for God’s glory then we are oppressed and not going to shine the way God wants us to. Once Elsa realized that love controlled her powers she was able to do some loving, fun things and was loved by all.

Elsa uses her magic to create an ice rink for Anna and Arrendale

To me, Anna demonstrates Christ-like behavior in her self-sacrificing act to save Elsa. That is what true love is. Sacrificing oneself for another. This is exactly like what Christ did for us. Christ died so we can live. Everyone sins and because of our sins, no matter how small or how big or small they are, we deserve the ultimate punishment- eternal separation from God. God sent Jesus to take our punishment. Jesus died so we don’t have to endure punishment from God. Romans 5:9 says, ” God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”. To receive this, all we have to do is simply believe in Him as the one who bore our sins, died in our place, was buried, and whom God resurrected. His resurrection powerfully assures that the believer can claim everlasting life.  

How can I apply Frozen’s message of sacrificing love in my own life since more than likely I will not be called on to die for another? I can sacrifice my time to pray more for my husband. I can sacrifice my resources to show another person love by meeting one of their needs, I can sacrifice my fear and witness to a stranger (or the world wide web).

How do you show self-sacrificing love to others?

Disney movies may not be “Christian,” but they can teach us a lot of things.

Thank You for Spreading the Pixie Dust!

Godless Wonder

Monday 20th of October 2014

This is such crap!

God is a Wonderous God

Tuesday 19th of March 2024

@Godless Wonder, You certainly have a way with words. It's been almost 10 years, I'd love to hear more. Why do you think 'this is such crap.'?