Footnote Gem: Humanity’s Need for the Gospel

Footnote Gem: Humanity’s Need for the Gospel: "Footnote Gem: Humanity’s Need for the Gospel from the Desiring God blog."

Humanity’s Need for the Gospel

November 17, 2010 | by: David Mathis

E. T. is back—at least he’s made a brief reappearance in this footnote gem from John Frame.
In his chapter “Christians in Our Culture” in The Doctrine of the Christian Life, Frame writes,
Steven Spielberg’s character E. T. is, I think, a genuine Christ figure: recall the themes of preexistence, growth, teaching, miracle, healing, death, resurrection, and ascension. Spielberg denied this parallel, but in my view it is objectively there, even if Spielberg was unconscious of it. The reason is that the human mind has a need for a gospel like that of the New Testament. Those who don’t accept that gospel often instinctively give to their idolatrous inventions powers parallel to those of Christ. (Page 902, footnote 7, emphasis added)


I feel vindicated. I used ET as my theme for trunk or treat this year. I've always seen the parallel between ET and Christ but no one else seemed to see it. At least that's what I thought by the strange looks and sideways stares by the folks who walked by my trunk. It's always been so obvious to me, especially when ET calls home (prayer), has a glowing heart (Holy Spirit) when he communicates with home, and then there's of course the ascension at the end of the movie! I had never seen the quote above before I just always assumed everyone thought the way I did about ET. I think I will phone home now (pray) and thank God for this article!