“All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity— all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved. (Acts 2:42-47 NLT)   
     Rich, genuine, sincere one another relationships were the hallmark of the first century Christians.  While they couldn’t boast of a grand building, massive stage productions or the latest audio-visual equipment - it was their devotion to one another that promoted God’s saving gospel.  After all, they were simply striving to adhere to Jesus’ command given the night of his arrest; “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” (John 13:34-35 NLT)
     Today it’s that same call by Jesus that will change the world.  The call to love one another deeply, sincerely, from the heart.  And that love will serve as a beacon to those searching for the perfect love.
     This past week I’ve been participating in the Movie Therapy Certification Program hosted by John and Karen Louis. John and Karen, who serve as leaders of the Singapore church known as the Central Christian Church, who are also both professional counselors.  They’ve developed “Movie Therapy” to help strengthen relationships in their home congregation. And now are willing to share with us what they’ve learned.

     So what is Movie Therapy?  If you’re like me, the first time I heard about Movie Therapy, back in 2006, I rolled my eyes in disbelief.  Movie Therapy?  My skeptical side dismissed it as another fad.  Yet over the next 3 years I kept hearing about the effects it was having in Singapore and Southeast Asia.
     In September of 2009 I decided to check it out for myself at the International Church Leaders Conference in Denver.  Walking into the class I was unsure of what to expect.  Walking out of the class I was amazed and inspired.
     Movie Therapy, simply put, is the use of movie scenes to help the audience visualize  a particular relationship issue whether good or bad.  Movies do not replace the message of the scriptures but rather enhance them with an audio and visual experience.  
     The movie scenes provide three things.  They provide an Experiential Process where the participants can experience emotions while watching movie scenes.  An example might be - crying during a scene. Feeling fear, anxiety or anger while watching a movie scene. For some - they may find themselves relating to a similar experience found on the screen. An experience that might have affected them deeply but buried over many years. An experience that still effects their relationships today - even if they’re unaware of it.
     The movie scenes can provide a Suspension of Belief. While watching movies we suspend our belief’s momentarily.  For example - we can watch the recent hit movie Avatar and come to accept there are tall blue beings with tails who can fly on dinosaur winged creatures are indeed real. Some cried as these innocent  (computer generated) people suffered at the hands of cruel men. Movies can help us see and feel things that we might otherwise reject.
And finally movies can provide Entertainment. People can benefit from visual learning. Research has shown that men typically don’t enjoy lengthy lectures.  Nor do they desire to sit and “talk about their feelings.” But men do enjoy the escape of movies and like to be entertained.  Movie Therapy provides entertainment with purpose.
     Movie Therapy utilizes principles from Schema Therapy.  Principles such as Coping Styles - the way in which we often respond to conflict in relationships.  Typically we respond in one of three ways – Counterattacker (Fight) - someone who when feeling attacked fights back; Avoider (Flight) - someone who simply avoids conflict - they find something else to do rather than engage in conflict, even if it means a healthy resolution is on the horizon or a Surrenderer (Fright) someone who assumes the blame for the conflict even if the blame isn’t theirs to shoulder - they just assume they’re responsible. Each of these Coping Styles were formed in our developmental years.
     Another principle from Schema Therapy is the identification of Lifetraps. Lifetraps are things that cause us to respond to different conflicts in our lives.  They’re things that can be deeply ingrained in us.  For example, one of the eighteen lifetraps is Abandonment.  Abandonment might come from loosing a parent to death or divorce at a young age.  It can produce a deep fear that people we’re close to might leave us at anytime.  It can cause an unhealthy fear in our relationships. We can respond to that fear  by  becoming clingy and demanding in relationships.  Once identified and solutions put into practice the benefits are not just for the person who is clingy but for those close to them.
     Research has shown that all of us have some lifetraps.  And once identified, the individual can better understand themselves, their needs and the needs of others.
     I personally have found it liberating to better understand why I respond to conflict in certain situations.  I believe it’s helping me be a ,better husband, father, disciple, leader and friend.  My understanding and appreciation for God has grown. I’ve found that God can bring about a healing the closer I walk with him.
     While movies and Schema Therapy have their value - the real power is in God’s Word and his Holy Spirit.  Although each Schema Therapy lifetrap might use psychological terms - I’ve found biblical examples that describes them as well. And it is  the scriptures that provide hope and power for changing them.
     Why is this important?  I believe it’s important because the Lord desires for each of us to have rich, rewarding, genuine, loving relationships.  And if we can identify in ourselves anything that hinders those relationships I believe it to be worthwhile.
     I return with presentations entitled “I Choose Us” (on Marriage) and “Good Enough Parenting” (on parenting).  Both are multiple presentations that are designed to be interactive, fun and enlightening.  In the near future, I hope to provide these insightful presentations both for the members of the GSCC and our friends. The purpose?  So we can enjoy devoted relationships and be a light to the world.  In the mean time - I have some movies to watch.
                                                                                                                                                                                        -Mike