The Gospel of The Help

The Gospel according to 
"The Help" 

Aibileen Clark: You is kind. You is smart. You is important.

Charlotte Phelan: Courage sometimes skips a generation. Thank you for bringing it back to our family.

Preacher Green: If you can love your enemy, you already have victory.

I must admit that I have not read the book.  The movie was riveting, and once watching it, could not stop.  If the Gospel is about liberation from who we try to be to the person God calls us to be--inspite of ourselves--well, The Help sends the Gospel message in these 3 quotations which struck me during the movie.  

The Gospel affirms our self worth:  we are all "kind, smart and important" in our own way. Not necessarily the way the world rewards people--but through the eyes of God, every hair on our head is numbered.  Do we accept that and treat others that way?  

The Gospel recognizes where our "Help" truly comes from.  Until all people are free, we ourselves are still enslaved.  Who were the real victims in the movie--there is the obvious group of maids who are second class wait staff.  There is the status quo majority who are also enslaved in their own system.  

Which reminds me so powerfully of that second quotation.  Courage is in our blood as God's children.  We can claim it and use it at any time.  Sometimes it skips a generation--but it is always needed and virtuous in God's greater service.  

My favorite scene in the movie?  When the maids are all gathered in one room, reading the book and kicking up their heels in sheer delight.  They have been HEARD, RECOGNIZED and AFFIRMED.  Their joy is unbounded in their freedom.  That's the Gospel of The Help.