What's Wrong with "It's a Wonderful Life?"

There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death. -Proverbs 14:12.

What could possibly be wrong with this Christmas classic? To put it quite simply, it teaches a message contrary to the Bible, and on a very important issue. If we are to "Trust the Bible" as our source of truth, as Jesus taught, then anything contrary to the Bible's message is false. And no, I'm not talking about what the movie teaches about angels. While bells obviously have nothing to do with angels getting wings, that's pretty harmless fiction compared to the real message of the movie.

Nor would I say that everything in the movie is wrong. We could say that George Bailey is an example of the principle of Proverbs 11:25, "A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed." George was generous with others throughout his life, and they came through and helped him out when he was in trouble in the end.

However, consider the main teaching of the movie on the purpose of life. George Bailey was questioning whether he should continue living because of a financial mess he was in. Clarence the angel teaches George that he is not correct. He shows him what the world would be like if George had never been born. George then learns how much worse the world would be without him. This gives him a new love for life and a feel good ending to the movie. He learns that he really is a hero and the world needs him. The movie encourages viewers to have "Christmas spirit" and help others out.

Not that there's anything wrong with helping others out, but the Bible teaches something very different about the purpose of life. Notice that George never turns to Jesus in his crisis, nor does Clarence point him in that direction. Our satisfaction in life should not come from the pleasure of knowing we have helped others, but from our desire to glorify God. We are not to be the hero in the script of our life story, God is. The first and primary prayer on our lips should be, "Hallowed by Thy name." We are not good. We have all sinned against a holy God. If the purpose of life is to be a good person like George, we will fail. My encouragement to George as he contemplated suicide would not be primarily, "Think how much worse the world would be without you." Rather, it would be, "Think how much your life is worth to God, because he sent his Son to die on the cross in your place, paying for your sins. Now go live to bring glory to Him."

Ultimate success in life is not determined by you and your abilities. God tells us we must place our faith in what Jesus has already done. We must count on His good works, not our own, to begin a relationship with God. Then He will empower us to live for Him, love others, and find true joy and satisfaction in Him. Only a God-centered, Christ glorifying life of faith in Christ will matter.

Clarence summarizes the message of "It's a Wonderful Life," at the very end of the movie. He writes a note to George saying, "Remember no man is a failure who has friends." But Jesus says, "All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved." Not that we don't have friends among believers or that we aren't friendly with unbelievers, but Jesus says that a relationship with Him is more important than anything else. You could say, "No man is a failure who has Jesus as a friend." That comes through repentance and faith in Jesus, not through a life of trying to do good works.

 Trust the Bible is a weekday radio program that begins at about 8:10 each morning on WDOG 93.5 in Allendale, SC. You can listen to previous programs online here: http://www.fairfaxfbc.org/trust-the-bible.html