I’ve always been a fan of Disney movies. As a child growing up in the 90s, I was there for every new release, ready to sing along to songs that would become classics.
I haven’t yet seen the new Moana movie, but I loved the first one. I loved that it was set in Polynesia; I loved the gorgeous animation; I loved that Moana was a strong, independent woman unafraid of big challenges; and I loved that Moana was one of the first Disney princesses whose storyline did not revolve around finding Prince Charming.
But as I watched, I remember thinking that something wasn’t quite right. It took me a while to work it out because the movie was so very entertaining. But eventually I figured out my discomfort: it was Moana’s motivation for her adventure.
Moana, as the daughter of the chief of her island, is being trained to one day succeed her father. Her people are in serious trouble: the island is producing fewer crops and fishing grounds are dwindling. Moana has this ‘feeling’ in her heart that the solution is to sail beyond their island to look for more fertile lands. Her father is adamant that sailing beyond the reef is dangerous and banned amongst her people.
You may be able to guess that *spoiler alert* Moana is right. She ignores her father, listening to her own inner voice.
Even though she fails to honour her parents and abandons the duties she owes to her tribe, she obeys her heart and follows her desires, and everything turns out wonderfully.
Disney has long enjoyed success because of its ability to tap into the cultural landscape. Moana captures the current thinking around our desires and feelings: your heart is trustworthy, so listen to whatever you feel within yourself. By being true to yourself, everything will work out for the best.
But what does God say about all this? Does the Bible agree that our hearts, feelings and desires are reliable? Ought their inclinations be trusted as we make significant decisions for ourselves and others?
The Bible doesn’t use the language of our ‘inner voice’, but it does have quite a lot to say on the human heart.
1. The human heart is powerful
Like Disney, Bible acknowledges the power the heart holds in shaping our lives and decisions. As Proverbs says, “above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it” (4:23). Because of its influence, there are many forces that are jostling to have authority over it. Jesus even warns that one of them is the devil: “The devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved” (Luke 8:12).
2. The human heart is corrupt
The Bible is cynical about the inclinations of the human heart:
Every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was evil all the time. (Gen 6:5)
The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. (Jer 17:9)
Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am clean and without sin”? (Prov 20:9)
The heart of the people, moreover, are full of evil and there is madness in their hearts while they live. (Ecc 9:3)
For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come – sexual immorality, theft, murder. (Mark 10:5)
That’s just a small selection of verses! Over and over, God is consistent and clear that the human heart has been corrupted by sin. It is unreliable and untrustworthy, leading us to embrace a way of thinking and a lifestyle that is reprehensible to God. It will lead us to destruction.
3. Only God is in complete control over the human heart
The only being in the entire universe who is in complete control of the human heart is God. God softens and hardens hearts of people as he pleases. He reaches into the hearts of peasants and kings, Israelites and foreigners, Jews and Gentiles, according to his own plans and purposes (Exod 9:12, 10:20, 10:27, 11:10; Josh 11:20; 2 Chron 9:23, 36:22; Jer 24:7; Ezek 11:19; John 12:40; Acts 16:14; Gal 4:6; Heb 8:10).
4. God will judge us for what’s in our hearts
Perhaps scarier than the thought that God knows our hearts is the often-repeated promise that God will judge us for what is in them (1 Chron 28:9, 29:17; 2 Chron 6:30; Prov 21:2; Jer 17:10; 1 Cor 4:5; Heb 4:12). All of humanity is in very serious trouble for listening to and obeying our own hearts.
5. God can fix the problem of the human heart
But God is gracious. Despite the grim predicament, forgiveness is available for those who turn their hearts back toward him (2 Chron 32:27, 24:27; Ps 19:14, 86:11, 119:11; Prov 4:4; Rom 5:5, 10:9-10).
What’s more, God promises to help humanity to achieving this drastic change of heart towards him. In Deuteronomy 30:6, this change is compared to the covenant promise of circumcision:
“The Lord your God will circumcise your hearts … so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live.”
Circumcision in the ancient world signified that those people belonged to God. In the same way, God promises to circumcise the hearts of his people to demonstrate that we belong to him. This miracle can only take place through the gracious act of God and believing in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.
6. Only hearts that have been transformed by God can do any good at all
In the struggle against our own evil hearts, we need a change so drastic that it will require what can only be described as heart surgery, where the evil parts are actively excised. Only a heart that’s been changed by Jesus and transformed by God can do some good, through the power of the Holy Spirit (Rom 5:5).
Even then, because we still live in a fallen world, we need to be wary of the evil inclinations of our hearts and the struggle that exists within. Not until the glorious new creation, where sin and evil are finally and forever destroyed, will our hearts perfectly choose what is good—all the time.
So for now, even our redeemed hearts must not be completely trusted; instead we must keep coming to God’s word for guidance to direct our hearts.
So … should I watch Moana 2?
So then, should we go and see Moana 2, or any other movies that continue to teach us to obey our hearts? I see no reason why not, if we are aware of the lessons it is teaching. Disney movies have lots of other positive things to say and they are more edifying than some of the others out there!
But I don’t want us to be naïve: what we watch does not come from a place of neutrality. Movies are jostling to shape our hearts and desires. Go ahead and enjoy the adventure of Moana 2, the brilliant animation, engaging storyline and, of course, the singing. But remember afterwards, to give praise to our wonderful God who has permanently circumcised our hearts for it to be pleasing to him and to him alone.