Finding Christ in The MATRIX

FINDING CHRIST IN

Some movies are a complete waste of time.
Others will bring you down spiritually, mentally or emotionally;
but every now and then a movie comes out that speaks to your heart
---that resonates with your spirit.
For me, The MATRIX is in the latter category...

If you haven't seen The MATRIX yet, you probably won't understand this web page.

Morpheus

The MATRIX, written by Larry and Andy Wachowski and released by Warner Bros., is full of spiritual imagery. Below are some of my observations and insights into this incredible film.

Neo

Neo is a Christ-figure: That's pretty obvious. Neo is the promised Messiah that was foretold by the Oracle. He is not Jesus (there are a lot of differences)---but he is a Christ-figure. Just like Moses in the Old Testament was a type of Christ...so Neo is a type of Christ. Not only does he fulfill the prophecies, but he is messianic in his humanity and in his transcendence over his fellow humans. Near the end of the movie Neo dies (or does he just think he dies?) and comes back to life, full of the power and confidence necessary to defeat the machines.

Morpheus is a prophet: Not in the sense of one who foretells the future, but in the sense of a proclaimer like John the Baptist. (He is not John the Baptist, but he is like John the Baptist.) Morpheus was responsible for awakening most of the other characters we meet in the movie; and for about three-quarters of the movie, he is the star of the show. As Neo's sense of mission and self-consciousness progress, Morpheus begins to fade into the background as Neo moves to the forefront. John the Baptist said of Jesus: "He must become greater, I must become less." (John 3:30)

Seeing beyond the MATRIX

Reality is skewed: What the average person thinks of as reality is really a fantasy world (the MATRIX) created by the machines. Most people go about their daily existence totally oblivious to the truth; and pacified by this fantasy, they have no desire for the truth. It takes prophets like Morpheus to awaken or convert these lost souls to the truth, and to show them the road to Zion. What's interesting here is that some of those who have been awakened (Cypher in particular) decide that the fantasy world is better than the real world and turn back. Sadly enough, this sometimes happens to Christians who have been delivered from Satan's lies but then become entangled again in his fantasies rather than continuing on in the Truth.

The goal is Zion: Zion is the last human city...the place where these mis-fit humans belong...the real world...the desire of their hearts. Someday the machines will be defeated, and everything will be made right in Zion.

The solution is spiritual: Before Neo is positively identified as the Messiah, we see a group of others who are also candidates for the position. They all display psychic or spiritual-type gifts. One boy is dressed like a Buddhist monk and is bending a spoon with his mind. A girl levitates wooden blocks. Another child has the dreadlocks of a Rastafarian. I believe the point of this scene is that, even though they are still plugged into the MATRIX, those who are spiritual can see beyond the MATRIX.

The awakened ones are trans-dimensional: Knowing the truth about the MATRIX and now living in the real world, Morpheus and friends have the ability to go back into the MATRIX, take on the forms they had before they were awakened (unplugged), and communicate with those within. This is how they got through to Neo, and it's the primary way others are awakened.

Going into the MATRIX is dangerous...people you think are innocent, un-awakened humans may in fact be agents disguising themselves as humans; and they will destroy you. There is also the temptation to embrace the lie (because the MATRIX is more attractive than reality) and backslide into the fantasy (as happens to Cypher). Jesus said of His disciples: "...they are still in the world...but they are not of the world, even as I am not of it." (see John 17:6-18) Even so, we are in the world but we are not of it. We use the music and popular culture of our world to communicate the truth; but it is not without danger: we also can be tempted to embrace the world's lies and return to our old sinful habits. There are places in the world today where Believers are afraid of those who might kill them for being Christian. Living in this world as a Christian is a lot like living as an awakened human in the MATRIX.

This movie is full of Biblical themes, (e.g. the promised land is called Zion and Morpheus' ship is The Nebuchadnezzer). It is also full of violence and strong language. I am not saying the Wachowski brothers are Christians, or that their movie was an intentional metaphor for the Christian life---all I'm saying is that my spirit resonates with certain themes in this movie. Neo is not Jesus, Morpheus is not John the Baptist and the Zion in this movie is not the New Jerusalem I so earnestly long for---but these are reflections of the truth...dim reflections, perhaps...but reflections nevertheless.

Morpheus said: "Unfortunately, no one can be told what the Matrix is...you have to see it for yourself."
St. Paul said: "The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them." (1 Corinthians 2:14)

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Note: The opinions expressed on this web page are soley those of Gary Zanow and do not in any way reflect the opinions, meanings or intentions (spiritual or otherwise) of Larry and Andy Wachowski (writers of The MATRIX) or Warner Bros. Motion Pictures.