Far and away the best Australian comedy ever made, The Castle is a must-see movie. Brilliantly observed, funny, heart-warming and if you're not punching the air at the triumphant ending I fear for the state of your soul.
The Kerrigan family are threatened with eviction by a nasty corporation. But 'a man's home is his castle' so they fight it through the courts and... (last second spoiler alert!)... win.
It taps into some deeply felt Australian myths. It's about home and land - with overt references to aboriginal land rights. It's about family and mateship and a fair go. Most of all it's the myth of the little Aussie battler winning through.
Or is it?
In the story, Darryl Kerrigan (right) is completely helpless. He's all at sea in a legal world far beyond his understanding. As much as he wants to protect his family, he's absolutely powerless. His fate, and the fate of his household, lies with one of two advocates.
First, Dennis Denuto (left) makes terrible representation (see below). All is lost.
But a saviour is found in Lawrence Hammill QC (centre). Everything changes the minute 'Lawrie' utters those words, "I'd like to appear on your behalf - gratis... free!"
To the court, Darryl Kerrigan only looked as good as his representative. When his representative was poor, his case was thrown out. When his representative was good, he was utterly vindicated. His destiny lay in the hands of his advocate.
As an audience, we have a soft spot for the Kerrigans. But Lawrie wins our hearts. Only the emotionally constipated could watch his final speech (not shown above) with dry eyes.
The Castle's not about a working class hero who never gave up. This is not the story of one man standing against the powers that be - much as we love that myth. It's about the powerful one stepping down for the weak. It's the strong advocate who graciously intercedes.
Therefore - two things. 1) Go and see The Castle if you haven't already!
And 2) realise this: You are not the determined little guy who'll make good in the end. You're facing trial - powerless and guilty. But you have a brilliant Advocate. He says, "I'd like to appear on your behalf - gratis!" And He makes faultless representation to the court of heaven. You stand in Him completely vindicated. What kind of Advocate is this!
24 Because Jesus lives for ever, He has a permanent priesthood. 25 Therefore He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them. 26 Such a high priest meets our need--one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. (Heb 7:24-26)
19 Even now my Witness is in heaven; my Advocate is on high. 20 My Intercessor is my Friend as my eyes pour out tears to God; 21 on behalf of a man He pleads with God as a man pleads for his friend. (Job 16:19-21)
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Good movie eh. One of my favourite lines which I like to use is: "tell him he's dreamin"...........
In our DE course we are running at the moment, the study guide asks a question: Why is the "right answer" to the question "Have you been saved" both "Yes" and "No"? It pointed to Rom 5:9-10
When I first looked at the question I went "keh!?"
but after a while I went "yeah I can grasp that"
and then the next day I cant.
Then the next day I read Heb 7:25 and go "oh yeah"
and then the next day I go "keh!?"
This is sort of on topic so I thought I could ask you to give me your version......remember, type slowly so I can understand. ;)
.........or anybody elses view if they can help
Hi Gav,
The way I understand the we're saved-we're not yet saved thing is that in God's view, positionally, we are made right before the Lord through Christ. We are acquitted, justified, and now have a relationship with Him. Those He has sealed unto Himself have been irrevocably gifted Life. We can trust Him in this.
Yet, we are still living in time, in bodies that have not yet been resurrected. So, we are also in a process of being saved. The things we do and say still apparently go on record as either "good" or "worthless". The particular promise of complete renewal (resurrection) has not yet been realized.... at least, not from our perspective.
Not sure if that helps or just confuses things further.
Hi Gav,
Christians are saved; are being saved; and will be saved.
Or perhaps, alternatively, Purgatory. :-O
"It's the vibe. I rest my case." ~Dennis Denuto
Mea culpa. Mea maxima culpa!
Hey Gav,
The Apostle Paul uses all three kinds of statements:
We were saved (e.g. Rom 8:24)
We are being saved (e.g. 1 Cor 1:18)
We will be saved (e.g. Rom 5:9,10)
Maybe one way of thinking about it is this: the minute I trust Christ I'm declared righteous and my spirit is regenerate. As I go on in the Christian life my mind/soul is being renewed (Rom 12:2). And one day - at the redemption of my body - I will be fully saved.
Am I saved? Yes. But I'm also being saved. And one day, in my resurrection body, I will be saved.
That's the vibe anyway
Thanks guys......never really viewed it like that before(Yes/No way)
It really made me go WOW! He's saving me through continually interceding for me and He will never let go!! :)
An addendum on advocates.
It's also true that, when the Court is annoyed with your client, it is you (as the advocate) who takes the hot breath and anger of the Court. If the client is attempting to argue a hopeless case, the Judge will shout not at the client, but at the advocate.
Of course, in our fallen world, the advocate only takes the heat and anger inside the Courtroom. When the judgment's handed down, it's still the client (not the advocate) who takes the penalty and the advocate walks away free. One of the awesome things about our Heavenly Advocate is that he took and absorbed all the punishment on Himself.