A Biblical Outlook on the Theatrical Adaptation of The Color Purple. NO SPOILERS
“God is in you!” Shug Avery said to Ms Celie as she questioned where God was in her life. Ms. Celie said, “Why would God take my babies and allow me to get beat?” Shug responded, “That sounds like man, not God!” I was reminded of Psalm 73 when Asaph was troubled that the wicked are prosperous,
2 But as for me, my feet had almost slipped;
I had nearly lost my foothold.
3 For I envied the arrogant
when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.”
Watching The Color Purple through the eyes of Ms. Celie, I could definitely understand these verses of how evil people seem to prevail.
In this theatrical adaptation of the Broadway musical, The Color Purple spoke volumes about how God is at work even when we do not see it. Ms. Celie played by the beautiful and talented Fantasia, journeyed through so much pain and believed the lies of so many evil men, her father, Mista… She spent decades being beaten, misused, and taken advantage of, yet she held on to something.
“How come you so nice?” Ms Sophia, who was played by the amazing Danielle Brooks, said to Ms. Celie as they enjoyed the beauty of the bayou. She responds, “I don’t know” and Ms Sophia comes back with, “Maybe you are too nice”. The fact that Ms. Celie maintained her kind spirit despite being abused and mistreated is evidence that God was indeed in her!
If you keep reading Psalm 73 it says,
4 They have no struggles;
their bodies are healthy and strong.[a]
5 They are free from common human burdens;
they are not plagued by human ills.
6 Therefore pride is their necklace;
they clothe themselves with violence.
7 From their callous hearts comes iniquity[b];
their evil imaginations have no limits.
8 They scoff, and speak with malice;
with arrogance they threaten oppression.
There were so many evil people in the movie who illustrated these verses. They had businesses, they were the mayor and his wife, Mista, and her Pa. They had land, power, and money. They had it all, at least that is what it looked like. One would think, how can God bless evil?
14 This is what the wicked are like—
always free of care, they go on amassing wealth.
The Power of Sisterhood
Ms. Celie and her sister Netty, have a bond so tight, “Even if we have to part, you and me, us have one heart” and that bond kept her, giving her hope.
We know that Mista took Netty away, hid her letters, and they didn’t hear from each other for decades. However, God places people in our lives that do not replace that love but add to it. Ms. Celie wasn’t without a sister! Ms. Sophia and Shug Avery brought life, encouragement, comfort, and much more and Ms. Celie was that peace and kindness right back!
It took me a long time to see the blessing in community, more specifically sisterhood. I grew up the only child and I envied those with sisters. But as I look back over my life, God blessed me with so many sisters. I moved to Dallas 8 years ago and building relationships that aren’t superficial can be challenging. I almost posted on Facebook that I have 3 extra tickets for the screening of The Color Purple but God said, you have friends and told me exactly who they were. We met up and had the best time.
The Psalm closes out with
23 Yet I am always with you;
you hold me by my right hand.
24 You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will take me into glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.
27 Those who are far from you will perish;
you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.
28 But as for me, it is good to be near God.
I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge;
I will tell of all your deeds.
If you have seen the movie or the play, you know in the end there is victory! There is a triumph. There are tears. There is joy. We may think that wickedness wins, but that is temporary and will fade.
“Until you do right by me, everything you think about is going to crumble.” Do not mess with God’s people!
You might be going through hell, but sis I want you to know that God is in you! God is with you! God has sent people to you! Do not let what it looks like keep you from holding on! Do not let your eyes be fooled by evil ways!
3 Things To Think About
- Get you a sisterhood. Get with women who are filled with the love and peace of God. Do things with them! Do a bible study! Cook together. Doesn’t have to be a lot of women, it can be two or three. Pray for God to send and reveal them to you!
- Read God’s Word, it is His love letter to you! For decades, Mista took the letters and hid them. That is what the enemy does with God’s Word, he tries to hide it from you. He knows that it will feed your soul. The bread of life! When Ms. Celie found those letters from her sister, it gave her life and then she started writing back. This gave them communion.
- Look for God around you, He is sending you beauty, encouragement, peace, hope, and love. Shug and Ms. Celie walked in the tall grass and were surrounded by beauty, the purple flowers! Ms. Celie never looked for God, she just existed. But God sent her someone to take her by the hand and lead her so she could see for herself!
God (ELOHIM which means “The Mighty God) is in the midst (inner most part) of her, she shall not be moved;
God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.
Psalm 46:5
The adaptation of The Color Purple which will be out in theaters Dec 25, 2023, is an amazing movie to go see! I would encourage you to see it with family or have a girl’s night out.
I absolutely loved the music! I couldn’t keep my eyes off of Fantasia! She brought the film to life. The amazing cast was just as powerful!
About The Color Purple
Coming to the big screen on Christmas Day, the all-new “The Color Purple” is a bold new take on the beloved classic, based on the novel and the award-winning Broadway musical. Fantasia Barrino is Celie, whose decades-long journey from hardship to independence is possible thanks to the strength and hope she finds through the unbreakable bonds of sisterhood. The film stars Taraji P. Henson and Danielle Brooks as Shug Avery and Sofia, alongside powerhouse performers Colman Domingo, Corey Hawkins, H.E.R., Halley Bailey and Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, and many more. Distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, in theaters December 25th.
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