The Devil’s Advocate

by ephesiansfour12

Movie:    The Devil’s Advocate
Starring:     Al Pacino, Keanu Reeves

 

 “Vanity is definitely my favourite sin.  Kevin, it’s so basic – self love, the old natural opiate.”[1]

The opening scene of the movie, The Devil’s Advocate, depicts a young hot-shot lawyer who is driven by his personal ambition and obsession with winning.  During a high profile trial, where he is defending a teacher accused of child abuse, the lawyer (Kevin) is faced with a moral dilemma when he realises his client’s guilt.  Despite the moral and social consequences of having him acquitted, Kevin’s ego wins the day; and it is this ego that lures Kevin into a decadent lifestyle that reveals a confronting concept of sin by the writers of this film.

The main concept of sin presented in this movie is centred on ‘vanity’; the primal love of self that seeks to satisfy ego-driven desires.  Throughout the storyline Kevin’s vanity is stimulated by the allure of status, success, sensuality and wealth.  Although there is a more sinister plot to the movie, the propagation of self-gratification lies at its heart.  In a climatic scene in the middle of the story, the character Mr. Milton, a sort of incarnated Satan, summarises this theme:

“You sharpen the human appetite to the point where it can split atoms with it’s desire, you build egos the size of cathedrals, fibre optically connect the world to every ego impulse, grease even the dullest dreams with these dollar green, gold plated fantasies until every human becomes an aspiring emperor – he becomes his own god.  And where can you go from there?  And as we’re scrambling from one deal to the next; who’s got his eye on the planet, as the air thickens, the water sours – even the bee’s honey takes on the metallic taste of radioactivity.  And it just keeps coming, faster and faster.”[2]

It is this quote from the movie that makes some interesting connections with a more Biblical understanding of sin.

“You sharpen the human appetite to the point where it can split atoms with its desire”

Romans 7:5 highlights the truth of this statement by reminding us that “we were controlled by the sinful nature, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies.”  Paul identified how the ‘human appetite’ or ‘desire’ can control the thoughts and behaviours of every human being.

“until every human becomes an aspiring emperor – he becomes his own god.”

This brings us back to the origin of sin as revealed in Genesis 3:5 where the serpent deceives Eve by appealing to her vanity (ego):  “your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God.”  Interestingly, Satan tries a similar tactic when tempting Jesus in the desert by appealing to His vanity (ego):  “The devil led him up to a high place and showed him…all the kingdoms of the world…I will give you al their authority and splendour…”[3]

Near the conclusion of the film there is a confrontation between Mr. Milton and Kevin where the web of deception is exposed and further revelations are made about the nature of sin, as presented by the movie.  These revelations from the movie also have some interesting connections with the nature of sin and other theological themes as revealed in Scripture and in the person of Jesus Christ.

“I’m no puppeteer Kevin.  I don’t make things happen.  It doesn’t work like that.  Free will, it’s like butterfly wings.  Once touched, they never get off the ground.  I only set the stage, you pull your own strings.”[4]

“I don’t make things happen… I only set the stage, you pull your own strings.”

James 1:14 drives home the fact “each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.” [5] This is not to deny the reality of Satan and evil forces at work in our world, rather a reminder that the problem of sin is more an internal issue than one that is just a product of our environment.  Then of course, there is free will.  We have been given a choice to submit to our own evil desires or to submit to God, who has given us all that we need to overcome the sinful nature[6]

“God likes to watch, he’s a prankster.  He gives man instincts.  He gives you this extraordinary gift and then, then what does he do, I swear for his own amusement, his own cosmic private gag reel, he sets the rules in opposition.  It’s the goof of all time.  Look, but don’t touch.  Touch, but don’t taste.  Taste, but don’t swallow.  And while you’re jumping from one foot to the next, what is he doing?  He’s laughing his sick, %$#@! Off!  He’s a sadist!  He’s an absentee landlord.  Worship that, never!”[7]

“He gives man instincts… he sets the rules in opposition”

This is where we get a very different revelation from Scripture.  God does give humankind instincts, however, these instincts were originally designed to bring pleasure to God.  Sin, self-gratification, has shifted our object of pleasure from our Creator to ourselves.  In his book, The Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren asserts that our first purpose in life is centred on the fact that we were planned for God’s pleasure.[8]  Scripture supports this view in Revelation 4:11 – “You created everything, and it is for your pleasure that they exist and were created.” (NLT)  Consequently, we have two opposing laws at work, that of the sinful nature and that of God.

“So I find this law at work:  When I want to do good, evil is right there with me.  For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members.”[9]

“He’s an absentee landlord”

This inner conflict is not the result of an ‘absentee landlord’, rather a manipulative enemy who has come “to steal and kill and destroy.”[10]  Whereas, God “became flesh and made his dwelling among us”[11] so that “[we] may have life, and have it to the full.”[12]  Jesus whole purpose for entering into our existence was to deal with the issue of sin by offering Himself as an atoning sacrifice[13], thus rescuing us from the bondage of sin and self[14].  This is why we are called to die to self and to live according to the Spirit.[15]

In his book, Uprising – A Revolution of the Soul, I think Erwin McManus provides a helpful summary of the movie’s concept of sin and my understanding of sin from the revelation of God’s Word:

“Ironically, the Scriptures place human desires and passions at the epicentre of human action.  This is true in both the arena of sin and the arena of holiness.  Nothing explains why we sin more poignantly and clearly than human passion.”[16]

 

 

[1] Movie:  The Devil’s Advocate
[2] Movie:  The Devil’s Advocate
[3] Luke 4:5-6 (NIV)
[4] Movie:  The Devil’s Advocate
[5] See also 2 Peter 2:18 – “appealing to the lustful desires of the human nature”  (NIV)
[6] Romans 8:9 – “You, however are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit.”  (NIV), Joshua 24:15 – “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve.”  (NIV), 2 Peter 1:3,4 – “His divine nature has given us everything we need…so that through them you may participate in the divine nature.”  (NIV)
[7] Movie:  The Devil’s Advocate
[8] Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life (Michigan: Zondervan, 2002), 63.
[9] Romans 7:21-23  (NIV)
[10] John 10:10  (NIV)
[11] John 1:14  (NIV)
[12] John 10:10  (NIV)
[13] Romans 3:21-26  (NIV)
[14] Romans 8:1-2  (NIV)
[15] Romans 8:9-16  (NIV)
[16] Erwin R. McManus, Uprising – A Revolution of the Soul (Tennessee: Thomas Nelson Inc., 2003), 8.