I went with two of my friends last night to see Stomp the Yard. If you don't already have an idea of what this movie's about, Stomp the Yard is a no-joke story of a black 19-year-old expert street dancer who overcomes the bitter pain of his brother’s killing to enroll in an all-black University where he learns what true character and honor look like. He helps a struggling fraternity learn the art of dance while learning himself what true brotherhood is all about—and what it is not.
I’ll say it up front that this movie contains a lot of negative elements. It’s not my judgment call whether you should see it or not, but I will be honest with you about what motivated me to see it, how it impacted me, and what my response is.
Hip-hop simply was not my thing. I avoided it because it was easier to be ignorant than have a Christ-like opinion. That plus I am white, and unfortunately, so were most of my friends most of my life. The result? Ignorance, yes, but a failure to relate with a growing majority of the population centers of our country. So what motivated me to watch this movie is a drive to learn their stories. (and movies, believe it or not, tell stories that we either listen to and conform ourselves to in the name of entertainment; avoid altogether and label it sin based on what it looks like outwardly; or we listen, evaluate, and learn from them).
This movie surprised me. Yeah, I could go the route of saying it had a predictable story line (or a poor screenplay for you movie critics out there), but I strived to look past that. I sought to understand the people it portrayed and what I found out was they are people with clearer goals and passions than I have. But they hurt deeper and more openly than I could possibly imagine. I learned that brotherhood requires the decision to be honest and humble. I learned that only the humble are truly exalted to the place of honor. DJ, the main character was forced to come to the end of his pride before he could offer his true value to the rest of his team. I could go on, but what I saw that impacted me most was a guy who had passion, knew what he wanted, and with accountability, gave it all he had.
My response is realistic. It has elements in it that I was forced to avoid. I looked away several times because to watch would send me down a path I’m forbidden to go. I was prepared and knew what was coming. I made judgment call that I could handle it, and with the Spirit’s help, I walked with God through it all. But as I drove home, I talked to my Father about it. I asked him something I found disturbing me. How is the Jesus I know better for those guys and girls than the life they lived in this movie? If I answered that question in terms of my Christian experience, I don’t think I have much to say to them. In fact, I’d probably avoid them. And that’s what I’ve done all my life. I’m thankful that God didn’t leave me questioning. He gave me a breathtaking picture of Jesus. Only He can transform one’s passions for such lust-driven dancing into a passion to dance like mad to love, serve, and touch broken people with a message of Love and Hope. Living a moral life may look like living in a suburb and hanging out with white people who play organs and go to a church on Sundays and Wednesdays. But that’s not what we’re called to do. We are called to live lives of love, walking as Jesus did among the broken, oppressed, depressed, hurting sinners, and giving them the greatest gift of love—laying down your life.
Hey, and maybe if we're open and honest, and not "pretending," we can learn something or two, or three. I know I was impressed by their dancing skills. :) For looking less than wholesome, this movie definitely carries a surprising message that aims at and gives good reasons for changing our less-than-supportive minds.
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