What Storytelling and Movies Can Teach Us About God

Published: September 24, 2024

What Storytelling and Movies Can Teach Us About God

By Movieguide® Contributor

Candace Cameron Bure and Andrew Erwin are diving into the power of storytelling and the movies that have touched them the most on Bure’s podcast.

“I think you look at the human soul, that storytelling element is a reflection of God’s design in us…It’s how we relate, and we have these stories that really connect with us,” Erwin said. “So, I think on a human soul level, it’s always these people that are asking questions about, you know, that God hole in their heart. And so you look at it and you see just reflections of a desire for redemption or the understanding of…kindness.”

Bure shared that one of the movies that has touched her the most is THE WIZARD OF OZ.

“I loved THE WIZARD OF OZ for so many reasons,” she said. “The music is so beautiful, and Judy Garland’s voice is just, I mean, it just takes you away. But I remember seeing this movie, and it’s starting out in black and white, and there was something very special about that…it was such this chase of good and evil — the Good Witch, the Wicked Witch.”

“And all Dorothy wanted to find was home. And then she meets these three characters along the way. The Lion and the… Scarecrow and the Tin Man. And then there’s these little munchkins in there that are so cute and having the happy dance. And there’s the wizard and then all the evil monkeys. I mean, just it was so filled with things that as I looked as a child, it really stirred my imagination.”

Erwin explained why, at a deeper level, THE WIZARD OF OZ connects with audiences.

“And so THE WIZARD OF OZ, what made that tick at its core is the idea of identity, you know…as Christians, I mean, just that idea of like, who am I at my core? And each person on the journey goes on this kind of winding path to find out who they are and who they’re destined to be. And there’s this inner yearning,” he described.

Erwin deeply understands how storytelling and moviemaking can touch the hearts of audiences. He worked on uplifting Christian movies like Teddy Bear Award® winner JESUS REVOLUTION and OCTOBER BABY. He also launched the Kingdom Story Company, which Movieguide® previously reported on:

“The thing about, you know, our brand that is the most important is that word ‘story,’” he said on his podcast. “It’s Kingdom Story Company, and so story is really what drives everything we do.”

“So, I was like I love storytellers, and storytellers [don]’t] just have to be film people,” Erwin explained. “It can be, you know, authors and musicians and there’s all sorts of different kinds of storytellers, but just being able to…find out what had inspired them and and how they kind of use that to inspire other people.”

Creativity and curiosity are at the heart of storytelling.

“Creativity is one of those things that, you know, that you can’t really kind of put in a category and say it has to be this. But there’s certain things that nurture it. I think variety is really, really important,” Erwin said.

Bure is getting ready for the release of her Great American Family Christmas movies, HOME SWEET CHRISTMAS with Cameron Mathison and A CHRISTMAS LESS TRAVELED.

“HOME SWEET CHRISTMAS 🏠🎄❄️ coming to a @greatamericanfamily channel this Christmas season 😍✨” Bure said on Instagram. “We’ve been waiting 15 years to do a Christmas movie together and it’s finally happening!!! We can’t wait for you to enjoy this movie alongside your family ❤️ #greatamericanfamily #greatamericanchristmas #homesweetchristmas.”