The humans controlled and manipulated the apes in the movie (Schaffner, 1968). The apes were imprisoned, were bound in chains, and were treated like slaves. Throughout the whole movie only one of the apes could talk. He was the only ape that had any kind of freedom. The other apes couldn’t communicate at all other then in ape talk. The ape that could talk was able to communicate to all of the other apes in the movie so they listened to him. The talking ape was like a messenger.
The apes were whipped and beaten when they didn’t do what their masters told them to do. The humans began killing the apes because the apes outnumber the humans in the movie. The apes began to snap and started fighting back. The apes acted out of being treated so cruelly by the humans and they began killing the humans in the movie. Finally, the human that was left standing was the ring leader of the humans. The apes had every opportunity to kill him because there were several apes that were still alive and they outnumbered the master. The talking ape told them to stop. The apes listened and spared the master and let him live because they felt like killing him would not have did any good.
We as Christians feel that that would have been wrong. We are not like the world but in the world. “The theory that Christians are largely immune to the influence of non-Christian thought structures is often unconsciously perpetuated by worldview…” (Wilkens & Sanford, 2009, pp. 11-12) “These worldviews are, contrary to a Christian view of the world in fundamental ways, and it is completely proper to frame an intellectual response to them.” (Wilkens & Sanford, 2009, p.12) We as Christians, feel that any treatment of injustice is immoral but we would almost feel like in the flesh that the apes were right for given the humans a dose of their own medicine. To think like that, we have to remember what the Bible says regarding mistreating people in 2 Corinthians (KJV) "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that everyone may receive the things done in his body according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” (Nelson, 2001) Also the battle between right vs. wrong in the movie happened is a reminder in Romans 12:19 (KJV) “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay saith the Lord.” (Nelson, 2001) The movie is also a reminder of how we as Christians should act toward anyone in leadership over us whether they are good or bad people in 1 Peter 2:18 (KJV) “Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.” (Nelson, 2001)
Bibliography
Nelson, T. (2001). The Holy Bible King James Version. Columbia: Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Schaffner, F. J. (Director). (1968). Planet Of The Apes [Motion Picture].
Wilkens, S., & Sanford, M. L. (2009). Hidden WorldViews Eight Cultural Stories That Shape Our Lives. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press .
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