War Cry 14 December: selected articles

TELEVISION

The born identity

BBC/The Garden

Hermisha has been caring for baby Ramiyah while Shabazz has been giving his attention to sons Elijah and Ezrah

Philip Halcrow sees documentary series deliver insights into how new babies change family life

‘L

IFE as they knew it has changed,’ said new grandmother Sara. A lot has been happening in the lives of her daughter Syler and son-in-law Mo and those of the other families in BBC Two’s documentary series The Baby Has Landed.

The women giving birth are experiencing the mother of all changes. Initially, Hermisha was feeling drained at being overdue.

Since baby Ramiyah has arrived, she has been feeling worn out by Ramiyah’s constant need to be fed.

She confesses to finding it difficult to fulfil her other roles as a wife to Shabazz and a mother to their other two children.

Shabazz and other fathers in the series also feel the effects of changes and realise that they need to make changes themselves.

Mo, who met Syler when she was on holiday in his homeland of Egypt and followed her back to Nottinghamshire, has altered his understanding of the roles men and women play when they have a baby.

In Egypt, he said, the man ‘has nothing to do’ with looking after a new baby.

But Mo stayed with Syler as she gave birth to Amr-Ace, and he has tried to adopt a hands-on approach in

bringing up his son.

He needs to make further changes.

Opening a letter from the bank, he described his finances as ‘zero, zero, zero’. He wants to earn more money to support his new family.

But Mo and some of the other fathers find it difficult to return to work

Shabazz has given his sons ‘man training’, teaching them to ‘listen to mum’ and be away from their baby – though seemingly not Nigel, who took his departure from wife Helen, newly born Abigail and their four other children in his stride.

Meanwhile, Shabazz has been trying to help his children adapt to the newlook family life. Although Elijah and Ezrah are only seven and five years old, he has given them ‘man training’, teaching them to ‘listen to mum’ and to ‘put school things away’.

As the series concludes next Wednesday (18 December), mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters settle into their new realities, and extended family members babysit and offer advice.

But a new baby can make his or her mark beyond a family. A work colleague offers one worn-out parent the encouragement that bringing up a child ‘doesn’t get any easier … it just gets different’. And the ability of a baby to affect a wider circle of people is visible when people gather in a church for Abigail’s baptism – a ceremony which itself is evidence of how the birth of one baby even changed the whole world.

As other TV programmes are likely to highlight over the next few days, that baby’s birth was instantly announced as being important for more than his family. An angel in the Christmas story tells strangers: ‘I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people … A saviour has been born to you’ (Luke 2:10 and 11 New International Version).

People all over the world still want to celebrate Jesus’ birth, because it signifies the beginning of his lifetime’s work: to assure us that God cares for us, offers us forgiveness for the uglier sides of our personality and can help us develop into the people we were meant to be.

Many people’s lives have changed – and are still changing – because of the moment that baby landed.

14 December 2019 • WAR CRY • 3

INTERVIEW

Jo March (Saoirse Ronan) and her sister Meg (Emma Watson) in the forthcoming ‘Little Women’ film

Sony Pictures Releasing (UK)

LIT TLE WOMEN,

BIG LIVES Ahead of the release of a new Little Women film later this month, ANNE BOYD RIOUX, professor of English at the University of New Orleans, explains to Emily Bright why the classic story still inspires young women

A

SPIRING author Jo marches into a New York publishing company to convince it to print her short stories. She re-emerges exultant, bounding through the city’s streets with her pocketed pay. So begins the first chapter of the latest Little Women film, featuring Meryl Streep, Emma Watson and Saoirse Ronan, which opens in cinemas on 26 December. But as the tale unfolds, Jo’s flashbacks reveal a much richer story than any of her wild imaginings: the triumphs, tragedies and trials of her own family.

The adaptation is based on Louisa May Alcott’s novel Little Women, which originally comprised two volumes published in 1868 and 1869. Set in New England during the American Civil War, the story follows the lives of the closely knit March sisters – watched over by their mother Marmee – as they navigate the journey from childhood to adulthood.

Kind-hearted Marmee and sensible eldest daughter Meg seek to set an example for the rest of the March girls: bookworm and teenage tomboy Jo, who reads to her cantankerous Aunt March, the shy and gentle-natured Beth, and the artistic Amy, who longs for a life of refinement Anne Boyd Rioux

and elegance. When the girls meet their next-door neighbour, the spirited Laurie, adventures follow that alter the course of their lives.

Anne Boyd Rioux, author of Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy: The Story of Little Women and Why It Still Matters, says that she is excited about the new adaptation.

‘I think this movie will help girls today understand why Little Women is such an important book,’ she explains. ‘Every time there has been an adaptation, it has become a big topic of conversation.’

In her book, Anne studies the cultural legacy of Little Women, exploring how the novel has influenced generations of readers.

‘When I first read Little Women, what I most noticed was Jo,’ she tells me. ‘I was in my early twenties, and trying to figure out what to do with my life. Jo inspired

Turn to page 6

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14 December 2019 • WAR CRY • 5

Sony Pictures Releasing (UK)

The March sisters in the new film

From page 5

Louisa May Alcott 6 • WAR CRY • 14 December 2019

me: she became a published author, she went to New York.

‘She suggested that it was possible not just to be an author and have a family life but to succeed at both, and that the writing might somehow be better for it.

‘The book has helped girls think about who they are and what they want to be. I’ve met many readers who are drawn to Meg, Amy and even Beth.

They see themselves reflected in those characters because they are four such different girls with different personalities, dreams and paths in life.’

Anne also asserts that Little Women has played an important role in influencing generations of female authors, including Enid Blyton, Jacqueline Wilson, Zadie Smith and J. K. Rowling.

‘J. K. Rowling says that Jo is her favourite literary heroine and she had a tremendous impact on her,’ Anne says.

‘Little Women validated the

ambitions of so many women writers who read the book as girls. They were inspired

by Jo, who seems so real and relatable, achieving a lot in her writing career. It gave them something to shoot for.’

Anne explains that the relatability of the characters stems from the experiences of Louisa May Alcott’s own family.

‘The way in which she brought the characters to life and made them seem like real people had much to do with the fact that she was thinking of herself and her own sisters.

‘Her eldest sister Anna, who is Meg in the book, also had an artistic talent and was a great actress. Louisa also enjoyed acting, but particularly excelled at writing.

Lizzie, who is Beth in the book, played

‘Little Women’ validated the ambitions of so many women writers music. And the youngest daughter Mary, who is Amy in the book, was a visual artist.

‘In real life, Louisa went to Europe, and she uses those experiences in describing Amy’s adventures abroad. Louisa’s wider writing also draws on her life-changing experience as a nurse in the American Civil War and her illness afterwards.’

INTERVIEW Louisa’s family encouraged her writing ambitions, an unconventional stance in a patriarchal society.

Anne elaborates: ‘She was probably one of the few young women in America with a literary talent who was encouraged by her family rather than discouraged.

‘She wrote a poem for her mother when she was little, and her mother told her: “You’ll grow up to be Shakespeare.”

‘That comes across in her writing. Jo never once feels ashamed for writing, and her family supports her. That message has resonated with women throughout the decades, because giving girls that space to grow and pursue their ambitions is rare.’

But, Anne explains, Louisa’s childhood experiences were far from idyllic. Her father was frequently far from home studying philosophy. Because of his beliefs, he refused to pursue material gain, leaving the family to rely on charity and their own earning capabilities to avoid starvation.

Although her father’s beliefs had a negative impact on the Alcott family,

The characters in ‘Little Women’ model Christ through charity, such as when the girls give away their Christmas breakfast Louisa applied the same beliefs to her own life in a positive way. Anne says that Christianity, and particularly the New Testament, ‘played a big role’ in shaping the story of Little Women.

‘The girls are given special books by their mother for Christmas, most likely copies of the New Testament. There’s a clue in the text about following Christ’s life and his example.

‘Amy starts off as self-centred, but by the end she has become this great philanthropist, giving away money, and she wants to set up scholarships for young women who want to become artists.

‘Jo also sets up a school, which takes in poor children, including a young AfricanAmerican boy. Abolitionism, referenced within the text, was definitely fuelled by the

characters’ Christian ideals as well.

‘The characters in Little Women model Christ through charity, such as when the girls give away their Christmas breakfast.

The idea of living in service to others was embedded in the Alcott family’s DNA.’ More than 150 years since the first volume of Little Women was printed, and multiple film, TV and book adaptations later, the legacy of the story endures. The book has never gone out of print, and has been translated into more than 50 languages.

Anne believes that the story’s appeal derives from the book’s nostalgic sense of family but also its progressive attitude towards what young people can achieve.

‘Its portrayal of the girls growing up, particularly Jo and the space that the family gives her to grow as an individual, remains appealing all over the world,’ she says.

‘The most revolutionary message is that there isn’t just one way to grow from a girl into a woman. It gives girls the opportunity to reflect on what their path will be, and realise that, although there might be compromises along the way, they have choices.’

l Meg, Jo, Beth, Amy: The Story of Little Women and Why It Still Matters is published by WW Norton & Company

Aunt March (Meryl Streep)

14 December 2019 • WAR CRY • 7

THAT’S THE GOSPEL TRUTH

JOHN DICKSON speaks to Sarah Olowofoyeku about whether Jesus really existed and why it matters

John Dickson

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HRISTMAS songs can be heard through shopping centre sound systems, on radio stations and out of the mouths of pupils in Nativity plays at this time of year. Some tell of snow, others of Santa Claus, and a number of them mention shepherds and the baby Jesus.

Jesus is central to Christmas celebrations for Christians, who use the occasion to reflect on his birth. But other people may look on him as just another imaginary figure, along with Santa Claus and his reindeer.

John Dickson, an Australian speaker and historian, believes that Jesus was more than a legend. In his book Is Jesus History? he sets out the historical proof of Jesus’ existence.

‘The problem with trying to approach a topic like this is that you either stumble across books that are debunking everything,’ he tells me, ‘or books that are trying to prove everything about the Christian faith.

Not many books take a middle ground to give a more responsible, historically

8 • WAR CRY • 14 December 2019

recognisable account of the study of Jesus.’

In his book, he quotes historians who agree that Jesus did walk the Earth.

E. P. Sanders said: ‘There are no substantial doubts about the general course of Jesus’ life: when and where he lived, approximately when and where he died, and the sort of thing that he did during his public activity.’

In one chapter, John explains how information about other historical figures is gleaned through ‘good biographical material’, and that the gospels are considered as such concerning the life of Jesus.

He uses Alexander the Great as one example of a historical figure, writing that the bulk of what we know about him comes from written sources composed after his death. The same applies to Jesus. John then compares

the best written sources for the two figures and points out that: ‘The Gospels of Mark and Luke were written between 30 and 50 years after Jesus’ death. Arrian was written 400 years after Alexander.’

‘A lot of people,’ John says, ‘assume that the gospels are like the novel The Hobbit. But historians would say that they are biographical accounts of a genuine 1st-century life. I want to show readers that they can take the gospels seriously. When people finish my book, I hope they go to a more important book, the Bible, and read a gospel, because the character of Jesus leaps out of every page, in all his strangeness and power and humility.’

While many historical figures are remembered for their exploits, what strikes John about Jesus is the humility of his life and yet the impact that it

INTERVIEW

The world’s most influential story is of a Galilean teacher who ended up on a cross had – more than 2,000 years later, countless people live according to Jesus’ teachings and have had their lives changed by him.

‘It is extraordinary that the world’s most influential story is not one of a conqueror who travelled the world,’ says John. ‘It’s the story of a Galilean teacher who travelled about 120 kilometres and who ended up on a cross.’

And that humility began with his birth.

Although John is able to show that there is evidence proving the life of Jesus, there isn’t, he admits, ‘the same degree of evidence’ surrounding his birth.

‘But that is the case for most historical figures, even emperors,’ he says. ‘We know very little about their childhood – it isn’t until they become influential figures that we get more documentation.

‘People ask, “What was Jesus doing as a 15-year-old?” The natural

temptation is to invent stuff, but historians have said that one of the indications of how sober and measured the gospel writers were is that they give us so few stories to fill in those blanks.

‘Two of the biographies tell a story of an unusual birth in Bethlehem, and so I am inclined to believe them.’

The unusual birth, celebrated at Christmas, and the extraordinary life of Jesus are, for John and many others, more than just historical truth. ‘They are saying that God, the creator of all things, entered into our world of pain, suffering and weakness as a baby, grew up with a relative lack of resources, lived a life like ours, suffered and died on a cross.

‘Even if someone is sceptical, to step back and imagine, “What if it were true that absolute power came into the world with humility?” would change everything. It would mean that the

heartbeat of the universe is not power, but is humility, and a willingness to serve, because God himself is like that.

‘It also means God’s forgiveness.

Matthew’s Gospel says: “He shall be called Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” We have this extraordinary idea of God’s humility and also the wonderful, lifegiving idea that every human being can find forgiveness and mercy from God.’

l Is Jesus History? is published by the Good Book Company 14 December 2019 • WAR CRY • 9

EXPLORE Prayerlink YOUR prayers are requested for Sally, who has had cancer for almost five years; for Stefan, who is struggling with anxiety and depression, and is concerned for his family; and for Sarah, who has recently become a Christian.

The War Cry invites readers to send in requests for prayer, including the first names of individuals and details of their ­circumstances. Send your requests to Prayerlink, War Cry, 101 Newington Causeway, Lon­don SE1 6BN. Mark your envelope ‘Confidential’.

Becoming a Christian There is no set formula to becoming a Christian, but many people have found saying this prayer to be a helpful first step to a relationship with God Lord Jesus Christ, I am truly sorry for the things I have done wrong in my life. Please forgive me. I now turn from everything that I know is wrong.

Thank you that you died on the cross for me so that I could be forgiven and set free.

Thank you that you offer me forgiveness and the gift of your Holy Spirit.

Please come into my life by your Holy Spirit to be with me for ever.

Thank you, Lord Jesus.

Amen Extract from Why Jesus? by Nicky Gumbel published by Alpha International, 2011. Used by kind permission of Alpha International

Nigel Bovey gives chapter and verse on each book in the Scriptures

Acts

OSPEL-writer Luke is the author G of the Acts of the Apostles, a ‘whathappened-next’ account of the Early

Afterwards, it is Paul who leads the mission to the Gentile world, embarking on three tours. The first takes in Cyprus and parts of modern-day Turkey (chapters 13 and 14).

During the second, despite being flogged and

Church in the years after Christ’s resurrection. Beginning with the ascension of Jesus into Heaven (1:1–11), it records the growth and expansion of the Christian movement and the fulfilment of Jesus’ Acts records the growth promise to his disciples (1:8) that they and expansion of the would receive spiritual power.

In the early chapters, the focus is on Peter, Christian movement one of Jesus’ closest followers, who is the preacher on the Day of Pentecost when the once-frightened disciples are empowered by imprisoned, he visits fledgling churches in God’s Spirit to speak openly about the risen Greece and Turkey (15:40 to 18:22).

Jesus. On that day, some 3,000 people are On his third journey, he revisits some converted (2:41). churches (18:23 to 20:38) before arriving in Peter and John appear before the religious Jerusalem, which is in uproar (chapter 21). leaders to explain their behaviour (chapter 4). Paul is accused of heresy and imprisoned.

Opposition mounts. Peter and other apostles His life is threatened. As a Roman citizen, he are flogged, but they refuse to stop preach- successfully appeals to be tried by a Roman ing (5:40–42). Stephen is stoned to death, court. He is transported to Rome, where, becoming the first martyr (chapter 7). Many pending trial, he lives under house arrest believers escape Jerusalem and head for near- (chapters 22 to 28).

by Judaea and Samaria.

While in the Samaritan port of Caesarea, Peter receives a vision in which God tells him that the good news about Jesus is for Gentiles as well as Jews (chapter 10). when the Holy ‘You will receive power The later chapters focus on d you will be my Paul who, as a pious Jewish Spirit comes on you; an d in all Judaea leader, is initially against the esses in Jerusalem, an tn wi rth’ Early Church, but who experid to the ends of the ea an , ria ma Sa d an ences a dramatic conversion on nal Version) a road to Damascus (chapter 9).

(Acts 1:8 New Internatio

Key verse

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