The very concept of church is extremely complex because since the time immemorial religion has played many important roles in the society. Thus, it is next to impossible to give one definition of this word for it encompasses a great number of aspects. However, the notion of church has always been a subject of theological and philosophical study and it has been analyzed from different points of view.
In this essay, we will describe the models of church, which were presented by Avery Dulles. It is also of utmost importance to show how these models of church are reflected in the film “The Mission”.
Then the question arises why exactly this movie is selected. It may be explained by the fact that this film illustrates nearly all these models and gives the critical analyses of them. It also might be necessary to give at least a general review of this film.
The events described in the movie take place during the time of the so-called Jesuit Reductions, which may be defined as a program according to which Jesuit priests set up missions, which were entirely independent of the Spanish state and their main aim was to convert the indigenous people to Christianity.
The main characters of this movie are Father Gabriel, the priest who was sent to Christianize the Guarani Indians and Rodrigo Mendoza (played by De Niro) the former slave trader, the person who killed his brother and desperately trying to find redemption.
Mendoza and Gabriel attempt to protect the Indians against the cruelty of Portuguese colonial troops who endeavor to enslave the indigenous people of Guarani under the new powers given to them according to the Treaty of Madrid. Gabriel prefers nonviolent means of struggle and Mendoza is more inclined to resort to the means of his military training. The mission that was initially under Spanish control has been abandoned to the Portuguese while the Vatican (represented by Papal envoy Altamirano) has commanded the Jesuits to surrender the territory that is above the falls.
In the end, the combined forces of both countries (Spain and Portugal) carry out an attack on the mission. The soldiers kill many Indians as well as all the missionaries. Father Gabriel is conducting Benediction with the GuaranĂ children and women when the main character and several of the Guaranis are shot dead. Father Fielding (Liam Neeson), is killed by a soldier when he was trying to escape in a boat with two Indians.
Cabeza and Hontar, the authorities who were making that attack, attempt to prove that those brutal murders were justified; the Cardinal is not convinced that these people are telling him the truth.
According to Dulles, there are seven models of church. The first is church as institution. The so-called institutional model views the church as a hierarchical and visible structure, whose symbol is some kind of a pyramid.
For a very long time church was considered to be a self-sufficient visible society which is entirely independent of temporal power and to a certain degree superior to it. Judging by this model, the relationships in the “perfect society” of church were based on authority, doctrine, and sacraments.
In the movie “The Mission”, one of the main characters Jesuit priest father Gabriel goes to South America to convert indigenous people (Guaranà Indians) into Christianity. Naturally, he obeys the authority of Vatican but at the same time he is firmly convinced that God is love and any form of violence is the violation of that love.
Father Gabriel cannot understand how the local priests (not only the local priest but also the Holy Mother Church) can approve violence and slavery, and he rebels against them trying to protect the Indians. Here we can observe the conflict between the duty and personal moral code.
Avery Dulles also views the church as some sort of mystical community. Analyzing the church from this pin of view, we may arrive at the conclusion that it is a community of people, who are united because they share their lives in the Holy Spirit, it means that their internal or as one may call it spiritual bonds are of much more importance than their external or juridical relations. Nevertheless, Dulles believes that this model can romanticize the Church as an ideal community.
The makers of “The Mission” try to describe this mystical communion and the relationships within this communion in the following way. First, if we look at the Indians, who were converted by Father Gabriel, It is quite possible for us to say that there relationships are based on the spiritual bonds not official ones. This is what Christians all over the world long for.
It is remarkable that even at the end when Guarani are being slaughtered they are still devoted to Father Gabriel. These people are holding crucifixes and containers of bread; naturally, this scene symbolizes their unity with each other and Jesus Christ.
If we take for instance the sacrament model, we may say according to it the church is the sacrament of Christ and the unity of all humankind. The bonds in this community are visible through the signs of social grace.
At the end of the movie, one of the main characters Mendoza (the former slave trader) perishes after abandoning a chance to spring a trap his rivals in order to save children of Guarani on a bridge. This scene presumably symbolizes the reconciliation with Jesus Christ and redemption he had been hankering after.
The fourth model according to Dulles represents the church as some kind of herald, which means that it fulfills evangelical mission. Naturally, this model is strongly supported by the prophetic tradition. In other words we may say that church preaches good news of Jesus Christ and of His Fathers kingdom.
This model of church is reflected in the movie “The Mission”. The main herald of the Christian Church is represented by the Father Gabriel who Christianizes the Indians of Guarani.
Moreover, Dulles considers the church to be some kind of servant. The question arises what is meant by this statement. In the ideal Christen community the authority is given to the person so that he could help and assist people but not over them. His main task is to serve people who were oppressed, outcast or exclude from the society. He must help other people to keep to that straight and narrow line which lead to the Kingdom of Heaven.
One of the main characters Father Gabriel can be viewed as such servant. He becomes a priest not to exercise power and influence over other people (it was not very widespread in the eighteenth century because the vast majority of people chose this “profession” for their own mercantile purposes). His aim is to enlighten other people to show them that the only way to God is love. However, his views and ideas we not supported by others.
If we look at the church as Pilgrim People of God (as Dulles says) we may describe it as people who are unanimous in their journey to the Kingdom of Heaven. Certainly that does not mean that they are already there but their hearts are opened for Gods wisdom.
Rodrigo Mendoza who was played by De Niro is the person who is trying to find this Kingdom of Heaven. He is looking for redemption because he is guilty of murdering his own brother. Nevertheless, at the end of the movie this man sacrifices his life for the sake of GuaranĂ children. We cannot say for a fact but probably this pilgrim finds his destination.
Moreover, we should say Guarani Indians can also viewed as such pilgrims, and Father Gabriel is the person who helps them.
Thus, we may arrive at the conclusion that the so-called models of church presented by Avery Dulles were eloquently described in the film “The Mission”, which shows the true values of Christianity. The main message that the makers of this film wanted to convey is that any person can find his own way to God.