Life Lessons From "To Kill A Mockingbird"

Part 1: Spiritual Warfare

By: Saintmichaeldefendthem (via_dolorosa) Posted: LDS.NET, The-Highway.com, Bible-discussion.com

A good lesson on true spiritual warfare, how God used a sweet innocent little girl to stay the hand of evil.

I'm going to use this scene from the movie rather than the book. Here is the backdrop. Tom Robinson, a negro, had just been arrested and charged with raping a white woman in a poor Southern town in the 1930's. Atticus Finch, a lawyer and single father, was appointed to defend him. Many in town were of the mind that Tom's guilt was not in question and that a trial would be perfunctory and there were some still who had no desire that Tom even make it to trial. So when Tom was transferred to the county jail, Atticus knew there would be trouble that night. In an effort to head it off, he waited until his children were in bed and then drove to the jail. He set up a chair, a lamp powered by an extension cord, and a good book to help him keep vigil through the night. Unbeknownst to Atticus, his children Jem and Scout had followed him on foot and were concealed in the bushes watching their father read by the light of the lamp.

If one could look with different eyes, they might have also seen an angelic sentry standing next to Atticus. Heaven was their to protect Atticus as Atticus was there to protect Tom.

Predictably, several vehicle drove up filled with armed men who were up to no good. They filed out of the vehicles and approached as a mob, every one of them toting a rifle. Atticus was unarmed as he became surrounded by the hastily marshalled posse. These were not strangers; every one of them were local townsmen who Atticus knew, good men possessed by a bad idea. Looking with different eyes, one might detect something else that possessed the crowd, a gaggle of demons frothing the men with murderous intent.

"Step aside, Mr. Finch, you know what we're here for," Mr. Cunningham said.

"I suggest you all just go home," Atticus responded.

But the posse came with bloodlust on their minds and would not be shaken of it so easily. Jem, afraid for his father, ran out from his hiding place, his sister in tow, and positioned himself between his father and the posse. Only 10 years old, but they would have to get through him to get to his father. The posse immediately demanded Atticus send his children home. Atticus told Jem to take his sister home. Jem, furtively glancing at the menacing posse, responded "No Sir." Though far from being a defiant child, there was no way Jem was going to leave his father to face this threat alone. During this standoff, however, Scout recognized one of the faces in the crowd.

"Hello Mr. Cunningham." Mr. Cunningham didn't respond. "Don't you remember me? I go to school with your boy. I go to school with Walter. Will you say 'hey' for me when you see him?"

The posse, including Mr. Cunningham, remained silent. Scout, sensing the awkwardness, became crestfallen and said, "I sure didn't mean any harm."

"No harm, little lady," Mr. Cunningham replied, "And I'll tell Walter you said 'hey'". Then he turned to the crowd, and said, "Let's get on out of here." And nobody argued with Mr. Cunningham, a man who had gained exceptional prestige in the community. The tide had shifted, the demons withering at the sound of a child's voice, and the men now bereft of their resolve to lynch Tom Robinson. The posse packed up and motored off into the night, never to return.

"Mr. Finch, are they gone?" Asked a terrified Tom Robinson through the jail cell bars.

"Yes, Tom, they won't bother you anymore," Atticus said.

During this exchange, no demons were bound or rebuked in the name of Jesus. In fact, the name of Jesus wasn't even used. There wasn't even a prayer. There is a time and a place for those weapons of spiritual warfare, but in this case, an even mightier weapon was brought to bare. A sweet, innocent little girl shamed several strong and well armed men into relenting from their impious errand and cowared the demonic realm, her tender words piercing into the night and undoing the forces of wickedness. This is spiritual warfare at its finest and an example of how God uses innocence and meekness to cause good to prevail against evil. It's a lesson for us all.

In the Sacred Heart of Christ.


Liberalism -- Ideas so good, they have to be mandated.