A Well-meaning But Misguided Cricket

A Well-Meaning but Misguided Cricket

Most folks are aware that Walt Disney’s first-ever animated feature was Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. But do you know which came second? Here’s a hint: “Give a little whistle!” That’s right, on this date in 1940, the studio released its second full-length cartoon, Pinocchio, the beloved story of a marionette that comes to life and, aided by a cricket, tries to become a real boy by telling the truth and resisting temptation.

There’s a lot to like about this fun, colorful morality tale. Puppets. Music. Boys turning into donkeys! Heee-aww. It’s a classic. But if you listen closely, you’ll also hear a few things that may sound a little off, including the famous song lyric “Always let your conscience be your guide.”

Think about that. What is a conscience, anyway? Among other things, it has been described as the “inner policeman” who tells us what’s right and wrong. But all of us have a moral code that is a bit different depending on where we’ve grown up and the things we’ve been taught. And let’s face it, since we’re sinful by nature (see Romans 8:5) it’s awfully risky to trust in anything coming from inside us . . . including our conscience.

On a similar note, you may also hear a pop singer or a character in a movie tell you to follow your heart. Jeremiah 17:9 warns that the heart is deceitful and wicked. How can we know if it’s telling us the truth?

Even though a message sung by a cute cricket or a charming Disney princess may sound good, we need a more reliable guide than our conscience or our heart. Fortunately, we have one: the Bible. God’s Word is eternal, which means his truths don’t change over time. They don’t get squishy from one situation to the next. And the same rules apply to everyone. So when you have a big decision to make, give a little whistle, and always let Scripture be your guide.

Daddy-Daughter Time

Can you think of a movie or song that tells you to follow your heart? What could go wrong if someone always lived by that advice? Despite a wayward song lyric, Jiminy Cricket does play a very important role in Pinocchio’s life; he’s a friend who holds him accountable for his behavior. We all need that, and the Holy Spirit is that friend for us. To whom are you accountable?

What’s The Word?

The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?   Jeremiah 17:9