Lord, Forgive Us Our Cinema: What Does Barbie Say About Being Made in God’s Image? 💕
- Jarrad McDaniel
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
Episode Published: August 2025
Podcast Episode: Barbie (2023) — Lord, Forgive Us Our Cinema
Photo credit: Mattel/IMDB
“Hi, Barbie!”
The Lord, Forgive Us Our Cinema crew — John, Jarrad, Danielle, and Annie — kicks off this pink-tinted episode with laughter, nostalgia, and more than a few existential questions.
This isn’t your average movie review. The hosts dive into Greta Gerwig’s Barbie not just as a pop-culture phenomenon but as a surprisingly profound reflection on identity, purpose, and divine design.
A Plastic World with Real Questions
The team opens by joking about growing up with (or avoiding) Barbie dolls — before shifting to what the movie actually says. In Barbie, everything is perfect until it isn’t. Stereotypical Barbie (Margot Robbie) starts thinking about death, cellulite, and the meaning of life — and suddenly her pastel world begins to crack.
“It’s Genesis 3 with glitter,” Jarrad quips. “Innocence, awareness, and the fall of Barbie Land.”
They unpack how Barbie’s awakening mirrors the human story — the moment we realize perfection isn’t possible on our own. It’s not just a feminist fable or a cultural critique; it’s a mirror of our longing for purpose and connection to the Creator.
Made in the Image — Not the Ideal
The hosts spend time exploring the film’s obsession with image — both literal and spiritual. Barbie is designed to be “everything women can be,” yet she’s trapped by what others project onto her. The conversation quickly turns theological:
“God made us in His image,” Danielle notes, “but we’ve been trying to make ourselves in the world’s image ever since.”
The group discusses how the movie’s message — that worth isn’t found in perfection but in imperfection — reflects the Gospel truth that we are loved before we’re flawless.
Ken, Ego, and the Search for Identity
It wouldn’t be Lord, Forgive Us without some playful theology. The hosts dive into Ken’s existential spiral (“I’m just Ken”) and the way it reveals humanity’s hunger for belonging.
Annie draws a parallel to the story of the Prodigal Son: Ken defines himself by Barbie’s approval until he realizes he’s already loved — not for what he does, but for who he is.
“Ken’s whole arc,” John laughs, “is Romans 7 in rollerblades — doing what he hates, trying to find meaning outside of love.”
By the end, the hosts agree Ken’s journey is comic but deeply human — a reflection of our own struggle between pride, insecurity, and grace.
Barbie Meets the Breath of Life
One of the most striking parts of the podcast is when the team unpacks Barbie’s encounter with her creator — Ruth Handler — near the film’s end.
“It’s like watching a creation story in reverse,” says Jarrad. “Barbie meets her maker and finally receives her soul.” The hosts connect this scene to Genesis 2:7, when God breathes life into Adam. Barbie choosing to be human — fragile, imperfect, and real — becomes an act of faith, a willingness to embrace the mystery of living.
Faith in the Feminine
Throughout the episode, the team celebrates how Barbie honors womanhood without idolizing it. They discuss how Gerwig’s storytelling feels compassionate rather than cynical — affirming that faith and femininity aren’t at odds.
Danielle reflects: “It’s not anti-man or anti-woman. It’s pro-human — a reminder that God’s image shows up in both.”
The conversation stays joyful and respectful, balancing humor and reverence for how God can speak even through pink convertibles and dance numbers.
Final Thoughts
By the episode’s end, the crew agrees that Barbie is far more than a cultural fad — it’s a story about awakening, grace, and the divine fingerprints in every human story.
In the hosts’ words, Barbie shows us that “being real is holier than being perfect.”
💗 Themes: Faith & Film, Identity, Image of God, Feminine Theology, Redemption, Purpose, Creator & Creation
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