What Disney Princess Are You?

When I say the word princess, what comes to mind?

Was it a Disney film you love? Was it a Disney film you hate?
Was it a damsel in distress? Was it a strong female? Was it a spoiled, pampered, self-centered girl? Was it a classy, elegant, graceful young woman?

Can we all agree that princesses, at least of the fairytale Disney variety, have dramatically changed over the years?

The “classics” are Snow White, Cinderella and Aurora (Sleeping Beauty). I grew up with Ariel, Belle and Jasmine. My daughters watched Pocahontas, Mulan and Tiana. Now girls want to be like Rapunzel, Merida, Elsa & Anna.

And of course there is tiny little Sofia the First on Disney Junior.

Somehow Tiger Lily (Peter Pan), Giselle (Enchanted), Meg (Hercules) and Esmeralda (Hunchback of Notre Dame) were forgotten. How many countless Disney princesses were dissed, lying on the cutting room floor of our memories?

We are obsessed with princesses. I found no less than a dozen quizzes designed to show me which Disney princess I am. So I thought about the basic story...

Through no fault of her own, a girl is in trouble. The handsome and strong prince comes to her rescue and they live happily ever after. That's the fairytale, right? Not anymore!

Now we have emasculated princes who are rescued by strong princesses. We have princesses who neither need nor desire a prince of any sort. They are independent and resourceful - they can find their "happily ever after" all by themselves! Parents everywhere encourage their daughters to follow this lead. Be strong. Be independent. Don't sit around waiting for a man to ride in on a white horse and rescue you or to make you happy. We tell our girls that they are strong and capable on their own. They are smarter and faster than any man. 

They are wittier, and prettier.

And the gospel is suffering!

Yes, you read that right. Our infatuation with and immersion in the world of Disney is distorting and diluting the gospel of Jesus Christ. Now before you bail on me and denounce me as a heretic... I love Disney princesses. I have my favorites, I watch the movies, I daydream. But - I don't base my perception of princes and princesses on what I see on the screen. I use them as teaching moments, but I'm teaching a far different message than most of the modern moms I know.

Consider Paul's letter to the believers in Galatia:

Galatians 4:1-7(NKJV)

Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all,² but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father. ³ Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world. ⁴ But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, ⁵ to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. ⁶ And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”⁷ Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

The scene opens on a young girl, bound by some evil force in the world. Perhaps she is an orphan, or has evil parents. Perhaps she is cursed, dreaming of a different world, deceived by looks, stubborn, misunderstood, looked down on and discounted, poor, trapped, underestimated. Maybe she's still young, or completely forgotten. (vs. 1-3)

But then, at the right time, the prince comes! He comes as a man to rescue and redeem her, to release her from her bondage and take her home to the castle of the kingdom. (vs. 4-5)

The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. (Acts 5:30-31)

Yes, he comes ride a white horse, the crowned prince. Yes, he battles his way to her, fighting and conquering the enemy to reach and rescue the girl.

Now I saw  when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, "Come and see." And I looked, and behold a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer. (Revelation 6:1-2)

Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called the Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

How does the girl respond? She is grateful to be rescued! She recognizes her state of bondage, and appreciates his bravery and efforts to save her. She respects his nobility. She falls in love with him, and is humbled by his love for her. She recognizes that he chose her and fought for her, and he intended to provide for her. She adores, even worships, him. She goes gladly with him.

Exodus 15:11  “Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, Fearful in praises, doing wonders? ¹² You stretched out Your right hand; The earth swallowed them. ¹³ You in Your mercy have led forth the people whom You have redeemed; You have guided them in Your strength to Your holy habitation.

1 Samuel 2... “My heart rejoices in the Lord; My horn is exalted in the Lord. I smile at my enemies, because I rejoice in Your salvation. ² “No one is holy like the Lord, For there is none besides You, Nor is there any rock like our God. ⁴ “The bows of the mighty men are broken, And those who stumbled are girded with strength. ⁷ The Lord makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and lifts up. ⁸ He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the beggar from the ash heap, To set them among princes and make them inherit the throne of glory.

The girl is sealed with a promise - she becomes his bride, his princess. She is no longer a slave, but a daughter of the King and heir to the kingdom (vs. 6-7). She believes he is the prince, and she loves him. So the King loves her on his behalf, and treats her as family. 

In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God. (John 16:26-27)

Have you ever considered the transition she must have faced? 

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

Together with the prince, she overcomes every obstacle and lives happily ever after.

If happily ever after is what you’re after, the plot is not in a new Disney film.

If someone to emulate is what you’re after, the character is not a new Disney princess.

I WANT my girls to realize that their stubborn independence keeps them from being the princesses God created them to be. It is only when they recognize their own bondage to sin and receive the gift of salvation from the Prince that they can live happily ever after.

Romans 5:6… For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷ For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. ⁸ But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ⁹ Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. ¹⁰ For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. ¹¹ And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.