Mamma Mia! is one of those movies I simply can’t unsee (even though I desperately wish I could). When the credits appeared on screen, all I felt was disgusted—and disgusting. I’d never seen anything like it, and quite frankly, it weirded me out.
But regardless of my opinion of Mamma Mia!, it objectively defied the biblical view of marriage. Unfortunately, I can never get the 108 minutes back that I spent watching it; but I hope to save you that time.
Oldie but a Goodie?
I realize Mamma Mia! is over a decade old, but I actually hadn’t seen it until a few months ago (unless you count semi-watching it in the waiting room at the dentist’s office). After watching the entire movie from start to finish, here’s what my overall synopsis of it is: Don’t waste your time on it.
I could go on a long rant about the unnecessary crude jokes that plagued the entire movie, as well as the disgusting gay romance that was depicted. But what I want to focus on in this post is the overall message that most viewers probably took away from the movie: Marriage isn’t necessary. When two people love each other, getting married is an option—but so is not getting married. Living together (i.e., having sex outside the boundaries that keep it sacred) is an option that’s just as valid as getting married.
Perhaps that’s why so few people are actually getting married today. After all, if marriage is just an old-fashioned idea or boring tradition, why not just live together? Why not sleep around? Why have sex within the bounds of marriage when you can have sex outside the bounds of marriage?
Because God values marriage greatly, which means we should, too.
Held in Honor
Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge. (Hebrews 13:4 NASB1995)
Sadly, in Mamma Mia!, marriage wasn’t held in honor. In fact, it was essentially discarded as an unnecessary, outdated tradition. Sex outside marriage was treated incredibly casually.
Not only did Donna defile the marriage bed many times in her youth, but we can also safely assume Sophie defiled the marriage bed as well. At the end of the movie, she and her fiancé decided not to go through with their wedding; they just called it off. No wedding necessary.
Though the movie obviously didn’t show the negative consequences of defiling the marriage bed, God makes it very clear: He judges fornicators and adulterers.
Yes, I realize there are worse movies than Mamma Mia!. I’m not saying you’re a terrible person if you’ve seen it. But if you’re considering watching it or rewatching it, my hope is that this post has brought its flaws to light and that you’ll spend your time on a better movie.
Tizzie's Tidbits of Truth 