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But here's where some different spiritual ideas get introduced, where the notion of the two worlds gets complicated. Neo is told in the first film that he is the One, the savior of both worlds. He's not inclined to believe it, and neither are we, frankly, at least not in the shape of Keanu Reeves. But at last, he does believe, as do we, and at the end of the first Matrix film, Neo accepts his destiny and transcends the boundaries of the physical world. He dies in—and potentially to—that world. Then he comes back to life.

He could pass on to the next world. But like Jesus, he returns to the physical world—in a physical body—because the work of redemption continues there. Neo doesn't leave the matrix, even though he could; to save the people of that world, Neo has to enter it, engage it, just like Jesus came back to our world to wrestle with his hard-headed disciples. If he hadn't sent them out to tell the good news everywhere, they might still be milling around.

And most of us would be lost.

Neo's story leads me to think of the central mystery of our faith, incarnation. This world doesn't simply reveal the presence of God; it has hosted God. Neo's return reminds us that while the matrix may be a fallen world, it is still a world full of people very much worth saving. Our God came into physical form for that very reason, and no matter how much of a mess we make of things—even if, perish the thought, we were to blast our own world into blackened rock—God would still come to bring salvation.

I'd be the first to grant that the Matrix films don't work as a Sunday school lesson (or as tracts or theological texts for any of the many faith traditions referenced by the Wachowski Brothers). They don't pose definitive answers. In function, if not in form, they actually remind me of a Zen koan, one of those head-scratching questions like "What is the sound of one hand clapping?"

That's okay with me. As much as I look for grace and truth in all kinds of stories, Jesus gave me some perfectly good ultimate answers, and I'll happily point the curious toward them. I'm drawn to the Matrix films for other reasons. Most of our popular culture doesn't even rise to the level of competent entertainment; when a popular film like The Matrix seriously considers questions of being, faith, and purpose, when it engages millions of people in thought on those questions, and when it dramatically suggests that answers are out there if you only believe—well, let's just say I'll gladly put down my money to see a movie like that.

Greg Garrett is the author—with Chris Seay—of The Gospel Reloaded: Exploring Spirituality and Faith in the Matrix, and of the novel Free Bird. He teaches fiction writing and film at Baylor University.

The views expressed in Speaking Out do not necessarily reflect those of Christianity Today.

Copyright © 2004 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Other Matrix dicsussions:

Film Forum: Talking About Revolutions | What religious critics are saying about The Matrix Revolutions... (November 6, 2003)

Exegeting The Matrix | A lot of spiritual stuff went into The Matrix films, but not as much as some authors think. (November 6, 2003)

The Dick Staub Interview: Why We Are Drawn to The Matrix | Chris Seay, coauthor of The Gospel Reloaded, says the first movie was about finding belief and the second looks at walking that path. (May 27, 2003)

Film Forum: Matrix Sequel Flaunts Flashy Effects, Tedious Talk | Christian film critics find little enthusiasm for The Matrix Reloaded, Down with Love, or Daddy Day Care, but they are impressed with Man on the Train. (May 22, 2003)

The Matrix Reloaded | Christianity Today Movies did not review this film, but here's what other critics are saying … (May 15, 2003)

Speaking Out: Desert of the Real? | The world of The Matrix is wrong: Creation really is beautiful.(May 12, 2003)

Liberated by Reality: The Matrix | Tony Jones (September 1999)

The Matrix Trilogy Bible-based Discussion Guide | What do these ground-breaking films say about the nature of self-knowledge, faith, love, reality, free will, and destiny? For personal use or as a group series, download this Reel-to-Real study to look deeper at these challenging moral and philosophical questions.

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May (Web-only) 2003, Vol. 47