Below are Kids Movie Talking Points for Babe.
Babe is called “stupid” along with sheep. Is that a kind word to use to describe someone?
No. The Bible uses the word “fool” to describe someone who is not wise, lacks self-control and acts irrationally (Prov. 10:14; 12:15; 26:11). Though it is okay to recognize certain behavior as foolish we usually shouldn’t call someone stupid or a fool to their face since it wouldn’t be kind or loving.
Are sheep actually foolish or stupid?
In the movie, the animals can talk and think like humans. However, this isn’t realistic. In reality, pigs and sheep are not the smartest animals. When the Bible describes us as sheep (Ps. 23) that need to be led by God, it isn’t a compliment. Sheep easily lose their way and if they are lost they can’t find their way home and will often get paralyzed with fear and not try to move.
How does Babe treat the sheep compared to the sheepdogs?
The sheepdogs yell at the sheep and use fear to get them to do what they want. Babe talks to them kindly and asks them. In real life, we should always treat people the way Babe did since we are called to love others as ourselves (Matt. 22:37-39) and be kind with our words (Eph. 4:29-32).
Babe’s owner is laughed at for entering Babe into the sheepdog competition, but he does it anyway. What do we learn from that about being a Christian?
Sometimes people will laugh at Christians for what we believe. But that is okay. In fact, it’s more than okay. Peter even tells us to “rejoice insofar as you share in Christ’s suffering, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ you are blessed for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you” (1 Pet. 4:13-14).
Babe ends up winning the sheepdog competition. Should we always try to be whatever we want to be, like Babe?
Yes and no. On one hand it is okay to have dreams and pursue them, but on the other hand God gave us certain gifts and limitations. The Bible describes the church as a body made up of different parts. If a hand tries to be a foot it’s not going to work, as much as they want to be a foot. We should always subject our dreams to God’s will and be content to serve God in whatever role he gives us.
Scripture says Jesus is the Good Shepherd and we are his sheep (John 10:11-12). As our shepherd how does Jesus treat us?
Jesus doesn’t threaten us like the sheepdogs. He’s kind like Babe but he also doesn’t ask us politely as if he needed us to do him a favor. He’s God and is all powerful! Yet, he actually laid down his life for us in love. He leads us by setting the perfect example for us and dying and suffering for us. There is nothing that God asks us to do that he hasn’t first done perfectly (Heb. 4:15). Because he died for us we get to joyfully follow him and offer him our lives and our hearts in obedience (2 Cor. 5:14-15).
Mike McGregor
Mike McGregor (MDiv, Reformed Theological Seminary) is Director of College Ministry at First Baptist Church in Durham, N.C. You can follow him on Twitter at @m5mcgregor.
