Despicable Me 2 can be used as a prime example of being saved by Jesus Christ and then going out to help others. Did the filmmakers intend to use such a powerful religious correlation? Probably not, but it can be a wise use of your creativity to find these Christian messages in secular films. It helps keep faith strong and can make Christians better witnesses to others. So, how exactly does Despicable Me 2 teach this important lesson from John?

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. —John 3:3, KJV

In the first film, Despicable Me, the main character, Gru (Steve Carell), is a super villain. He uses three girls from an orphanage in an attempt to carry out his evil plan. In the process, the girls melt his heart. He adopts them and turns from his evil ways. In this sequel, Gru is living a peaceful life with his three daughters when he is kidnapped by the Anti-Villain League. They want him to use his evil expertise to help them track down a dangerous villain. At first, Gru is reluctant. Quickly he realizes that the love he has for his girls is the same love that all parents must have for their children and he knows he must use his knowledge to keep the world safe.

In many ways this is what happens when a sinner is saved through Jesus Christ. The sinner sees what he has done, repents of his sins, welcomes Jesus as his Savior and then goes out and tells the world of the saving grace that changed his life. Gru was a sinner. He was evil. He saw what he was, made a change and went out to make the world a better place.

Christians are also like Gru because they can use their sinful knowledge to help people. Jesus was the only perfect human to walk this Earth. Everyone else is a sinner. Christians can use the sins of their past, present and future to connect with other sinners. There is nothing more powerful when talking with an unsaved person than the ability to relate to what they are going through.

Having Jesus in your life is not a ticket to a problem-free existence. Christians still have problems and struggles, just like the unsaved. But the beautiful thing is that God will never let you down or let you go through anything you cannot handle with His help. And, you don’t have to earn it. All you have to do is ask for it! Often times all it takes to make a difference is one moment of clarity for the unsaved to see that Christians are just like them. 

And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. —Matthew 4:19, KJV

In a way, Gru turned into a fisher of men. Instead of being a Christian ministering to the unsaved, he was a converted evildoer using his skills to stop evil. Christians may not be able to stop sin, but they can use their knowledge of sin to help others and show them Jesus. And Christians can certainly help themselves and others to sin less.

Getting to the point beyond just knowing right from wrong is an important step in a Christian’s walk with God. Once you accept Jesus as your Savior, sinning should upset you. It should bother you to the deepest parts of your soul and you should want to immediately repent and ask for God’s forgiveness. And, praise Jesus, you will get it!

So, take some advice from Gru. Use your Christianity as a weapon against sin. Use your knowledge of sin as a way to connect with the unsaved. Use that connection to bring more people into the loving arms of Jesus. Teach a man to be a fisher of men and he’ll never be hungry again!

Despicable Me 2 is a family-friendly film acceptable for all ages. Take your kids to see it and then have a discussion about how Jesus changed Gru’s heart.