1. A new Netflix series, "Slowly, Intensely," centers on dreamers in the 1960s–1980s Korean entertainment world.
2. The story shows ambition, suffering, and moral conflict in an industry shaped by unfair structures.
3. As Christians we can learn to distinguish worldly success from faithful character and calling.
4. The Bible calls us to endurance, justice, and integrity when systems are unjust.
5. We are invited to live "slowly, intensely" — patient in faith, fierce in love.
1. Setting the Stage: A Story of Dreams and Cost
Brothers and sisters, the recently completed Netflix production titled "Slowly, Intensely" (working title) portrays people who have little yet burn with a dream of success. Set between the 1960s and 1980s, the drama paints a picture of an industry and an age where rapid social change coexisted with unclear rules, harsh discipline, and frequent abuses. When we watch such a story, we are drawn first to empathy: to the faces that long for recognition, to the small sacrifices no one notices, to the private courage behind public performance. The series invites us to ask how desire for achievement shapes a life: does it make us more generous and faithful, or does it harden our hearts and blind us to injustice? As a church we are not called simply to applaud achievement; we are called to examine the cost and the soul beneath the achievement.
- Dreams can be noble or blinding.
- Systems shape choices as much as individuals do.
- Compassion begins when we see the hidden cost.
2. Success and Its Shadows: A Biblical Reflection
Scriptural wisdom warns us plainly about the lure of worldly gain. Mark 8:36 asks, "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" In the drama, characters who chase fame face moral tests and moments where the applause conflicts with conscience. The Bible does not condemn ambition itself; it calls us to re-order our loves so that ambition serves vocation, neighbor, and God rather than consuming us. When industry cultures reward compromise, the believer is called to resist, to choose the harder path of integrity, even if it seems to retard worldly advancement. Slowly, intensely — the faithful life advances by small, costly acts of loyalty to God and neighbor rather than spectacular conquests of fame.
- Ambition can be sanctified when subordinated to calling.
- Fame without character is an empty prize.
- Integrity often requires losing short-term gain for long-term faithfulness.
3. Living in Unjust Structures: Lessons from Scripture
The era depicted in the series is described as one where "barbarity and violence coexisted" with creativity and hope. The Bible offers many companions for living amid unjust systems: Joseph in Egypt, Daniel in Babylon, and the prophets who spoke truth to power. These figures did not flee reality nor did they capitulate; they navigated, resisted, and bore witness. Our calling is similar: to practice justice, to protect the vulnerable, to name wrongs with courage, and to love those entangled in broken systems. We also remember that endurance is not passive endurance only; it is active perseverance that seeks transformation. In the Christian life patience and prophetic action belong together.
- Witness involves naming injustice.
- Care involves protecting the weak and restoring dignity.
- Perseverance combines patience with righteous action.
4. Growth, Grace, and the Shape of True Success
Growth in the drama comes through hardship, failure, and sometimes costly transformation. The church understands growth as both sanctification and service: God shapes us through trials to be more like Christ so that our lives become a blessing to others. True success, therefore, is not measured only by applause or wealth but by a life that bears fruit in love, justice, and reconciliation. When characters in the story choose to protect another at personal cost, we see the Gospel ethic embodied. Beloved, let us ask whether our personal definitions of success align with the cross: humility, service, and sacrificial love. In this reframing, even a quiet, faithful life is a powerful testimony.
- Success measured by service endures.
- Trials refine, not merely punish.
- Grace empowers honest repentance and renewed vocation.
5. A Closing Charge: Live Slowly, Love Intensely
As we leave this reflection, let the story of these screen-drawn dreamers sharpen our spiritual resolve. The world may idolize rapid ascent and spectacular success, but the Gospel calls us to a different tempo: persistent faithfulness, steady repentance, and fierce love. We are invited to be people who progress slowly in the eyes of the world yet burn intensely for God's justice, mercy, and truth. Let us be those who refuse easy compromises, protect the vulnerable, and celebrate the quiet, costly acts that build God's kingdom. May our lives be a counter-narrative to any culture that prizes fame above fidelity.
- Pray for discernment in ambition.
- Choose integrity over expedience.
- Invest in relationships that form character.
