Monday, January 11, 2016
478 - Forcing the Issue, Episode II
Spirituality Column #478
January 12, 2016
Common Christianity / Uncommon Commentary
“They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” – the Apostle Paul, 2 Timothy 4:4
Regardless whether one is entertained by the smashingly successful Star Wars movies over the decades, it’s hard to imagine anyone being utterly unfamiliar with “Luke Skywalker,” “Yoda,” “Darth Vader,” “Obi-Wan,” “Jedi Knights” or, of course, “The Force.” “Star Wars” movies inform modern Western cultural language.
I’ve seen them all, liked them all, own the first six movies on DVD, and saw “Episode VII, The Force Awakens” over Christmas break in IMAX 3D. Great fun. But this isn’t a movie review; it’s an observation and commentary on the mythical and limited Force vs. the truth and sufficiency of Jesus Christ.
And no, I do not think this is too dumb to discuss. A lot about the Force, and the Jedi Knights’ cinematic access to it, is what many people wish religion actually were: a broad moral code with on-demand, personally actuated, telekinetic powers.
“Use the Force, Luke.”
Think about how that is very nearly identical, in an opposite kind of way, to a very common lament of Christian doubters: “What good is Jesus if He won’t give me what I want?” The Force, apparently, gives the Jedi want they want, right now. But the Jedi knights have problems too – they can’t control the intentions and actions of those imbued with the Dark Side of the Force. They, like everyone else, have to fight.
Sounds familiar. The Jedi code governing the use of the Force is to serve and protect others with humble, selfless courage. That’s an unmistakable, if incomplete, Jesus reference. The Dark Side uses the Force for its own gain, glory and what appears to be an uncomplicated, unvarnished and uncompromising hatred of the Good Side. That’s a starkly clear and complete allusion to Satan.
As noted last week, the Force is “…created by all living things.” It’s easy to miss what that’s saying: the Force is created by life, it doesn’t create life. So among many things missing from the Force is God, the Creator of all things including life, and the person of Jesus Christ, whom God placed in charge of Creation. John 1:1-18 explains what Jesus is and, de facto, what the Force is not.
A temptation persists in society – as old as Adam and Eve and irrespective of Star Wars movies, novels, technology, education, entertainment or politics – to replace the Creator God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit of the Bible with a less powerful truth.
In Christ, so much more than “The Force” is with us.
Continued next week.
Walters (rlwcom@aol.com) realizes myths may express some truth, but the only complete truth is Jesus Christ.
January 12, 2016
Common Christianity / Uncommon Commentary
Forcing the Issue,
Episode II
By Bob Walters“They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” – the Apostle Paul, 2 Timothy 4:4
Regardless whether one is entertained by the smashingly successful Star Wars movies over the decades, it’s hard to imagine anyone being utterly unfamiliar with “Luke Skywalker,” “Yoda,” “Darth Vader,” “Obi-Wan,” “Jedi Knights” or, of course, “The Force.” “Star Wars” movies inform modern Western cultural language.
I’ve seen them all, liked them all, own the first six movies on DVD, and saw “Episode VII, The Force Awakens” over Christmas break in IMAX 3D. Great fun. But this isn’t a movie review; it’s an observation and commentary on the mythical and limited Force vs. the truth and sufficiency of Jesus Christ.
And no, I do not think this is too dumb to discuss. A lot about the Force, and the Jedi Knights’ cinematic access to it, is what many people wish religion actually were: a broad moral code with on-demand, personally actuated, telekinetic powers.
“Use the Force, Luke.”
Think about how that is very nearly identical, in an opposite kind of way, to a very common lament of Christian doubters: “What good is Jesus if He won’t give me what I want?” The Force, apparently, gives the Jedi want they want, right now. But the Jedi knights have problems too – they can’t control the intentions and actions of those imbued with the Dark Side of the Force. They, like everyone else, have to fight.
Sounds familiar. The Jedi code governing the use of the Force is to serve and protect others with humble, selfless courage. That’s an unmistakable, if incomplete, Jesus reference. The Dark Side uses the Force for its own gain, glory and what appears to be an uncomplicated, unvarnished and uncompromising hatred of the Good Side. That’s a starkly clear and complete allusion to Satan.
As noted last week, the Force is “…created by all living things.” It’s easy to miss what that’s saying: the Force is created by life, it doesn’t create life. So among many things missing from the Force is God, the Creator of all things including life, and the person of Jesus Christ, whom God placed in charge of Creation. John 1:1-18 explains what Jesus is and, de facto, what the Force is not.
A temptation persists in society – as old as Adam and Eve and irrespective of Star Wars movies, novels, technology, education, entertainment or politics – to replace the Creator God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit of the Bible with a less powerful truth.
In Christ, so much more than “The Force” is with us.
Continued next week.
Walters (rlwcom@aol.com) realizes myths may express some truth, but the only complete truth is Jesus Christ.
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