One of the great things about a new Star Wars flick blowing through the land is the incredible opportunity that it gives Christians to engage, process, and clarify to a watching culture what is truly beautiful, what is truly ugly, what is truly good, what is truly bad, why it all matters and where it’s all really going from here on into the far flung future.
Make no mistake, there are many good, beautiful, and legitimately inspiring facets to the fantastic fictional Star Wars universe.
Is it a world drenched in the pathetic, incoherent, and inconsistent godlessness of eastern mysticism?
Oh yeah.
Is it a universe often used by its unbelieving mortal creators to promote the suicidal idiocy of said eastern mysticism?
Yep.
But is it a world that is actually built upon the eastern mystic worldview? It is a universe that consistently applies the principles it imagines itself to so powerfully promote?
No.
Of course not.
Like all other systems of thought, art, ethics, morality or anything else built around a futile rejection of Christ as the One who personally defines logic, truth, beauty, art, and everything else, the eastern mystical worldview dripping from Star Wars may well seek to convey the notion that the many legitimate beauties and wonders of its content are a result of pagan mysticism, but this simply isn’t so. Any truly good and beautiful thing in Star Wars – or in anything else – is truly beautiful because Christ has made it so in accordance with His Nature as revealed in His Word. However much we may be encouraged to credit the pagan mystic veneer of Star Wars, thick and icky though that veneer may be, for the many truly wonderful, awe-inspiring, and exhilarating aspects of “a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away”, we must reject the invitation and strive to apply the beauty of a biblical filter so that we might lovingly confront the errors of Star Wars, correct the errors of Star Wars, and properly enjoy the many beauties of Star Wars.
One major – and majorly encouraging – component of a Christian worldview as it ought to be brought into the examination of any sci-fi style setting or adventure is that the future belongs to Christians. (Yes, I understand that technically Star Wars is set “a long time ago”, but work with me here.)
By “the future belongs to Christians” we mean a future in the physical universe. A great theme of Scripture centers on the removal of the ungodly from God’s creation, God’s people ultimately inheriting that creation, and the promise that His sanctified, Spirit-filled people will forever explore, cultivate, and enjoy His restored creation.
That’s the future of God’s creation.
Christians are intimately involved in that thrilling, awesome, never-ending future adventure, all by God’s grace, all for His glory, and all to their eternal benefit.
Pagans (unrepentant unbelievers) are separated from that thrilling, awesome, never-ending future adventure.
That’s the assured future of Christians and that’s the assured future of Pagans.
God’s physical creation is ours as Christians to explore and enjoy forever
…without Yoda or Jar Jar Binks!
article continues below:
Even now, He is bringing about the reconciliation of all things – physical and immaterial – by the power of Christ’s work on the cross:
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
~ Colossians 1:15-20
Even now, He is in the process of making all things new (which is not to be confused with “making all new things”, it should be noted):
“Behold, I am making all things new.”
~ Revelation 21:5
So while it’s both very valuable and very important to examine, understand, and confront the many huge and glaring problems with Star Wars as it is intended to impact us by some, we should not allow the enemy to claim uncontested any of the good and beautiful territory on display throughout the Star Wars mythos. Adventure, technology, science, and drama belong to King Jesus, and He has charged us with the task of reclaiming every bit of those things that’s been perverted and abused by His enemies:
We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ. . .
~ 2 Corinthians 10:5
So why is a light saber or a space ship or a hard fought victory over seemingly impossible odds a good thing? Why is it beautiful? Why is it inspiring?
Why is space travel and adventure a good thing? Why does it captivate and inspire us so? (See also: Enterprise, Falcon, or Galactica? What will Christians use to explore the restored cosmos?)
The very real and true answers to these questions aren’t to be found in the idiotic ramblings of a deceptively cute and cuddly Muppet like Yoda. (See also: Jedi Say the Dumbest Things.)
They are to be found in the Nature of Jesus Christ as revealed in His Word.
Not only does His perfect Word make plain that He owns everything – including drama and art; that He defines everything – including beauty and love; that He sustains everything – including time and space; and that He is even now using everything – including technology and science – for His purposes; it also makes plain that His purpose calls for all of His physical creation to be completely reconciled to Himself for His people to enjoy without end.
How’s that for fantastic?
How’s that for inspiring?
How’s that for an awesome (and, better yet, assured) adventure?
The future is Christian.
Soli Deo gloria…and let’s roll (or fly or jump to lightspeed or whatever)…all by His grace, all for His glory, and all to our eternal benefit!
If you know of anyone who might appreciate this post, please share it. If you’d like to see articles like this continue, please click here to help.
Please also “like” us on Facebook, “+” us on Google+, follow us on Twitter and feel free to sign up for new articles by email using the buttons in the upper right corner of the FBC home page.
Check out The Fire Breathing Christian Podcast too, and see the latest books at R3VOLUTION PRESS, the latest designs at Fire Breathing Tees and the latest memes at the Fire Breathing Memes page.
_____________________________________________________
Finally, here are a few good intro/reminder links for those of you who are new to Fire Breathing Christian and curious about exactly what’s goin’ on ’round here:
What are you, some kind of [insert label here] or something?!
What’s with that shark-fishie graphic thing?
Intro to Fire: The Power and Purpose of the Common Believer
When the Bible gets hairy. (Or: Is it right for men to have long hair?)
And especially this one: Never forget that apart from God’s grace you and I are complete morons.
Thank you for your support!
