Today is the fourth day of May, so “May the fourth be with you”
I grew up as a church Star Wars fan, we are, after all, about the same age.
Star Wars is a great story of freedom, friendship, and faith in something greater than yourself. It’s a lesson in the truth that the world and your life are guided and directed by forces (i.e. THE force in the movies) that transcend the natural world.
But “The Force” is not God, and Star Wars presents anything but a Christian world view. I don’t ask my movies to be “Christian” for me to enjoy them, however, the thing that makes Star Wars confusing for some is that it definitely is “spiritual” in its theme.
Unfortunately, anything “spiritual” (a book, a movie, a speech, etc…) becomes a mirror for most of us. I’m dismayed by the many who seek to put a “Christian spin” on Star Wars, or somehow compare “The Force” to God the Father, or the Holy Spirit… this is horrendous. Worse than that, if the person espouses to be a Christian, they might just be revealing their lack of understanding of the Christian God.
I’m reminded of the interchange between Jesus and the disciples:
Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. -Matt 16: 13-17
It is important that we differentiate the biblical Jesus from all other gods and “forces” out there, including the “Jesus” of other religions (Islam, LDS, Judaism, etc…).
Most people have nice things to say about Jesus, in fact that’s a strength of the Christian faith, it’s all about Jesus, so when you witness to people, start with Him. Even though most are fond of Jesus, most do not understand who He really is.
He’s not just a Prophet, He’s not just a great teacher, He’s not just the “Son of Man,” He is greater than all that… He is God (most explicitly in John 1: see this and this and this).
What do you think? Who do you say Jesus is? How is that different from what others say about Him?
