Have you ever been tempted to Christianize the world’s stuff? For example the Star Wars story is an incredible good versus evil saga by George Lucas. Yet have you noticed that the heart of his message is that salvation from evil can be attained through democratic “freedom?” Is that true? This is the unfortunate sentiment of too many who are mesmerized by the temporal successes of the United States democracy.
What about the power of the gospel for believers to conqueror evil? Better for us to put our hope there than in democracy. Have you also observed Skywalker’s hope that good remains in his evil father Darth Vader? Is that true? Do any Christians still believe that our natures, minds, and wills are not good, but stinking rotting dead apart from the grace of Christ… at least according to Ephesians 2:1-3?
What about imitating the grace of Christ and loving our fathers and mothers, brothers, sisters, in-laws, neighbors, and colleagues even though we and they are not lovable at times and no good remains in them? Isn’t the heart of grace to choose to love the totally unlovable as Christ has done for each of us? Worst of all, as a young person I naively tried to draw a parallel between the “Force” of Star Wars and the Holy Spirit. Sorry folks… am I the only one? My daughter tells me that some unbelievers have actually turned the “Force” into their own religion. Is it possible that we could be so silly? II Timothy 4:4b says so and II Timothy 4:3-4a explains how and why.
In contrast to Star Wars Paul says,
28) We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29) For whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30) Whom he predestined, those he also called. Whom he called, those he also justified. Whom he justified, those he also glorified.
31) What then shall we say about these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32) He who didn't spare his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how would he not also with him freely give us all things? 33) Who could bring a charge against God's chosen ones? It is God who justifies. 34) Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, yes rather, who was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.
35) Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Could oppression, or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36) Even as it is written,
"For your sake we are killed all day long. We were accounted as sheep for the slaughter."
37) No, in all these things, we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38) For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39) nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from God's love which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.Romans 8:28-39 (WEB)
Friends, the “Force” is not with us, BUT GOD IS FOR US… for those who are called.
