The New Star Wars Movie and the Gospel

Friends,

Last night I had the extreme and ever so rare opportunity to take the boys out to see the new Star Wars movie (cartoon) "Star Wars: Clone Wars." My boys, much to my delight, have become die hard Wars fans. The night began with a visit to Toys R Us where I decided to pick the boys up some lightsabers of their very own (which, much to the old man’s delight, they both chose red for Vader- the same color of my old one- though I also had a green one, in case I decided to turn away from the dark side. These new sabers are also very cool, but I won’t go into that here). After leaving the Toys R Us store, we headed to McDonald’s to grab a bite to eat, wherein the Happy Meals the boys ordered both had Darth Vader toys in them- again, things were going well. From McDonald’s we headed to the theater and got our tickets for the show. Going down the hallway to find our theater we were met by a stormtrooper and Boba Fett. After a few snapshots, we settled in and prepared to go to a place and time in a galaxy far, far away.
It didn’t take but a few seconds for me to actually wish I was in that time and place as the screen opened with a Warner Brothers sign instead of the traditional Fox anthem theme. Then, the theme song that all of us have grown to love with a huge Star Wars banner and introduction to the movie were replaced with a small Star Wars logo, entirely new music and no script preparing the movie. The old, die hard nerds, such as myself, thankfully kept silent but you could almost here us say in the palpable silence- "NO! What have they done!!!!!!!"

The movie began and really, to me, it just didn’t make a lot of sense. And the main turmoil of the movie, just really wasn’t worthy of the big screen, in my opinion. I did not even mind one of my boys needing to go to the bathroom during the movie, which is the equivalent to nerd heresy during a Star Wars film.

Nevertheless, I am not a film critic and my boys didn’t seem to mind. They were content just watching the movie and enjoying the action scenes. Since this was a night primarily for their time and enjoyment, I walked away from the theater thankful for the time together.

And the reason I am sharing this night of my family’s life is to compare it to a tragedy I fear is altogether more common and serious. I have no doubt that there are many people desiring to know, to see, to get a peek into the eternal mysteries and truth of God yet are let down in the same fashion. They go to purchase their Bibles, maybe even get themselves a Bible bag. They load up and head to church only to there be met with little more than hot air blown from a sound and light stage that leaves them as hungry as when they went in. Their problem stems from the fact that too many churches have taken the path the George Lucas took with this latest Star Wars film. Instead of maintaining the integrity, suspense and triumph of the "real" movies, he opted instead to cater to a decidedly young crowd that has little idea of the overarching story and can be satisfied with an end-the world-battle given every seven minutes. This very thing happens in the church when we seek to entertain ourselves and others while leaving behind the Law and Gospel from which the news came that we are condemned in our sin yet able to be freed forever from its condemnation through the atonement, merit and triumph of Christ by faith.

The parallels do not end there, however. The danger of walking one’s family into such a setting is that first, the temptation to check off the "righteous" box of church attendance is met, while at the same time the family is altogether doing something. While I will be the first to say that churches should minister to all ages and the entire family, preachers shouldn’t be surprised when an overstatement of these things surpasses the real reason we gather together on Sunday. This inevitably leads to attendance being let go for the sake of being together with family anywhere doing anything. In other words, people learn quick that the can be together outside and at the cost of church, which must be good since the church itself held it in such a high position.

The worst danger of all, however, comes via a thorough misunderstanding of the entire overarching theme of Star Wars- redemption. The new movie gave no insight and took no lead in bringing one to understand more of how "the force" will be brought to balance- which we know occurs when Vader sacrifices himself to destroy the Emperor in order to save his son. When the ministry of the church, especially the preaching ministry, denies the gospel by pointing no one to the law, no one to Christ, no one to the supremacy and majesty of God, the hope of Heaven, the reality of Hell and the imminent truth that Christ is coming to judge this world, then God is not glorified, the church is not built and the lost remain lost, even if everyone is sitting in the same building.

May it not happen with us, brothers.

Blessings,
TJ