Star Wars seems to be a modern mythology that many people relate to. I enjoy it because it conveys the idea of certain truths and principles that are common threads though out most cultures and societies. I am a Christian obviously, so seeing Jesus as the ultimate Jedi Master is no great leap for me. There has been a gross amount of capitalizing on the idea of Jesus as a Jedi for the sake communicating the Gospel of Christ and using a format that young people can relate to. I find it sad though that people miss the deeper message in the Gospels because of a superficial introduction to Christianity through these type of books. While I believe God can use any means necessary to communicate His love to those who are perishing, I think it is important not to be to fascinated with culture (at the expense of truth).
For example, in this picture ^ (above) I found an Anime style rendition of Jesus which portrays Him as a Samurai. For a Christian, the reality of spiritual conflict is as visceral and real as pain experienced in the body. Some may argue against this view, to them I say open the eyes of your understanding and take a look at the world, it is in conflict, get your heads out of the sand! As the Bible states:1 Corinthians 1:17-19 (Amplified Bible)
17 For Christ (the Messiah) sent me out not to baptize but [to evangelize by] preaching the glad tidings (the Gospel), and that not with verbal eloquence, lest the cross of Christ should be deprived of force and emptied of its power and rendered vain (fruitless, void of value, and of no effect). 18 For the story and message of the cross is sheer absurdity and folly to those who are perishing and on their way to perdition, but to us who are being saved it is the [manifestation of] the power of God. 19 For it is written, I will baffle and render useless and destroy the learning of the learned and the philosophy of the philosophers and the cleverness of the clever and the discernment of the discerning; I will frustrate and nullify [them] and bring [them] to nothing.(A)
Hebrews 6:18 (Amplified Bible)18 This was so that, by two unchangeable things [His promise and His oath] in which it is impossible for God ever to prove false or deceive us, we who have fled [to Him] for refuge might have mighty indwelling strength and strong encouragement to grasp and hold fast the hope appointed for us and set before [us].
As Christians we need to find and draw strength from the Holy Spirit. I don't think it hard for us to look around and examine our own lives and find that we are busy, conflicted and exhausted. The basic warfare strategy employed by Satan is busyness which leads to exhaustion. In other words we battle in the natural while neglecting the supernatural. I believe that is where the enemy gets most believers. Most of the time the battlefield is in the mind. Thoughts determine behaviour, behaviour determines habits, habits form a lifestyle and lifestyles can develop into strongholds. That is why it is imperative to be disciplined in our thinking to guard against the thoughts and temptations deposited by the enemy.
In closing I would like to point out the scripture:
Revelation 19:10
10 Then I fell prostrate at his feet to worship (to pay divine honors) to him, but he [restrained me] and said, Refrain! [You must not do that!] I am [only] another servant with you and your brethren who have [accepted and hold] the testimony borne by Jesus. Worship God! For the substance (essence) of the truth revealed by Jesus is the spirit of all prophecy [the vital breath, the inspiration of all inspired preaching and interpretation of the divine will and purpose, including both mine and yours].
We must be vigilant and press into the secret place, the Holy place in God that we go into the sanctuary of spirit-filled prayer where power is released. Praise stills the enemy and raises us up into right standing with God........Selah
Shalom,
Chaplain Jeremy
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