Well, the latest movie in the Star Wars saga has been released to huge box office ticket sales and one church in Germany is capitalizing on the popularity of these movies.
Zion church in Berlin, Germany saw about 500 attendees, almost double the regular attendance, by having a Star Wars themed service this weekend complete with Star Wars theme music, light sabers, and even people wearing Darth Vader masks.
Of course, it is well-known that the ideas of “the force” are rooted in Hinduism just as with the blockbuster movie Avatar and these teachings are incompatible with faith in Jesus Christ.
Yet, it is becoming common today for churches to blend the biblical with the non-biblical. As a recovering geek, I too enjoy sci-fi movies and the entertainment value of wielding great power is attractive. However, Christianity may teach that we can accept Jesus into our hearts is much different from Hinduism that teaches we all possess God and God is in us and passes through us.
We do not control God, but if we are willing to submit ourselves to the Lord he can work in us and through us but this is much different than what is being promoted on the big screen.
If there is one thing the Lord makes perfectly clear is that we are not to mix the holy with the profane. Star Wars is just a movie with some pretty amazing effects but it is just a movie.
The Lord would not have us tap into “the force” but rather the faith. Specifically, faith in a God who saves us. If churches want to see their attendance numbers improve they would be well advised to avoid movie themed services and start actually preaching the word of God.
The one thing I know for sure is that preaching and unapologetic gospel message will at first drive people away but before long those seeking the truth will begin to turn up in the church.
I would never expect to see the kinds of numbers that turned out for the Force Awakens this weekend because the Bible clearly teaches most people prefer the darkness over the light.
Let’s face it most prefer to have their ears tickled and a few of those certainly would enjoy Darth Vader’s theme being played on a European pipe organ but that is not why the Lord has sent us forth, he has sent us to speak the truth in love.
That God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son that whoever should believe in him would not perish but have everlasting life. May the faith be with you.
