![]() Stay tuned for Episode II of “ Luminous Beings and Crude Matter” next week. And we must embrace that “more powerful than can possibly imagine” is, in fact, the one who was struck down. We must all awaken to the implications of accepting dualism as “Christian.” We need to realize we are much more than just luminous beings waiting to escape this crude matter. I will go see the new movie at the IMAX in San Jose.īut if we are to coach students to their full potential as human beings in Christ who are going through life’s “two-a-days,” then we must teach them to grasp on to the flesh of Jesus’ shoulder as their one and only hope. There are many great things about Star Wars. “In Eastern religions, salvation is ultimately an escape from “this crude matter.” According to the Jewish and Christian scriptures, however, God does not rescue his people from the material world on the contrary, God’s intention is to redeem, restore, and reunite every part of his creation, spiritual and material.” Jones then uses as an example the very quote Yoda spoke on Dagobha. In these religions, the physical world is perceived as evil or, more often, as unreal.” “The Star Wars films draw their ontology (view of reality) primarily from Eastern Religions, such as Hinduism and Buddhism. ![]() His book was published 12 years ago but is now being re-released on the advent of the latest Episode VII. Timothy Paul Jones is a professor at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and author of the book “ Finding God in a Galaxy Far Far Away.” He has noticed the disconnect between Yoda’s wisdom and Jesus’ crude matter. Classical Christian tradition has answered Yoda many times before, but folk religious notions about the body, soul, and eternal life still prevail. ![]() Star Wars appears to be one of those eclectic sources from which people can/have drawn. “Unfortunately, many Christians have focused their attention on folk religious notions about life after death…an amalgam of notions drawn from eclectic sources…which has little to do with revelation or the classical Christian tradition” (see The Mosaic of Christian Belief). Roger Olson considers dualism, a significant aspect of Gnosticism, as “ The Mother of All Heresies” (see Counterfeit Christianity). For Yoda’s wisdom and Jesus’ crude matter are diametrically opposed. The popularity of Star Wars in the church and culture makes that a tough task. And not even 24 hours later, I witnessed firsthand the problem the church has with shaking the negative influences and effects of dualism. This is the time our Christian tribe remembers weekly the flesh and blood of Jesus- of God becoming man, or “incarnate,” and dying on the cross to save the world. The next morning, a friend quoted this line during his communion talk. ![]() And in a statement that is presented as both wise and deep, Yoda tells him, “ Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter” (as he pinches the flesh on Luke’s shoulder). It was at that moment I realized Yoda was a dualist. Luke is getting discouraged amidst his Jedi “two-a-days,” so Yoda has to coach him up. And turns out, its one of the most famous lines in all of Star Wars. Think about it, w hat better way is there for a church striving to live up to Sticky Faith principles and bolster intergenerational relationships than watching Stars Wars together?! Name one, I dare you.īut in the midst of the 7 hours of watching IV-VI, eating Galaxy Mix jelly beans from the Target dollar section, and playing”Guess Who? Star Wars Edition” with my son, one line from The Empire Strikes Back still rings in my ear. On the eve of the new “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” premier, our student ministry just had our own Star Wars marathon.
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