Star Wars, facebook and conservative beat downs.

Posted in , , , By Hannah 2 comments

Sometimes being a Christian and being a liberal makes Facebook feel a lot like an abusive relationship. For the most part that's why I try to avoid posting anything that will spark debate. I've learned my lesson to watch myself around believers that enjoy Fox News and spend more time on the the web than in the Word. Ya'll go for the throat, and for that reason I will choose peace over posting my opinion any day.

With that said, I feel like this blog needs to be out here. If I offend you, I am sorry. My intention is never to offend, but I do think some, if not all of us, could do with some rattling up of our old rusty dusties. 

A few months back, I posted something about my kids and Star Wars - something I believed was simple and fluffy, nothing to get vexed about. But alas, as I have learned time and time agian, you can be the fluffiest, most tasty marshmallow in the universe and there will always be someone who hates marshmallows. All in all, I wasn't too shocked when a well-meaning, but obnoxiously self-righteous acquaintance sent me a message with her concerns for my children. She told me that she would never let her children watch Star Wars, or "be subjected to that kind of violence." I replied and thanked her for her opinion. She then sent me links to how make-believe, sci-fi and fiction lead to Satan. Eyerolls, but whatever. Later that week she posted about her boys and how they love to play Bible characters. That's kinda cute. She gushed, "They get in the biggest tiffs about who can be Abraham and who can be Isaac." Luckily, this whole thing was via web, so this poor gal didn't see my horrified expression. I thought to myself, Uh, your kids like to reenact a time when a father was asked to sacrifice his son on an altar for the Lord, and you think two dudes in robes, swirling and prancing with light sticks is too violent?That's weird, lady.

And here the argument lies: Why are we so dainty with current media, but feel the Bible is somehow less graphic?

Star Wars is indeed violent. It is up to you as a person (or parent) to decide what is and what is not appropriate for consumption, but I don't feel watching or reading something that depicts a sin, is in itself sinful. Then again, I was raised on the Bible and Star Wars, so naturally, I am a real warped old lady. To me there is nothing in Star Wars that is more upsetting than hearing about our precious Jesus being whipped unconscious. We Christians believe that the Bible is 100% truth, and since Star Wars is mere science fiction, I can totally see why most parents would deem it unnecessary to force (tee-hee) kids to watch it or anything with such needless violence. But even with divine inspiration, are the images and themes of the Bible any less disturbing or graphic? Western Christianity, predominately conservative evangelicals, will tell you there are lots of taboos in media ("questionable entertainment" anyone?) while totally being okay with reading about Tamar and her nasty brother. Doesn't this make us sound finicky and hypocritical?  It sure makes me wonder.

The themes and ideas that our faith is based upon are not subjects for the faint at heart, friend. We celebrate being "washed in the blood," for crying out loud! I do not intend to diminish any of the importance of that act or hymn to our faith, but remove the sacred faith, and those are about the creepiest lyrics ever sung. I remember being a secretly morbid kid (with an awesome vocabulary - Thanks, Mom!), singing that old hymn, looking around, and being like, "You morose people." And as I got older, every time I heard that song I fought not to think of some terrifying image like Elizabeth Bathory soaking in a tub of virgin blood.

What's the point of this? I want believers to quit being so precious. I know you are to stay pure, but let's stop pretending the Bible wouldn't be rated NC-17 if it were made into an actual film. That lame History Channel version isn't even close, friends. Those holy words of our Bible are wonky with graphic images, terrifying battles and absolutely horrific humans. There are stories of rape and terror, and spikes going through skulls and lots and lots of evil Pharaohs killing babies. It's crazy violent, guys. We are supposed to read it every day. So why are you getting huffy over an occasional Yoda?

Let's get off our land speeder here and actually listen to what we are saying. 

This week Easter is approaching, and with it come all the cantatas and reenactments. If you are attending a spectacle of some sort, check your heart as you look up at the scandalous tree that our Savior was tortured on. Let's be broken for what it means, and realize that what is important and sacred to us, might sound terrifying and weird to everyone that doesn't believe. Along with that, let's also realize, America, more and more people don't believe in Jesus. You know why I think that is? Because, as Johnny Cash sings, we've become so "Heavenly bound, we are no earthly good." We troll websites to tout big church words as we praise and complain in the same sentence. We set up large limits and make up new rules, because we are afraid to admit that somehow, somewhere, we went so wrong. We've pretended for years to have it all figured out when, honestly, what the universal church needs to do is simply admit we don't have a clue. We don't know, guys. That's why it's called faith. As Macklemore would so eloquently rap, "America the brave, still fears what we don't know." We are afraid. And you know what fear leads to? Anger. Anger leads to hate and hate leads to suffering. Preach it, Jedi Master.

 Christians, we say we have The Answer, but we statistically have just as many divorces, hurts, failures, crimes and problems as the people we claim to be set apart from. We need to own up to that. Friends, I say it again, you are no less human when you become a believer. If our actions don't illustrate the love of God, our words are useless, our faith is fussy and we have once again failed. We need to get on our face before the Lord and apologize for making such a hot mess out of His grace.

 At the end of the day, when all is said and sad, it's you who makes the choice to follow, believe and trust in the Lord. He will remain, regardless if you believe, follow or trust. So stop getting all tender when people don't want to follow along with what you are doing, especially if you look like Grouchy Pants McGee. It's awesome if you want to share your faith, but allow Christ be in your actions, or your words will be worthless. 

This weekend is an important holiday to our faith. Sure, it may or may not be placed on the calendar right, or whatever, but take time to remember what you deserve. You deserve death.  But our Heavenly Father, the God of love and provision, provided Jesus and Jesus took your place. That's a pretty life-changing gift. Act like it. Don't start picking apart someone else because they are sinning differently than you. Faith is personal. Focus on your relationship with the Lord, and stop worrying  about who lets their kids play Han Solo.