May the Force Be With You
When the movie Star Wars originally came out 1977, it launched what was destined to become the third-highest-grossing movie franchise in history (trailing only the James Bond and Harry Potter series). Characters from the film—Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, Han Solo, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Princess Leia, R2-D2, C-3PO, and so on—became cultural icons. Concepts developed in the story became deeply entrenched in popular culture, and none more so than the idea that undergirds the entire Star Wars saga: the Force.
According to the story, the Force is an energy field created by all living things that permeates and binds together the entire universe. It can be controlled and manipulated by certain adept individuals who can attain mastery of the Force through training and discipline.
As they develop their ability to manipulate the Force, they increasingly exhibit various psychic abilities such as telekinesis, clairvoyance, mind control, precognition, and so forth. Manifestation of these psychic powers is considered evidence that one is becoming more adept at using the Force, and so such powers are prized and earnestly sought after.
The Force is apparently neutral, however, and can be used for either good or evil depending on the inclination of those using it. A group of knights known as the Jedi strive to use the Force for good, and the Force imbues them with moral courage and inner strength. Conversely, another group of "Dark" Jedi who became known as the Sith seek to use the Force for evil, and the Force fills them with hate, malevolence, and aggression (yet pretty much the same psychic powers). Those who seek to use the Force for evil are drawn into what is known as the dark side.
Throughout the entire Star Wars series, there is never any question about the true nature of the Force: It is completely obvious that the Force is what many presumably weak-minded, superstitious simpletons (like me) would quaintly refer to as "God," who, as far as I know, is never mentioned in the films. We can also safely assume that the dark side corresponds to Satan. So in the fictional Star Wars world, there is no God and no devil—there is only the Force, and it is up to each one of us to make of it what we will.
What a compelling, intoxicating notion: no more of that judgmental biblical cornpone. No more hypocritical religious guilt trips. God is really a powerful, cosmic force that flows through everything, just waiting for us to tap into it. A neutral, impersonal field of divine energy. And whether we choose to use the Force for good or evil, either way we tap into a source of great power (particularly psychic power).
The message is clear: We are our own gods.
In the words of poet William Earnest Henley, "I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul." And we are fundamentally good—that is, as long as we don't consciously choose to gravitate toward the dark side.
Clearly there is no place in this galaxy far, far away for crudely archaic ideas such as "sin" or "judgment" or "redemption." We have nothing to feel guilty about...after all, the Force simply exists, and you get the feeling it doesn't really give a rat's patootie how we use it. It is there for our benefit if we so choose—but it certainly doesn't exist to condemn us. It's just there. This is encapsulated in the series' iconic line "May the Force be with you."
And indeed it is. Relax, the Force is with us.
First, the bad news.
There is a God, but
the Force is not it.
Not even close.
Star Wars helped to cement into the pop culture psyche one of the bedrock principles of the New Age religion: that God is an impersonal cosmic force that permeates the universe, and it's just waiting for us to tap into it to gain spiritual power and enlightenment. Rather than being sinners who will be held accountable to a loving but holy God who created us, we are our own gods—free to seek insight and enlightenment through our own efforts, be they noble or otherwise.
If you believe that, I have good news and bad news.
First, the bad news. There is a God, but the Force is not it. Not even close.
The God of the Bible is not some impersonal cosmic force. God is personal. He loves us and created us for one purpose: to spend eternity loving Him back. He created us to have a relationship with Him. That's about as personal as it gets.
He is an eternal, all-knowing, all-powerful, infinitely incomprehensible creative Being who spoke the universe into existence, and exists outside of and separate from His creation. He is self-sufficient, self-contained, and operates outside the dimensions of time and space (which He created). His love, holiness, truth, justice, mercy, grace, and righteousness are perfect, absolute, and inviolable.
And I'm just getting warmed up. Now, in case anyone still has any lingering doubts about whether or not the Force is God, here are a few miscellaneous items for your consideration:
• He has a name.
13Moses said to God, "Behold, when I come to the children of Israel, and tell them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you;' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' What should I tell them?" 14God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM," and he said, "You shall tell the children of Israel this: 'I AM has sent me to you.'"
(Exodus 3:13–14)
The Force doesn't have a name...it's just a force. Unless, I suppose, you ask the Force what its name is and it says:
"Well, the Force is my real name, but my friends call me the F-meister."
God has a name. In a strict sense, "God" isn't exactly who He is, it's what He is. Despite that, however, it is standard practice for English-speaking people to use "God" as a respectful, reverential way to refer to the Creator. It's not something to get legalistic about, although a few misguided people still manage to find a way to do just that.
Digging into the details of this will suck you into an obscure linguistic detective story, so let's keep it simple and just say that the Hebrew words translated as "I AM" in the above passage of Scripture evolved into the four Hebrew letters yod-hey-waw-hey, referred to as the Tetragrammaton (pictured in the above graphic, read from right to left). These four Hebrew letters are represented in English as YHWH, which is traditionally pronounced "Yahweh," although even that is speculative. This also appears in English as "Jehovah," which is a Latinized variation of "Yahweh."
Most religious Jews today, however, refrain from attempting to pronounce the name of God out of respect and instead substitute the name "Adonai" ("Lord," more or less) when reading from the Torah, or "HaShem" (literally, "the Name") in conversation.
Incidentally, in the King James Version of the Bible, every place where the original Hebrew uses the four-letter Tetragrammaton yod-heh-waw-heh, the translators wrote "LORD," using all caps. Most other English translations of the Bible follow the same convention.
• He laughs.
1Why do the nations rage, and the peoples plot a vain thing?
2The kings of the earth take a stand, and the rulers take counsel together, against Yahweh, and against his Anointed, saying,
3"Let's break their bonds apart, and cast their cords from us."
4He who sits in the heavens will laugh. The Lord will have them in derision.
(Psalm 2:1–4)
The Force doesn't seem to have much of a sense of humor. God doesn't just laugh, He holds individuals in derision—He makes fun of them. He mocks them. This is God's reaction when people presume to take up arms and fight against the Creator of the universe (or His Anointed, Jesus).
Heh heh heh...seriously, can you blame Him?
• He speaks.
16Jesus, when he was baptized, went up directly from the water: and behold, the heavens were opened to him. He saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming on him. 17Behold, a voice out of the heavens said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."
(Matthew 3:16–17)
The Force can't speak—no more than any other force in the universe. There are several instances of God speaking in an audible voice in Scripture, and this one occurred at Jesus' baptism in the Jordan River. Normally, however, God speaks to us in other ways—mainly through His Word.
While we're on the subject, a word of warning. Don't confuse this with a practice making the rounds in the mainstream church these days known as "Hearing the Audible Voice of God." This is nothing more than a quasi-occult attempt to get people seeking a mystical experience that doesn't square with Scripture. Consider yourself warned.
• He is jealous.
4You shall not make for yourselves an idol, nor any image of anything that is in the heavens above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 5you shall not bow yourself down to them, nor serve them, for I, Yahweh your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and on the fourth generation of those who hate me, 6and showing loving kindness to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.
(Exodus 20:4–6)
The Force has no emotions. God is often described as a jealous God, sharing His glory with no other and forbidding His people to worship other gods.
The Bible describes the nation of Israel as God's bride, and the worship of other (false) gods is characterized as adultery. So every time the nation of Israel or any part of it went astray and started worshiping pagan gods (which happened a number of times throughout history), God's response was not unlike that of a jealous husband—punishing them, sending judgment upon them, withdrawing His blessing and hedge of protection from them—in order to bring them back into a right relationship with Him.
• He gets angry.
18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19because that which is known of God is revealed in them, for God revealed it to them.
(Romans 1:18–19)
Just as the Force can't get jealous, neither can it get angry. God definitely gets riled up, especially in the Old Testament. And more often than not, it's His own Chosen People, the Jews, that He's upset with.
The things that seem to torque God off the most are (a) worshiping false gods and following pagan practices (jealous, remember?), (b) frustrating or interfering with His effort to show His mercy or grace, and (c) harming the righteous or the innocent.
H-e-l-l-o...can you say "Pro-Choice"?
• He negotiates.
22The men turned from there, and went toward Sodom, but Abraham stood yet before Yahweh. 23Abraham drew near, and said, "Will you consume the righteous with the wicked? 24What if there are fifty righteous within the city? Will you consume and not spare the place for the fifty righteous who are in it? 25Be it far from you to do things like that, to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be like the wicked. May that be far from you. Shouldn't the Judge of all the earth do right?" 26Yahweh said, "If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sake." 27Abraham answered, "See now, I have taken it on myself to speak to the Lord, who am but dust and ashes. 28What if there will lack five of the fifty righteous? Will you destroy all the city for lack of five?" He said, "I will not destroy it, if I find forty-five there." 29He spoke to him yet again, and said, "What if there are forty found there?" He said, "I will not do it for the forty's sake." 30He said, "Oh don't let the Lord be angry, and I will speak. What if there are thirty found there?" He said, "I will not do it, if I find thirty there." 31He said, "See now, I have taken it on myself to speak to the Lord. What if there are twenty found there?" He said, "I will not destroy it for the twenty's sake." 32He said, "Oh don't let the Lord be angry, and I will speak just once more. What if ten are found there?" He said, "I will not destroy it for the ten's sake."
(Genesis 18:22–32)
Abraham is negotiating with God concerning the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, and he basically keeps asking God, "What if there are x righteous people in the cities? Will you still wipe 'em all out?" God agrees to the new terms, and then Abraham whittles Him down a little further. Sodom and Gomorrah were two of the most wicked cities in history, and God was preparing to rain judgment upon them. Unfortunately, Abraham's nephew Lot happened to be living in Sodom with his wife and two daughters. So, Abraham is literally negotiating with God for the lives of his own relatives.
I know it's not meant to be funny, but this passage just cracks me up every time I read it. Abraham just keeps coming back again and again, almost as if he were buying a used car from the LORD, gradually whittling Him down from 50 all the way to 10.
In reality, there weren't even 10 righteous people in Sodom and Gomorrah. Besides Lot and his family, there were absolutely none. And as soon as those four people were safely removed by angels sent by God to destroy the cities, KA-BOOM! Game over.
• He works.
Keep reading.
• He rests.
2On the seventh day God finished his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
(Genesis 2:2)
The Force does neither. The number one thing that God expects recognition for is the simple fact that He is the Creator. And what a job He did. He created the universe and everything in it, and then He rested. Why? Because He was tired? No. (See Isa. 40:28 below.) I think maybe He just wanted to pause to appreciate what He had created (and at the same time establish a pattern for us to follow).
Likewise, we too should pause to appreciate His creation from time to time.
• He is wise.
28Haven't you known? Haven't you heard? The everlasting God, Yahweh, The Creator of the ends of the earth, doesn't faint. He isn't weary. His understanding is unsearchable.
(Isaiah 40:28)
The Force is not intelligent. It doesn't have any actual understanding. God is smart. His wisdom and understanding are infinite and utterly beyond our comprehension. He designed the entire universe and everything in it and the laws that keep it all running.
Let's face it—any way you look at it, that took some serious brain power. And yet people still trot out their smug little human arguments that He doesn't exist, as if they had successfully outsmarted Him or something.
• He is patient.
4Or do you despise the riches of his goodness, forbearance, and patience, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?
(Romans 2:4)
If someone is longsuffering (adj.) or possesses the quality of longsuffering (n.), he is patient despite being annoyed or insulted on a regular basis. Similarly, if someone possesses the quality of forbearance (n.), he is patient in the sense that he is able to exercise self-restraint even though provoked. Both of these pretty well describe the way God puts up with most people most of the time. Why? Because He wants us to turn to Him and repent.
• He knows the future with 100 percent accuracy.
9Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me; 10declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done; saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.
(Isaiah 46:9–10)
I love this one. Forget the Force. God knows all events for all time with absolute accuracy. Why? Because He created time. He exists outside the temporal realm, and He sees all of time at once, like a grand panorama. Why do you think the Bible is so chock-full of prophecies that have been and continue to be fulfilled with such amazing precision? That's God's way of letting us know that the Bible is truly His revealed Word to man.
• He has enemies.
1Let God arise! Let his enemies be scattered! Let them who hate him also flee before him.
(Psalm 68:1)
The Force has no enemies. It's neutral...why would it? There's nothing neutral about God. You're either for Him or against Him: There is no middle ground. He doesn't leave us that option. He never intended to.
As a result, God has plenty of enemies—people who reject His mercy and grace and insist on following their own foolish, man-made philosophies that allow them to be their own gods and do things their own way.
There are also many people who get involved with churches or various types of charities or religious organizations which keep them busy trying to make themselves better, more spiritual people and thus more acceptable to God through their own good deeds and self-sacrifice (and donation$).
In most cases, their sincerity is admirable. I hate to admit it, but sometimes I wish more Christians were that sincere and that dedicated to helping others. I know for a fact that in many cases, these people really are good, sincere, humble people...by human standards.
But that's the problem. We're not talking about human standards! We're talking about God's standard of holiness, which they come pitifully short of reaching—just like everyone else. They are still sinners—they have still sinned—just like everyone else. There's no way around it. It doesn't matter how good, sincere, or humble they are, because unless at some point they humble themselves before God and have a change of heart about their sin and their need for a Savior, they effectively reject His mercy and His grace and so remain spiritually separated from God. Sorry, but there it is.
As good as they may be in their own eyes or in the eyes of other people—no matter how much money they give to charity, no matter how much food and clothing they donate to the poor, no matter much they sacrifice for the good of others, and no matter how good they feel about the good things they've done—by rejecting the offer of forgiveness of sin that God made freely available to them through His Son, they remain God's enemies by choice.
The tragedy is that one day a loving but just God will have no alternative but to honor their choice for eternity.
• He has friends.
8But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend.
(Isaiah 41:8)
The Force has no friends. Besides, how cool is that? "Abraham my friend." Talk about having friends in high places. But you know what's even cooler than that?
That brings us to the good news.
Actually, it's more than just good news...it is unquestionably the best news any person will ever hear. When you realize that your sin has separated you from God and that you cannot save yourself, and believe in faith that God's only Son Jesus died and was resurrected to pay the penalty for your sin, you are born of the Spirit and at that point you're not just His friend—you're much more than that. Now you're an adopted son or daughter.
Now you're family.
Force...or farce?
If you keep up with such things, you may be aware that there are ideas out there today that make the Force look like...well, a bit of a joke. Compared to some of the pseudo-spiritual sci-fi lunacy being bandied about these days, the Force seems almost quaintly old-fashioned.
New Age beliefs have come a long way since the days when Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader squared off with dueling light sabers. While they once captivated the imaginations of a budding generation of New Age believers, most things Star Wars have long ago been consigned to the realm of toys, action figures, and Halloween costumes. OK, let's have a show of hands:
How many of you had a Darth Vader helmet when you were a kid?
For example, there are many people today who actually believe that we are about to be visited by aliens from a cluster of stars called the Pleiades. Some claim to have been receiving telepathic messages from the Pleiadians for a number of years, and some believe that there are already Pleiadians here on earth to help prepare us for our "ascension." And let's not forget the Lightworkers, Lightbeings, Walk-Ins, Starseeds, Indigo Children, Ascended Masters, and a bevy of other exotic creations.
Most New Agers believe that mankind stands at the precipice of a major evolutionary shift, one of a spiritual nature in which many humans are just about ready to "ascend," or evolve spiritually. They believe some will be taken from the earth while many will remain behind, perhaps to help others in the ensuing turmoil. This Great Evacuation (their term, not mine) is set to occur when a critical number of people "awaken" and raise their vibration levels, and the Pleiadians and others are doing their best to help prepare us for this transition.
Imagine my relief.
And on it goes. Oh, did I mention that Jesus was a Pleiadian, too? (OK, now they're starting to get on my nerves.) This is what just amazes me: People are falling all over themselves to buy into the most ludicrous fantasies that anyone could possibly dream up, but they completely reject the simplicity of God's truth, grace, and mercy.
As we continue to plunge full steam ahead into the last days, many Bible-believing Christians the world over are looking forward with anticipation to the rapture of the Church. Those looking for the Pleiadians or some other gaggle of Little Green Men would do well to read the following:
1Now, brothers, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ [His physical return to earth], and our gathering together to him [the Rapture, which comes prior to that], we ask you 2not to be quickly shaken in your mind, nor yet be troubled, either by spirit, or by word, or by letter as from us, saying that the day of Christ had come [the Tribulation]. 3Let no one deceive you in any way. For it will not be, unless the departure comes first [which, if you study it out carefully, can refer to nothing but the Rapture], and the man of sin is revealed, the son of destruction [a coming world leader often referred to as the Antichrist, who will ultimately demand worship], 4he who opposes and exalts himself against all that is called God or that is worshiped; so that he sits as God in the temple of God, setting himself up as God. 5Don't you remember that, when I was still with you, I told you these things? 6Now you know what is restraining him, to the end that he may be revealed in his own season. 7For the mystery of lawlessness already works. Only there is one who restrains now, until he is taken out of the way [the Holy Spirit, who indwells believers and whose restraining influence will stand down at the Rapture]. 8Then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will kill with the breath of his mouth, and destroy by the manifestation of his coming; 9even he whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10and with all deception of wickedness for those who are being lost, because they didn't receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11Because of this, God sends them a working of error [a delusion], that they should believe a lie; 12that they all might be judged who didn't believe the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
(2 Thessalonians 2:1–12 / emphasis & [comments] added)
There's a Big Lie coming, and the time will come when God will cause those who have rejected the truth of the gospel to be deluded into believing that lie. Maybe I should have put that on the list—unlike the Force, God also has a keen sense of poetic justice:
"You refuse to believe the truth? OK, fine. I'll make you to believe a lie."
Those who have stubbornly insisted on believing fiction (a lie by definition) will have their noses rubbed in the greatest fiction in history. And how much do you want to bet that the Big Lie will have something to do with extraterrestrials?
No? Look around. Look at the culture. The books. The magazines. The movies. The television shows. The YouTube videos. The online games. Look at what mankind is being prepared to believe. Look at what mankind is gradually coming to accept as an inevitable reality. And some people actually think that if things get nasty and it turns out that the Bible was right all along, that they will have a change of heart and cry out to God. Yeah, maybe...but after reading the above passage I sure wouldn't gamble my eternal destiny on it.
So, if you have an old plastic light saber or a Darth Vader helmet or some other Star Wars relic stored away in some dusty old box of toys buried somewhere in the garage or the attic, you can take comfort in the fact that that's exactly where they belong.
Right along with the Force.
Greg Lauer — APR '12
If you like this article, share it with someone!
1. Adapted from Sunset Over Grass Field © AOosthuizen at Can Stock Photo
2. Speed of Light © sakkmesterke at Adobe Stock
3. Yahweh by Greg Lauer (own work)
4. Crossed Light Sabers © scanrail at Can Stock Photo
5. Ascension © herminutomo at Can Stock Photo
6. UFO at Night © Rastan at Can Stock Photo
Scripture Quotations:
All Scripture is taken from the World English Bible, unless specifically annotated as the King James Version (KJV) or the American King James Version (AKJV).