Star Wars? Jedi Pastor Ken? Blasphemous!!!

I hate that there are denominations among Christian churches…and I love that there are denominations among Christian churches.


Look, this could become a huge - massive - expansive type of blog post. Come on, there are whole classes in seminary on the subjects of denominations and then if we dig deeper, there are whole graduate schools devoted to one denomination’s train of thought and justification for existing.  Multiply that out by just a few different denominations and well, there are a lot of differences.

The reason for most of the New Testament letters and books is because…Christians were not getting along. Just by my saying that, some will yell…”NUH UH!!!” and that is part of my point…we don’t all agree but just hear me out, the writers of the New Testament are trying to educate and encourage and help each church or person, get along better with others. Why do we need this? Will, it goes to my second act of simple spirituality: “we are sinners.” We want things our own way and want everyone else to see the world our way.


Case in point, a recent comment on my YouTube channel was that Star Wars doesn’t talk about God the Father and therefore, science fiction wants to do away with God and my little joke and tag of being “jedipastorken” is…wait for it…BLASPHEMOUS!!! Only, that isn’t how logic and reason work. My cookbooks don’t talk about God the Father either and I have a hashtag of #castironkitchen so does that mean all my Lodge cookware is blasphemous too? Of course, that doesn't even mention there is also the problem of C.S. Lewis, the great Christian writer and theologian, who wrote a science fiction trilogy too.  Not to mention the fantasy books, Chronicles of Narnia.  You see where this is going, right?

I don’t want to be blasphemous, God knows better than anyone where my heart is. There really are things that are blasphemous.  I surely don't feel the need to defend Star Wars but dare we miss that at its base is a belief in a higher power and that the good side of this power is greatest.  I have found there is much more in Star Wars that points to God than does the Avengers, or the Lone Ranger or Lassie for that matter.  Dare we then throw out every analogy or symbol throughout the centuries believers have used to talk about God or "translate" God to our pop culture?  Should I mention that George Lucas attended church as a kid?  Nah.  Never mind.

I sure wish there was only one Church in our human world, but there isn’t but there is one Church in the Kingdom of God, even though we all don’t see everything the same. It is for this reason, I believe the Creeds of the Church are so very important. These are the core elements of faith and the core elements by which we can determine what is part of our faith and what is…(gulp)...blasphemous


With minor tweaks in translation from the Latin, the beliefs found in the Apostle’s Creed, based on Matthew 28:19 and first being put out for the Church in around the 2nd century are found here:


I believe in God, the Father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord,

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

born of the Virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died, and was buried;

he descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again;

he ascended into heaven,

he is seated at the right hand of the Father,

and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic Church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting. Amen.


I know, I know, somehow I’m sure I got this wrong in someone’s eyes but what I am TRYING to get at is what brings us together for now is NOT the time for us to be so mired in petty opinions that hold no basis in fact, thought or reality of faith. It is okay we don't see the same on everything so long as Christians, we hold to the core. I’m trying, ever so much, live as John Wesley preached in his sermon on Catholic Spirit (catholic meaning its more ancient term: universal)

“But although a difference in opinions or modes of worship may prevent an entire external union, yet need it prevent our union in affection? Though we can’t think alike, may we not love alike? May we not be of one heart, though we are not of one opinion? Without all doubt we may. Herein all the children of God may unite, notwithstanding these smaller differences. These remaining as they are, they may forward one another in love and in good works.”

Wesley goes on to ask a few questions but one drills it down for me:

“Dost thou believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, ‘God over all, blessed for ever’? Is he ‘revealed in’ thy soul? Is he ‘formed in thy heart by faith?’”

I can even hear Yoda asking the question.