Sci Fi verses Christian

I was asked a question whether a Christian should watch Battlestar Galactica or any science fiction TV or Movie. Their position is if the show has a lack of morality a believer should not watch it. And for the most part they are correct. But allow me to indulge as a BSG apologist: the answer is….

YES! I unashamedly admit I am a huge fan of Battlestar Galactica (BSG), my favorite TV show and I am a Sci-Fi fan! I was when the original show ran in the late 70’s I had discussions then with my mentor and uncle Francis Schaeffer, as we booth wrested with these issues, I in HS and he a renowned philosopher and thinker of Christian precepts (and he loved art, including TV and move production-most people do not know that about him. His proposition is art can and does point to truth, the question is what is the truth, is it? As the Christians who hold the real true-Truth, how can we express it in today’s would?). We saw Star Trek and Star Was together and a taping of “HR Puffinstuff” as a youngster, and contemplated can a Christ follower seeking “true-Truth” see them and be true to the faith? The answer was yes and no. It depended on the maturity and faith of the believer and the ability to see through the writers point and what the agenda of the produces were. They have a clear worldview, Star Trek and its main writer DC Fontana, (she goes or went to Holly Wood Press near my home and have known her for years, I had the incredible opportunity as a Junior Higher to sit and her and Schaeffer dialog as she was writing Star Trek II in the mid seventies, that show never sold and became the first movie, I got to see the sketches and her the secrete plot and had to keep silent for a few years about it- tough for my age then and now) is a committed Christian and you can see some Christian themes in all the original Star Trek and most of its franchises, hidden, but there nonetheless. Star Wars was a Hindu worldview and BSG is an atheistic / Mormonism. And don’t get me started on my other favorite “Star Gate”, currently I am writing some scripts and story arcs for its newest incarnation, “Star gate Universe”). The original BG series had Mormon writers and actors (now it is an English production from the folks who brought us fish and chips); just compare the themes to the Book of Mormon…. And Schaeffer saw these shows, then as “campy” and predicted as time went on they will get more and more dark and depraved because that is the sate of our soul without a Savior. Anyway, each of these shows, show a depraved society in need of hope and a Savior. The BG characters clearly show even a more state of hopelessness than any other TV show I have ever seen, but they are in epic search of hope. They have led immoral and self destructive lives that led to their down fall, while the Cylon villains show more and more a supplementary spiritual centered lives and morality, although misguided, while the BG characters for the most part are living life without taking responsibility for it, although the main Character Adama does.

BTW, I think “Touchwood” on the BBC may even be a better show…

I personally think the BSG and any show would be much better if the swearing/sex/violence (except space ships fighting, that is just good stuff!) were cut, as I think the Sopranos would be great too if the same, depravity in New Jersey-lol

Bottom line, yes it is a depraved show and it should not be seen by young people or those with “unthinking faith,” but, it shows the world as it is, the state we are in and all headed too, we can also see it as a warning of what it could be. Now as a Christian how do we address these issues, how do we show the Real Hope and how to “journey to Earth” or in our case faith in Christ? As Schaeffer pointed out, it is our nature is to seek the depravity without the Savior, how do you show the Savior as a Christian to a depraved mind?

How do you know if Christ is your focus?

…The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Go! I am sending you… Luke 10:2-3

The call Christ gives us is for us here is to move forward under His produce to produce the goods of “produce” by the Fruit of the Spirit with our faith. So, how can we do this? My proposal is that we do this from our committed and continual faith formation. The basics on how to grow closer to Christ and deeper in our walk with Him, and also how to draw near to the heart of God are the essential elements to put the “go” into action.

In practice, this means continual prayer, Bible reading, fellowship with other mature believers, and the exercise of our faith in the daily events of our lives. This means we have our reliance in Him, becoming submissive and allowing His lead so we can proceed forward where He provides opportunities. When we realize we have the responsibility to “go,” to move in our faith, we can better have the intention and motivation to get up and get under Him. This works for a new Christian who may have no idea of what to do or where to begin, as well as with the experienced pastor who has walked with God intimately for decades. This can even work for the Christian who has stagnated and forgotten what faith and purpose were all about. This works for me, and it will work for you, regardless of personal experience, spiritual growth, witnessing experience, developmental level, disabilities, or age. We are called to God and
Our Focus Must Be On Christ!

Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” John 5:8

More here: http://www.intothyword.org/apps/articles/default.asp?articleid=35950&columnid=3844

Do you want to know what the Will of God is for your life?

The struggle to seek or find the Will of God

Seeking and searching, in our contemporary language, suggests looking for something that is not there or can’t be seen. But, is this what we do when we search for the Will of God? When most Christians say they want God’s Will, they may actually want Christ to do their will! So, this subject must be sought with reverence and obedience or we will miss it completely, rebalancing our will for His so we can have the trash we want instead of the wonders He has for us.

The struggle to seek or find the Will of God has conflicted and confronted countless Christians and non-Christians alike over the millennia. But, most miss the point of the quest and end up with the wrong items, declaring them as God’s Will, or they give up and say God’s Will cannot be found. So, what is the Will of God? A basic, general idea of what it means to know the Will of God is found in Matthew 6:33 …But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well….

Seek first the Kingdom of God refers to our quintessential quest in life as a Christian. It is about knowing Christ and pursuing a relationship that grows then is filled with Fruit, purpose, and maturity. It is about placing Christ first and foremost as Savior and Lord. By Lord, we mean He is ruling our hearts, minds, and actions, including our motivations and desires. So, we seek what is best, as Jesus has planned out the best for us. When we only look to ourselves or what we want, we miss His golden opportunities and goodness.

So, what is “seeking” about?

More here: http://www.intothyword.org/apps/articles/default.asp?articleid=40437&columnid=3844