Over the past year, I have noticed an extremely unsettling trend among those my age and younger-- and, oddly enough, I first began to notice it while at Disney World.
It took awhile for me to formulate my thoughts as to what exactly was unsettling me and why it was wrong, but once I did, I realized just how serious the problem is:
We as a society are choosing to glorify all the "dark" characters in movies and other forms of entertainment.
At Disney, there were so many little kids running around with red lightsabers, so many kids and teenagers whose favorite Star Wars character, out of so many to choose from, was either Darth Vader or Kylo Ren (both Sith, both "bad guys", both trying to achieve dark power, both commanding and ruling with an iron fist).
And no, this isn't necessarily a big deal in and of itself. They're just kids, it's all harmless fun, and I'm just being paranoid.
Well, I agree that this isn't a big deal on its own-- but it does point towards the underlying, far more serious problem.
Because this doesn't just happen with Star Wars; over and over again, you see people's fascination with characters who are meant to represent darkness. It's as if the characters who are known as good are boring.
Since when is courage and kindness boring? Since when is a noble spirit and a brave heart less compelling than an angsty, brooding, angry character?
Let me shout it from the rooftops: You can still have a well-developed, sympathetic, interesting character without them ever falling to the dark side. Yes, it is indeed possible.
What does it say as us about Christians when we lose sight of that?
If you recall, we are called to be lights to a world that is in desperate need of it:
"For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light."
-Ephesians 5:8 (NIV)
Living as children of light does not exclude the way we act towards entertainment and our creative projects. In the movies we support, in the characters we like best, in the stories and art we create-- we are sending a message to the world about what we stand for.
Yes, I do realize that there has to be some level of darkness and brokenness in stories, or else there wouldn't be much of a story at all. However, it is what you do with the darkness that's important.
Do you dwell in it? Do you relish in it? Do you try to tell the audience that this is so much cooler than goodness?
I have seen several fellow Christians produce stories and art that gives a message of "evil overcoming good", "darkness overcoming light". This grieves me, for it is the total antithesis of what we claim to believe in.
If Christ really is returning someday to draw us to Himself, to conquer sin and evil and darkness forever, and to make all things new-- why on earth isn't that the message that we are sending with stories?
If we have this glorious hope, this Light living within us, then why on earth would we continue to glorify the darkness that once shackled us? It makes no sense, and furthermore can confuse both yourself and others with the mixed messages. And remember-- just as what you take in impacts what you say and do, what you create and support reflects what's within you. Be careful that you're not unintentionally sending a message that may lead others astray.
The world needs more stories of light and hope. The world needs more stories with redemption arcs. The world needs more stories that illustrate grace, mercy, and love that is true and real.
And truly, the very best stories are those that reflect the Gospel, because it is the greatest Story of all.
I want to challenge you all today: Take a moment to be honest with yourself about the entertainment and stories you support, the things you create. Try to see what messages those stories and projects may be sending to their audiences. If it is not a message that can honor or glorify God, and if you take your faith seriously, then I would encourage you to make a change.
After all, you are a child of Light, and you have the opportunity to shine brightly in an area where you can connect to so many people globally through stories and art. Please don't waste that; this broken world needs the light and hope that we have in Christ. It is up to us, as followers of Christ who are saved by grace and forever changed, to give that to them. Even if the rest of the world continues to glorify the darkness, may we be forever pointing towards the Light.
