Inspiration from Wakanda



We’re in the season of the Black Panther, and people are taking inspiration from the movie in a variety of ways. I’m not saying that the movie was made with any deep religious meaning in mind. However, if we keep our minds on God in all we do, HE can speak through whatever we do. The same goes with this movie. When we look at it, there are a lot of similarities between Wakanda and the Body of Christ A.K.A Christians.

Wakanda is a nation made from a merging of disparate tribes united by the importance they saw in Vibranium, a “gift” sent to the earth from the heavens via a meteor. We Christians come from all walks of life, and we are united by our faith and trust in God and acceptance of HIS Great Gifts (HIS Love, Grace unto salvation, and the advent of the Holy Spirit) sent from Heaven. In the movie, Vibranium is the greatest metal in the world. It is strong and versatile and is the basis for a science that is able to solve a variety of problems, and even bring someone back from the verge of death. God’s Gifts are the most valuable Gifts anyone could ever receive. God’s Word contains the knowledge and wisdom that when read using the insight of the Holy Spirit can get us through any problem. And Jesus’ sacrifice (death, burial, and resurrection) offers us salvation from sin and ultimately death. The Wakandans grew arrogant because of their advancement due to the presence of Vibranium. They believed themselves to be above those around them and closed themselves off from the world to keep the great gift and all that came with it to themselves. Sometimes we as Christians believe our acceptance of God’s Gifts makes us “different” from others and raises us above them. Sometimes we spend more time praising ourselves and each other for accepting those Gifts than we do spreading those Gifts to those outside of our group.

Now we get in to spoiler territory, but the desire by the Wakandans to maintain the status quo led to the creation of an enemy (Killmonger) that came back to sow discord among the people of Wakanda and even attempt to enact a plan to weaponize Vibranium for the purpose of waging war on the world. We too have an enemy, sin, that, at times, is purely of our own creation, and it can cause discord within the Body of Christ. That sin can also lead us to misuse God’s Gifts. Haven’t we all seen examples of people weaponizing the Word of God and using it to tear down and attack nonbelievers rather than to uplift them and help them to see the Love of GOD?  Ultimately, the Wakandans overcame their enemy. They regained their unity and made the right choice to open up and share Vibranium with the world in an attempt to make it a better place. Will we do the same? Will we put aside the petty differences that may separate us from our brothers and sisters in Christ and commit ourselves more fully to sharing God’s Gifts in an attempt to save the world? Or will we continue to cling to our status quo and leave those around us to the deaths brought on by sin? The Bible is clear. Ezekiel 33:8 says:

When I say to the wicked, ‘You wicked person, you will surely die,’ and you do not speak out to dissuade them from their ways, that wicked person will die for their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. 

The passage is telling us that we can save our fellow man from the death brought by sin. God’s Gifts are the keys to their salvation, but if we do not share those keys, their blood will be on our hands. Let’s make the Wakandan choice and make a more concerted effort to open up and get God’s Gifts out to the world.


Chris Lawyer

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

You Don't Know Their Story. What You Will See is God's Glory.

Image
  God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. - Psalm 46:1 Let me tell you about a man, a woman, a child, this could be you, we don't know.   You don't know their story but what you will see is God's glory. Let me tell you about the pain, the hurt, the abuse they received from someone they knew, a family member, a friend, maybe even you. You don't know their story, what you will see is God's glory. Let me tell you about a man whom you may have heard of who Fed five thousand people, some who were children, with five loaves of bread and two fish. Remember the person who saw you and asked you for money to get something to eat saying: "can you help me please?" You don't know their story, what you will see is God's glory. You don't know who God will use to bless you. You don't know how God will use your story of what you went through but what you will see is God's glory. Let me tell you about the heart God gave you to ca...
Read more

Be Strong, Surrender and Rest!

Image
  Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light . - Matthew 11:28-30 (CSB) When faced with problems, our instinct often drives us to take control and tightly manage every aspect, believing that doing so will help resolve the issue. However, this approach can lead to increased anxiety and foster an environment where fear grows. Clinging tightly to control, can worsen the situation, making it more exhausting and complex, ultimately causing us to stall rather than progress. It's important to recognize that our efforts to control everything might be counterproductive. Instead, relinquishing our grip and placing our trust in God's plan can bring peace and clarity. By surrendering control and leaning into our faith, we allow space for God to work in our lives and address our ...
Read more

Love Not Like

Image
As Christians, we must never forget how important love is. Christianity truly is a religion of love. You can probably judge how much a person adheres to the Faith by how loving they actually are. The Bible is clear on this. 1 Corinthians 13:8-13 says: 8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. For anyone who has read the Bible, this should be an amazing pass...
Read more