Colliding Worlds

So, about a week ago I went with some friends to see the new Harry Potter film (Half Blood Prince). Before you judge me, no I am not a Harry Potter fan/nerd. I haven't read any of the books and until last week I had not seen any of the films. Needless to say, much of the film's story went over my head in light of the missing back story. However, my choices were spend the evening alone or with friends, so I figured I could at least watch the film for the film's sake.

Although the film was not particularly exciting for me, the opening scene did bring about an intriguing question in my mind. For those who have not seen the movie, the film opens with several evil creatures flying through the city and wreaking havoc. The mere mortals suffer and cannot even see/recognize the evil forces behind the acts. In this sense, two worlds are colliding: the mortal world and the world of witchcraft.

As I thought about that, it came to mind that this theme is actually quite common in films. A few years ago, The Matrix cashed in with a plot that centers around the idea of the imaginary world and the real world that lies behind it. We have countless alien/UFO films that carry this theme of invaders from another WORLD that come down and attack our world. Even superhero flicks have an element of this. There is the world of the helpless citizens, and the costumed world of superheros and villains. Even some TV shows use this theme. I remember being in middle school and watching the anime cartoon Digimon (it was middle school; it was OK then). The entire premise of that show was that there is our world, and there is a digital version of our world that is somehow linked to our own. This is a prominent theme indeed.


But why is there such an obsession with parallel worlds? What does this theme say about us as a culture? There are probably numerous things that could be said, but two come quickly to mind. First, I think these plots expose a longing/awareness of something more than just our material world. Within the U.S., we are incredibly materialistic. Even the best of us can easily go throughout our day in total neglect of anything beyond our physical circumstances. We act as if life is nothing more than health, money, possessions, emotions, and the weather. Yet, one cannot read the Bible without noticing that there is a sort of parallel world to our own. Paul talked about "visible AND invisible" powers and authorities (Col. 1:16). The writer of Hebrews talks about the earthly tabernacle as a "copy and shadow" of the heavenly one (Heb. 8). Revelation is constantly alternating between events on the earth and their equivalent happenings in heaven. We cannot escape this truth that, despite what our physical eyes see, there is an entire other world that envelops us.

Perhaps it is this fact that prompts movies/books like Harry Potter to portray our world colliding with others. We as a materialistic culture realize deep down that there is more than meets the eye. For some, there is a longing for something beyond the ordinary world, but to believe that something else could actually exist is to believe in fantasy-no different from believing in Narnia or Harry Potter. For others of us, we are aware that there is more; that there is another world that exists, but this world still often seems so far away and make believe. We all are held captive by this world's concerns and worries. At this point, let me be clear: I am not advocating gnosticism and claiming that this physical world is evil and worthless (as perhaps some Christians sadly advocate). Instead, I merely want to point out that there is something in addition to the physical, something more that we long for, and indeed very much need.

So, while the reality of our worlds sometimes seems distant and fantasy-like, I know that it is still a reality. So when I see films like Harry Potter, in which evil forces fly in to our world and create chaos, I am reminded that such a picture is very close to the truth. While Christ has defeated the powers of evil, their total end has not yet come. For a little while longer they plague this world. This leads to the 2nd point that came to mind after the film, but I will save that for my next post. Until then, may we pray for God to help open our eyes to the totality of the world so that we may better see His Kingdom and the forces that oppose it.

Foolishness of the Cross

Over the past year or so, through classes and reading, I've come to realize just how odd the symbol of the cross is. To put it in simplest terms, how could a tool of brutal execution become so highly revered by a group of people. Philip Yancey has pointed out that one would expect to find the Resurrection as the symbol of our faith with the cross merely expressing an "unfortunate footnote in history." And yet, that is not the case. How puzzled Greeks and Romans would be to discover that churches today place this object on their buildings, on their necks, and in art.

Logically, the cross should be something I long to forget. Isn't it kind of morbid to celebrate execution, and execution of God no less? You don't see any other groups today that hold high the electric chair or hangman's noose and celebrate it. Why are we so obsessed with this object of the cross?

And yet, as I look at the cross, I cannot turn away. Indeed, Christ commands this. At the Last Supper, He called His disciples to "remember" the horror that was about to take place. There is something captivating about the crucifix. It is there that God proved His love for us. It is there that He demonstrated His nearness. It is incomprehensible that a god would not only become human but die as one as well. As Paul says in Phil. 2, Christ showed us the ultimate act of love and humility by stooping down all the way to the cross. Paul also sees the cross as the place where evil and death were defeated (Col. 2:13-15).

As I look at the cross I think: "if I were God, I would have made it easier." After all, the foolishness of this sacrifice has been a stumbling block for centuries. The idea that weakness and sacrifice triumph over evil continues to turn people off. And yet, that is what God has declared. Therefore, I am thankful that I am not God.