While the story of Star Wars took many people to manifest, George Lucas deserves the most credit. His vision for the movies laid the groundwork for much of what we have in the Sci-fi genre today.
Star Wars’ original trilogy has all my favorite aspects of stories. It has lovable characters to form a great though unexpected team. It has humor, action, plot twists, extensive worldbuilding, and a simple yet well-written plot.
Star Wars is not Christian, despite the fact I’ve heard a surprisingly large amount of people argue it is. (George Lucas is open about the fact he has drawn from every religion for inspiration). However, it has many great themes that align with Scripture.
1. Hope
Star Wars teaches that hope gives strength to persevere in trials, and that hope has to have its root in something real and powerful even if it’s unseen.
Hebrews 11:1
“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”
Romans 5:1-5
“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”
2. Love and Mercy
Star Wars teaches no one is beyond the power of grace, and that love and mercy have the power to change even the most wicked person. It reminds me that Jesus calls us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute you.
James 2:13
“because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.”
Matthew 5:43-48
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
3. Man is prone to darkness
Star Wars teaches that all humans are sinful, at least it teaches every person is susceptible to the enticing lies of the dark side. It teaches that doing what is right is hard and takes discipline but also brings life and joy. While doing what is evil is the easier path, but it leads to suffering and death.
Romans 3:20-24
“Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.
But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”
James 1:15
“Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”
4. There is a better life to come
Star Wars teaches there is life after death, and for the righteous, the life after death is better than the current life.
2 Corinthians 5:1–8
“For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:
If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.
For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.
Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.
Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”
5. Persevere in trials and temptations
Lastly, Star Wars teaches its audience to persevere when trials and temptations come.
The Return of the Jedi has long been one of my favorite movies, and is still one of my favorites because of Luke’s standoff with his father and the Emperor. Even when all hope is lost, when there is no logical way the Rebel Alliance can win, he holds his ground.
Luke refuses to turn to the dark side, even more, he refuses to kill the emperor or Darth Vader, because he believes it is wrong and it will lead to himself turning evil. He refuses to kill his father because he loves him despite his wickedness. Luke holds to his convictions so strongly he would rather die by electrocution than cave in. Very few stories give us a hero like that. In a worldly perspective it is madness. As an audience, yes, if Luke did anything different we’d be disappointed, but I have always found it inspiring to see a hero fight with as much resolve and perseverance as Luke Skywalker in that scene.
1 Corinthians 10:13
“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted,he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”
Star Wars is by no means perfect. The heroes’ faith is an impersonal force which resembles an understanding of god from Eastern religions where the divine is found in everything. However, part of what makes Star Wars such a powerful story, is it does share many of the timeless truths found in God’s Word.
Workmanship Writing 
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