Book Review: The Gospel According to Star Wars by John C McDowell

I know what you are thinking, then again, I am not God who knows the minds of all. You might be thinking why am I doing a review of a book that is trying to apply the gospel to Star Wars. For starters, I love Star Wars. I was born one month after the release of the first movie. I have been a fan of the films since I was a kid. The only Star Wars film I can remember seeing as a kid was "Return of the Jedi" before the special editions came out in 1997. So when this book, The Gospel According to Star Wars came out, my curiosity was killing my cat so I decided to review it.

I wish I had some clever way to make this book sound like it is the greatest thing since sliced bread, but it really is not. What the author tried to do was take elements of the films (Episode 1 to The Force Awakens) and put some biblical application to it. It sounded like a good idea, but the more I read the book, the more confused I was getting. Where was the author going? What was the point?

I get what the author was trying to do, but as the same time, I just gave up. Yes, I gave up on a book because it seemed it was going nowhere. The gospel does apply to everything in our lives but not everything needs to be applied to the gospel. Can we get the gospel from a song by a non-Christian band? Can we get the gospel while attending a sporting event? The gospel helps us response to what God has done through the finish work of Christ and how we are to live our lives for the glory of God.

In regards to my review for The Gospel According to Star Wars, I would pass on this one.

Thanks Westminster John Knox Press for letting me review this book.

Mike Cosper on Star Wars

The Gospel Coalition:

What went wrong between the original Star Wars and the prequels? And what does the difference tell Christians about storytelling?



Books by Mike Cosper:

The Stories We Tell: How TV and Movies Long for and Echo the Truth

Rhythms of Grace: How the Church's Worship Tells the Story of the Gospel

Faithmapping: A Gospel Atlas for Your Spiritual Journey with Daniel Montgomery

Around The Web-January 15, 2016

What Star Wars Can Teach Us About History by Nathan Finn

Popcorn Theology discusses Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Do Not Procrastinate in Killing Sin by Joy Knight

You Can’t Passively Kill Sin by Philip Holmes

2 Chronicles 7:14 Isn’t About American Politics by Russell Moore

Top 35 Upcoming Christian Movies for 2016

This week, British actor Alan Rickman passed away. He had many memorable roles in movies such as Hans Gruber in Die Hard and Professor Severus Snape in the Harry Potter movies. One role that I enjoyed watching him perform was the Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.

This short video is how he threatened Robin Hood to cut out his heart with a spoon and explains why a spoon.



Many consider this as one of the funniest scenes ever.

Around The Web-Star Wars Edition

This Friday marks the release of the new Star Wars movie. There have been some early screenings of the movie already but the official release is Friday. Many parents will take their kids and share a bit of a childhood moment with them.

There have been a few posts and podcasts regarding the spiritual aspect of the Star Wars which is what this edition of "Around The Web" will be about today along with a few fun links.

Star Wars and the Ancient Religion by Peter Jones

Star Wars: Childhood Revisited by Andrew Barber

Popcorn Theology on Star Wars

Star Wars and Story Telling

If you are a Spotify user, go to Spotify-StarWars.com where you will a get Star Wars Character and a playlist based on that character. In case you are wondering who I got, it was Anakin Skywalker:




Now, for your entertaining pleasure, here is Chewbacca singing "Silent Night."

Star Wars and Story Telling

We are three weeks away from the new Star Wars movie. If you are a regular visitor to "Keeping The Main Thing," you know I have shared a few trailers on our "Around The Web" segments we do on Fridays.

What many people love about Star Wars is the fact it tells a good story. Most of us love a good story whether it is a true story or one came up with in their minds. Our bookstores are filled with great stories that become best sellers. Movie theatres, Netflix, Hulu, and even regular television is filled with stories that grab people.

Recently, the guys at Gospel Matters talked about Star Wars and the art of story telling:



Recommended Reading:

The Stories We Tell: How TV and Movies Long for and Echo the Truth by Mike Cosper

The Storytelling God: Seeing the Glory of Jesus in His Parables by Jared C Wilson

Around The Web-April 24, 2015

The Abrahamic Covenant in Reformed Baptist Perspective by Martin Salter

The God of Justice Hates False Reports by Kevin DeYoung

3 book on preaching on sale at WTS Books till April 30.

John Hopkins' Students Banned Chick-Fli-A from Campus

I invite you to check a brand new gospel-centered from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary called For The Church. Here is a brief video intro featuring Jared C Wilson:



Finally, if you are geek like me, I bet you got goose bumps watching the latest Star Wars trailer especially when Han Solo and Chewbacca made an appearance at the end. Then again you might have cried just like Matthew McConaughey did in this video:

Around The Web-December 19, 2014

In Christmas a Pagan Holiday? by R.C. Sproul

Sentimentalizing, Sanitizing, and Spiritualizing Christmas by Bob Kauflin

‘God plus’ or bust; lose the incarnation, lose it all by Matt Smethrust

Bilbo's Last Goodbye by David Mathis

A couple of years ago, my family and I went throughout our city looking at Christmas lights. We heard about a house that has their lights in sync with music that is played on a certain station. It was a great show of lights accompanied by music. Since then we have noticed more houses with a similar show. Not sure when this trend started but it is fun to watch. One house, which is shown in this video, has their light in sync with music from Star Wars.

Around The Web-November 8, 2013

How To Become A Church Planting Church by Brian Howard

Supreme Court wrestles with how ‘religious’ prayer should be at public meetings

School bus driver fired for leading students in morning prayers

Obama apologizes to people losing health coverage

Mark your calendars for December 18, 2015, no, not for the end of the world, but for the next Star Wars movie

Okay, I am not the biggest county music fan, but this video of Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley taken a jab at Obamacare is hilarious.

Around The Web-September 6, 2013

Grace and Personal Identity by Tullian Tchividjian

Massachusetts Supreme Court Weighs Challenge to Pledge of Allegiance

Teen employment hits record lows, suggesting lost generation

Texas Breakaway Churches Can Keep Their Property

Okay, I know Yoga is a big thing for some people which I honestly do not see why so many enjoy it. Now, I love Star Wars, but I am not sure if I want to be part of Yoga Star Wars.

Around The Web-March 22, 2013

Jonathan Dodson has a new book called Raised?: Doubting the Resurrection which is available for free. Here are the 6 reasons why he wrote the book

All Worship Tells A Story by Mike Cosper

Randy Alston shares his story on recovering the gospel and it centrality

3 Ways to Overcome Temptation, Sin, and Sin Patterns by Rick Thomas

Know someone who is confused about March Madness? If they happen to be a Star Wars fan, this might work:



Speaking of Star Wars, the destruction of the Death Star could have been an inside job:

Around the Web-November 2, 2012

Top Southern Baptist official Richard Land breaks pledge, endorses Romney

In case you have not heard which has been the buzz for geeks all over the planet, Disney purchased Lucasfilms and promises a new Star Wars movie in 2015

Do Christians Support Aborting Children Conceived in Rape?

God, Sandy, and The Christian Response

Adrian Warnock answers the question, What is a Christian?

Finally, this MMA fight only took less than a minute because the guy who lost "asked" for it: