Star Wars: The Force Awakens started blasting box-office records at its debut (December 18). It grossed 700 million dollars domestically faster than any film (likely even faster than Millennium Falcon can make the Kessel Run). The Force Awakens is the first Star Wars movie in 32 years to star principal players from the original 1977 space fantasy. Unlike the franchise’s backstory-heavy prequels, this film advances an epic story that’s an indelible part of pop culture and, some say, modern mythology.

A new generation

The Force Awakens does more than relate what happened next to Han, Leia, Luke and others. It introduces new and younger characters who must respond to the Force — the mystical-magical energy that binds together life in Star Wars movies.

Rey (played by Daisy Ridley) ekes out her living as a junk scavenger; Finn (John Boyega) is a stormtrooper who breaks ranks. Both characters’ quest for their destinies leads them to choose whether and how to take part in the ongoing fight against evil.

The Force Awakens is a story about “passing the torch” from one generation to the next. Off-screen, too, it marks a transition. Generations who grew up as fans of older Star Wars movies now sit in theaters alongside teenagers for whom heroes from The Force Awakens may well become cherished icons.

God’s call to teenagers

A generation-bridging Star Wars movie can remind Christians that God’s work of resisting evil with good is larger than any single demographic. God calls young people to speak and act in godly ways now. God empowers them to join Christ’s mission today, not when they are older. Older adult believers have much to teach the young about faith. They must make and take opportunities to “pass the torch,” challenging the new generation to answer God’s call as they did — whether or not it was a long time ago, someplace near, or far, far away … .

Key Scriptures: 1 Kings 1:1-15; 2 Timothy 1:1-7; Jeremiah 1:4-10

For a complete lesson on this topic visit LinC.