The following is a debate I had with the operator of this site: www.starfast.org, a site conscripting Christians to “fast” from watching the upcoming episode of Star Wars…
So struck was I at the absurdity of such an effort, I felt compelled to comment. My comments are in Blue, his are in Red.
Arbitrary. That’s the word that first pops into my mind when I read your site. You’re simply capitalizing on a very popular movie franchise to get out your message. That’s an agenda. Why wouldn’t you focus instead on a less dubious movie candidate? Like, Hitch Fast. (Hitch is the small Will Smith comedy, also rated PG-13). For that matter, why not any other medium of entertainment? Remember, bad publicity is good publicity for George Lucas.
From: Malcolm
Subject: RE: Star Fast Home Page
Date: April 22, 2005 6:07:55 PM CDT
To: Rob
Greetings in the name of Jesus,
So what you’re saying is that, instead of choosing a high-profile movie in order to garner attention and get out the message of the gospel, we should have chosen a less high-profile movie that no-one really cares about in order to reach as few people as possible?
Well, to give a short answer to why we didn’t do that, please read 1 Corinthians 13.
Also, we’re not giving Star Wars Episode III any bad publicity. The Star Fast website is not an attack on Star Wars Episode III in any way. It’s an opportunity for lukewarm, wishy-washy “Christians” to repent of their worldliness and lust for entertainment and take a stand for holiness and righteousness. So do you fall into this category, or have you already signed up for Star Fast?
in His service,
Malcolm Fraser
From: Rob
Subject: Re: Star Fast Home Page
Date: April 22, 2005 6:34:28 PM CDT
To: Malcolm
Wow, I’m quite surprised by your arrogance. You don’t come across as a lover of grace to me. Forgive me if I’m wrong — something I freely admit to when I am — but a site like yours is so quickly regarded as “stereotypical Christian fundamentalism.” It looks like, contrary to what you purport, you are attacking Star Wars’ philosophy and/or religious undertones. I know that’s not what you’re about. I realize that it’s for Christians only.
But you have to admit that it doesn’t hurt your “cause” at all that there has been prior controversy between Star Wars and Christian fundamentalism in the past. You see my point? It only marginalizes your efforts. A typical reaction from the secular world will sound like this: “Oh, there go those rabid Christians again.”
Let me ask you — just how effective do you think a Lordship witness will be to a lost person when you make all these prerequisites for salvation? How does one get saved? Well, first you have to:
1) stop watching Star Wars.
2) stop watching movies, for that matter because they’re “of the world.”
3) stop listening to “secular” music, etc.
4) generally get cleaned up first, and then think about how God will find you acceptable to be one of His children.
I think the real question your site missed out on is: “how do we affect the culture without becoming part of it?” But your essential answer is a radical amputation from it. Take for instance the Amish. They have effectively extricated themselves from nearly all reaches of American culture by basically creating their own. Valid reasoning, utterly ineffective way of reaching lost people.
To answer your question, no I have certainly not signed up to fast from watching Episode 3. I’ll see it when it releases and I’ll enjoy it. Again, I believe to sign up on your site is completely arbitrary. Have you ever read a novel? If so, why didn’t you chose to fast from it, since reading fiction would be evidence of your lust for worldly entertainment? Have you ever listened to a secular song? If so… etc., etc.
You say that you aren’t attacking Star Wars, but I beg to differ. Your logic implies as much. Let me quote: It’s an opportunity for lukewarm, wishy-washy “Christians” to repent of their worldliness and lust for entertainment and take a stand for holiness and righteousness. You use Star Wars as the flagship example. Therefore, it follows that Star Wars is “worldly”, “unholy”, and “unrighteous”.
From: Malcolm
Subject: RE: Re: Star Fast Home Page
Date: April 22, 2005 6:56:55 PM CDT
To: Rob
Greetings in the name of Jesus,
James 1:19 My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry
I would suggest reading the teaching materials on Legalism and Let The Good Times Roll before airing any more of your own opinions. Clearly, you know nothing of the message of the cross or the power of the Holy Spirit.
Proverbs 18:2 A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions.
in His name,
Malcolm
From: Rob
Subject: Re: Star Fast Home Page
Date: April 22, 2005 7:13:27 PM CDT
To: Malcolm
I see by your disregarding and patronizing response that you’re really not open to dialog or conversation. So with that, I’ll say farewell and God speed. Thanks for the great blogging material, Malcolm!
From: Malcolm
Subject: RE: Re: Star Fast Home Page
Date: April 22, 2005 10:10:31 PM CDT
To: Rob
Greetings in the name of Jesus,
If you consider the Word of God to be “disregarding” and “patronizing” then there is indeed little point in continuing a dialog.
Proverbs 1:22 How long will you simple ones love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge?
in His service,
Malcolm
From: Rob
Subject: Re: Star Fast Home Page
Date: April 22, 2005 11:37:21 PM CDT
To: Malcolm
No, no, Malc if you read my email carefully, I said “your patronizing response”. I don’t look to you as God’s personal agent of his word. I look to the Word to be His Word.
I said you were disregarding because you very obviously decided not to entertain my hypothetical questions. Here, I’ll ask one of them again for your convenience:
Have you ever read a novel?
It’s claimed in your pastor’s essay on legalism that “lukewarm Christians” pick and choose which scriptures to follow. I’d agree with him, actually. The basic point of my above question is that you and your website are doing that very thing. You’re picking arbitrarily one example from popular culture, attacking it, and claiming your “fasting” from it to be a form of holiness.
But why would you draw the line there instead of over here (any particular novel or song, for instance). I still haven’t heard any thoughtful response to this rather specific question.
How about it? If you think I’m antagonizing you, that’s not my intention. I’m trying to engage you in dialog. I would wager a guess that the secular world would love to do the same with us, but we (fundamentalists, evangelicals, etc.) are not willing. Instead, we throw up walls of dogma and legalism that shout “You are not welcome here (until you clean up your act)!” I could be totally wrong, and if I’m being judgmental, please forgive me.
Regards,
Rob
I haven’t heard back from him. Am I so far off here? This sure smacks of legalism to me. For the record, I have no problem with fasting. I have no problem with those that choose not to partake of the media, films, music, or what have you. But to orchestrate a site strictly for the sake of corralling others to adopt your own ascetic lifestyle, that I have problems with. That is legalism.
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