Using Halo 3 to talk about Jesus Christ part 2

Dare 2 Share sparked some outside interest by using the new Halo 3 as a springboard to talk about spiritual warfare and Ephesians 6. The article, written by Lane Palmer, appeared in the D2S e-blast pub Soul Fuel (I receive both the student and parent/adult versions) in September.

Some Christians are critical about mixing the culture and the word of God, and I agree—but it depends on how it’s done. When the culture itself is placed before God, then there’s a problem. When culture is used in a tasteful and God-edifying way to point people towards God, then it’s fine. Laudatory, even.

Taking Christ and trying to contort, twist and cram Him into a specific mold that conforms to the culture should properly set off loud warning bells in mature Christians. But using things in the culture that unbelievers and Christians new to the faith would readily identify with to illustrate a point is not a bad thing.

The Master Himself often used stories to illustrate His messages. He took everyday, mundane things from Palestinian life and turned those into stories (parables) of the most profound importance.

Remember how Paul pointed to the edifice for the unknown god in Athens and used that as a springboard to preach about the one true God? Same thing is happening here. D2S used many aspects of the Halo 3 game as an opening to talk about how God has a way to protect use from evil. Check it out:

Well, maybe not in a physical sense. But trust me, there's a Halo 3 battle going on in the spiritual world that is just as real as the 4 hour checkout line at Wal-Mart when you bought the game.

But don't take my word for it – take God's Word for it:

Jesus replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven." (Luke 10:18)

Jesus is referring to a time in the past when Satan was kicked out of heaven like a bolt of lightning, and thus began the war on humanity:

"For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places." (Ephesians 6:12)

According to the Bible, after Satan was dishonorably discharged from his duties in heaven, he took a mighty army of fallen angels with him and declared war on the objects of God's grace and love: human beings – and especially those who are in the Lord's army as Christians.

Make no mistake, the dark forces of the spiritual world have marked you for destruction – and no amount of quick moves, strategy, or teamwork will win this fight. But the great news is that God gave us a powerful weapon! ...

Lane was interviewed by the New York Times, and D2S founder Greg Stier went on CNN and Fox talking about the piece. One of my other heroes in the faith, Chris Rosebrough, featured the article on his A Little Leaven web site, which highlights gross misuses of the name of Jesus in Christian circles, especially on products and in so-called ministries. I thought this piece didn’t deserve to be there among the gallery of rogues and said so.

More on this topic another time.