A Week From Today, In a Theater Not Far, Far Away
A week from today, in a theater not far, far away from wherever you are are right now, the new Star Wars movie officially opens. This is a good thing.
Are you aware of the controversy surrounding it in Britain? Turns out this is a good thing, too.
It involves The Lord’s Prayer. And I’m not kidding.
This goes back to November 22nd of this year, when a commercial containing only the words of The Lord’s Prayer was banned from British movie theaters.
Produced by The Church of England to be shown as a paid commercial before the much-anticipated movie, it’s a promo piece for a new site, http://www.JustPray.uk.
But it was deemed by the BBC to be “unsuitable” as it “carries the risk of upsetting of offending audiences.”
Enter the well-spoken if somewhat snarky Bishop of Sheffield, Steven Croft, who disagrees with the reasoning and the decision of the BBC, even as he points out seven reasons to ban The Lords’ Prayer.
As we move toward the premier of the film, I invite you to join me in considering what the Bishop says —
The Lord’s Prayer is powerful for a reason. These words shape lives and families and community. There are real reasons why the LP has been banned in cinemas. Here are seven, one for every line.
1st this prayer gives to those who pray it an identity and a place in the world and a countercultural community. “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name”.
— And so there ya go.
You belong.
You have an identity and a place. You’re part of a countercultural community. Let the first line of The Lord’s Prayer remind you of all that today, and let’s be thankful.
joescheets 