Darth Vader is one of the most famous bad guys in all of movie history yet we can learn six spiritual lessons from his quotes from the Empire Strikes Back.
Even people that do not know much about Star Wars know who Darth Vader is.
The surprising thing is, in A New Hope, Darth Vader is on screen for about 12 minutes.
We don’t hear or see much of him until The Empire Strikes Back.
Sometimes Vader is saying something positive that we can do and sometimes what he says is so wrong that we can use it as a transition to what is right.
Here are some epic lines that are fairly easy to work into an everyday conversation that we might also be able to then steer the conversation into one that deals with spiritual things.
Vader Quotes That Can To Spiritual Conversations
Darth Vader: You have failed me for the last time, Admiral.
Ever think that God is like Darth Vader, just waiting to crush you for a mistake? God isn’t like that. He loves you.
Darth Vader: Asteroids do not concern me, Admiral. I want that ship and not excuses.
Things of this earth shouldn’t distract us from what is really important- spiritual things. Colossians 3:2 tells us “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”
Darth Vader: No, Captain, they’re alive. I want every ship available to sweep the asteroid field until they are found.
Don’t be too quick to give up on witnessing to people that others have written off. It might take a lot more work, but as long as people are alive, there is still a chance for them to be redeemed. See 2 Corinthians 6:2b “Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”
Darth Vader: Move the ship out of the asteroid field so that we can send a clear transmission.
When we communicate (pray) with God, we need to make sure that we are clear of distractions. James 4:3 tells us “You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.”
Darth Vader: Perhaps you think you’re being treated unfairly.
Often people believe that they deserve to get into Heaven because they have been “good enough.” When we compare ourselves to perfection, we realize that we don’t deserve anything but condemnation from God. Yet, Romans 5:8 says “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” God is treating much better than we deserve.
Darth Vader: There is no escape. Don’t make me destroy you. Luke, you do not yet realize your importance. You have only begun to discover your power. Join me and I will complete your training. With our combined strength, we can end this destructive conflict and bring order to the galaxy.
Often people do not realize their importance nor the power within them (through the Holy Spirit). We have been “created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them,” per Ephesians 2:10. Then in 1 Corinthians 3:16 we read “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?”
What was it you said? Wow, just wow! Never thought to receive spiritual lessons from a Sith Lord! But this post was excellent! I can’t tell you how much I feel called to serve what you’re doing here!
Chancellor Palpatine: And you, young Skywalker; we shall watch your career with great interest.
Thanks Steve. We can use most anything in life as a springboard to talk about the Gospel. Everything that is said is either an example of what should be said or shouldn’t be said.