Star Wars: Andor: Will you stand up and live counter-culturally?

As Star Wars: Andor returns for its second season, Sam calls us to stand together in today’s world.

In the trailer for the second season of Star Wars: Andor, the rebel leader Mon Mothma declares: ‘If we do not stand together, we will be crushed.’ The series, which is available to stream on Disney+, follows the origins of rebellious captain Cassian Andor, who we were first introduced to in the film Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

In continuation from the first season, the show displays the beginnings of the Rebel Alliance in the emerging conflict against the Galactic Empire and follows the drastic efforts of rebellion against the Empire’s tyranny and injustice. Similar efforts can be seen in the actions of the early Church and, today, how we are encouraged to live counter-culturally through our faith.

The call for the rebellion to ‘stand together’ against oppression reminds me of Acts 2:1: ‘When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place.’ The disciples had to stand together after the loss of the Messiah.

The idea of banding together for security is extremely prevalent in Andor’s display of rebellious actions fighting for the right reasons, even when against the laws in place within the Imperial society. Another rebel leader, Saw Gerrera, states: ‘You’re right here and you are ready to fight.’ It is a call to speak out and stand up.

Speaking out and standing up is present in each of our faith journeys. In today’s society, we often face competition or opposition when we declare we are followers of Christ and demonstrate our beliefs within this busy and misleading world. I am brought back to my favourite Bible verse, Romans 12:2: ‘Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.’ This idea of living counter-culturally through Christ was as present within the early Church, to whom Paul wrote, as it is today.

In today’s world, we need to hold strong to our faith in God and his guidance through Christ, not to stray into the ‘pattern of the world’. We need to respond to the call to step up and stand out in our faith and display Christian virtues in our everyday environment as we live counter-culturally.

Will you respond to the call? Will you step up and stand out in your everyday?

Reflect and respond

• ‘Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out’ (Romans 12:2 The Message). How are you living counter-culturally in your faith?
• Who are you standing with or for?
• Pray for boldness and courage in your faith.