I went to see Stewart Loftis the other day and it got me
thinking about how the world views Christianity. Funny how those two events
often coincide: talking to Stewart and thinking. Anyway, we were discussing
Star Trek, which I am currently watching from beginning to end, and he
excitedly remarked that I get it now. Puzzled, I asked what it was that I am
supposed to “get”. He then reminded me of a saying that I had heard him repeat
many times but never understood or tried to understand: “The world views Christianity
as the Borg. ‘Your distinctiveness will be assimilated into the collective.
Resistance is futile.’” A light bulb
clicked. He was right, I get it now. I chuckled and we continued to discuss the
adventures of the Alpha Quadrant, Data’s possible fate, my dislike of Ferengi,
and what lie ahead for Voyager (I was on season 1, episode 4). Jason and
Stewart became cryptic at certain points of the conversation so as to not give
anything away. As if anything could surprise me after watching all of Doctor Who,
Eureka, Star
Gate, Farscape, and most of Star Trek. The idea was lost until later that night
when I was trying to sleep, which, incidentally, is the best time to do some
deep theological thinking. My mind started whirring, tossing around the idea of
Christianity and the Borg being equated. I understand because once upon a time,
I did not follow Christ and I viewed my parents’ beliefs as conformist, restrictive,
oppressive. At the same time, I don’t understand because I often feel as though
I’m swimming upstream. My beliefs understandably clash with the world. Sadly,
my beliefs also clash with mainstream Christianity far too often. Most
certainly, not Borg. In fact, the more I thought about it as a Vulcan,
logically that is, Christianity cannot be equated to the Borg at all. If it
could, we wouldn’t have so many factions, so many disagreements, so many
denominations. Even within a single church (meaning here a group of believers
who meet at a set location at least once weekly) there are differences between
us all. Not just disagreements, but we’re in different stages of life, we have
various Sunday school groups, we’re different ages, we even sometimes have
different beliefs. Some who come to church every Sunday are living out
Christianity day to day. Some come half committed, hoping their life will
change if they just get to the sermon on time. Some come because it’s a habit their
parents drilled into them. Some come because they feel they need to make up for
Saturday night. Christianity is not Borg. We are too different from one another
to be Borg.
What then? If Christianity isn’t Borg, what is it? At first,
I thought Enterprise.
Enterprise is
my favorite ship. I like it more than Voyager or Defiant so naturally it’s what
I thought of first. But alas, Christianity is not like the Enterprise. Everyone on Enterprise,
with one or two exceptions, went to Star
Fleet Academy
and has since possessed a successful career. They are the best of the best and
strived to get on that particular ship. No, Christianity is not Enterprise.
Then, I thought, Christianity is like Bajor. Fiercely
religious, the Bajorans believe unfailingly in their prophets and the sacred
texts. Their actions are guided by faith alone. They are fighting an invading
species, first the Cardassians then the Dominion, who want to squash the faith
and spirit of the Bajorans. Politics, unfortunately, gets mixed in with
religious affairs and muddles things up. Some are corrupt high up and seek
personal power. Some appear to follow but their hearts are not in it. Some are
faithful, humble followers who seek the truth of the prophets. Actually, aside
from the fact that there are multiple beings instead of one true God and the
beings are proven to be nothing more than aliens not actual gods, I couldn’t
find anything in that train of thought that doesn’t line up. Help me out, if
you see something I missed. However, I do not particularly like comparing
Christianity with the Bajorans. I don’t have a real reason, I just like my
third option best.
My favorite analogy that I played around with in my mind was
Voyager. With the ship being the church building and the crew being the church
herself. See, the crew of Voyager come from all walks of life. Some, like
B’Elana, went to Star
Fleet Academy
and dropped out but are now back serving on a Federation ship, akin to
Christians who grew up in the church, strayed, and came back. Some, like Tuvak,
went to Star Fleet Academy,
graduated and have successful careers, akin to those who accepted Christ at an
early age and grew steadily throughout life. Some, like Neelix, had never heard
of the Federation at all but jumped aboard as soon as possible and served
wholeheartedly, akin to those who grew up with no inkling of salvation but
accepted as soon as they heard the good news. One person, Seven of Nine, grew
up as Borg and fought freedom at first but finally came to embrace her new
individuality, akin to those who grew up believing in false gods under false
religions and were eventually won over by pure love and a bit of logic. The
crew of Voyager is on a journey home, ever hoping for a brighter tomorrow. They
face insurmountable odds and come out on top because they work together. They
disagree, they are imperfect. They are talented, they are unique. Each crew
member is a working piece of the well oiled machine that is Voyager. The ship
would be incomplete with any one person missing. The only flaw I can find in
the Voyager analogy is that they did not all choose to be there. The Maquis
were forced onto the starship under extenuating circumstances. The flaw being
that love is nothing if there is not a choice. Nobody can be forced into
Christianity. Although many have tried this tactic, they have failed. God
desires more than simple obedience, even a dog can obey. Christianity is in
it’s very nature, a choice. God does not want drones who must follow or else.
He wants His followers to opt into the family. He longs for us to say “I want
to be Yours!”
In conclusion, Christianity is not Borg. Christianity is
Voyager… sort of.
