It’s no secret that Hollywood and Disney are not fans of Christianity, yet they love to borrow Christian imagery and themes in making their fictional cinema dramas.
Many of you have probably watched ‘The Mandalorian’ Disney series, which uses a phrase found in the Bible to describe its moral code and approach to life. When a Mandalorian is asked why he does things in a certain manner, he responds by saying, “This is the Way.” The ‘Mandalorian Way’ includes protecting fellow Mandalorians, protecting foundlings (New converts to ‘The Way’), keeping one’s word, wearing a special armor, and never removing one’s helmet in the presence of others. When a Mandalorian strays from ‘The Way’ he can only be restored to the Order by entering the living waters of Mandalore.
Do you see any parallels in Christianity? Your Bible says that we are to be looking out for the interests of others (PHILIPPIANS 2:4). The original Christians were instructed by the Apostle Paul to “put on the whole armor of God” (EPHESIANS 6:11), including the Helmet of Salvation (EPHESIANS 6:17). Both Bible Testaments stress the importance of ‘keeping one’s word’ (NUMBERS 30:1,2 - JAMES 5:12). And people enter the Christian Order through the waters of Baptism (ROMANS 6).
All this is part of ‘The Way’ of the Lord described in the pages of your Bible. But there is much, much more! God says way back in Genesis: “For I have known him (Abram) in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep ‘The Way’ of the Lord and do righteousness and justice, that the Lord may bring to Abraham what HE has spoken to him.” (GENESIS 18:19) This verse tells us that justice and righteousness are part of ‘The Way’ of the Lord. What is righteousness? “All YOUR commandments are righteousness.” (PSALM 119:172) Abraham’s chief servant spoke of Abram as he “who led me in the Way of truth” (GENESIS 24:48) - showing that truth is also a vital part of ‘The Way.’ What is truth? Well, according to Jesus: “Thy (The Father’s) word is truth.” That makes the whole Bible part of ‘The Way,’ which is why your Bible says “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord.” (MATTHEW 4:4)
God told the leaders of Israel: “You (Priests) shall teach them (Israel) the statutes and the Laws and show them ‘The Way’ in which they must walk.” King David wrote: “Blessed are the undefiled in ‘The Way,’ who walk in the Law of the Lord.” (PSALM 119:1) The book of Proverbs gives this warning: “Forsake foolishness and live, and go in ‘The Way’ of understanding.” (PROVERBS 9:6)
By contrast your Bible says, “There is ‘A Way’ that seems right to a man, but its end is ‘the Way’ of death.” (PROVERBS 14:12) Solomon, who is believed to have written Proverbs, wrote: “The Way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but HE loves him who follows righteousness. Harsh discipline is for him who forsakes ‘The Way’ - And he who hates correction will die.” (PROVERBS 15:9,10) So it’s a hard life for those who depart from ‘The Way’ - because they incur the wrath of God in the form of loss, sickness, catastrophe, and emptiness. But it’s Human Nature to want to be self-ruled and self-directed. After all the miraculous ways God delivered Israel over the centuries, we read this: “They (Israel) turned quickly from ‘The Way’ in which their fathers walked, in obeying the commandments of the Lord.” (JUDGES 2:17) That righteous man Job said: “If my step has turned from ‘The Way,’ or my heart walked after my eyes, or if any spot adheres to my hands, then let me sow and another eat…” (JOB 31:7,8)
Jesus said: “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is ‘the Way’ that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is ‘The Way’ which leads to life and there are few who find it.” (MATTHEW 7:13) Jesus also said: “I am ‘The Way,’ the truth and the life. No one comes to THE FATHER except through Me.” (JOHN 14:6)
Saul, before he became Paul, persecuted ‘The Way’ (ACTS 9:1,2). We also read this in the book of ACTS: “This man (Apollos) had been instructed in ‘The Way’ of the Lord and being fervent in Spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John. So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Aquila & Priscilla (Deacon & Deaconess) heard him, they took him aside and explained to him ‘The Way’ of God more accurately.” (ACTS 18:25,26)
A woman who is described as having the gift of prophecy said of Paul and his companions: “These men are the servants of THE MOST HIGH GOD, who proclaim to us ‘The Way’ of salvation.” (ACTS 16:17)
So we’ve seen from the pages of your Bible that ‘The Way’ is described as being a path of truth, justice, righteousness, commandment keeping, understanding, and salvation. What is conspicuously absent from the Bible’s description of ‘The Way’ is any reference to ‘By Grace Alone,’ ‘By Faith Alone,’ ‘Once Saved Always Saved,’ the ‘Health & Wealth Gospel,’ or any traditions of men or their Councils.
After the return of Christ, and during His thousand year reign over all nations (ISAIAH 2) - your Bible says that we who have been immortalized through the 1st resurrection, will teach ‘The Way’ to Human Beings then living: “Your ears (mortals) shall hear a word behind you saying, ‘This is the Way, walk you in it,’ whenever you turn to the right hand - or whenever you turn to the left.” (ISAIAH 30:21) As the resurrected Saints rule with Christ during the Millenium - we will be actively guiding people to walk in ‘The Way’ - and that may include some of your own Grandkids or Great-Grandkids!