Beyond

God is our Creator, and He has ordained human beings to function in certain ways; He call us to be obedient to His principles, so that we might enjoy the life to which He has called us. The enemy wants to pervert God's standards for human relationships, but Paul cautions in 1st Thessalonians chapter 4:
3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality;
4 that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor,
5 not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God...

There are clear distinctions between what pleases God and what does not.  He gives us the capability to not only know the truth, but the ability to walk according to that truth. But, we have to be determined that we will be grounded in that truth, that His Word is the foundation for our lives. The world and its ways, we're told in Scripture, are passing away, but His Word will last forever.  We can seek eternal principles to build our lives on and enjoy the knowledge of God, or reject His ways and face the consequences.

+++++

There is spiritual blindness that is out there these days, and we have to be careful that we are walking in and radiating the light of Christ. 2nd Corinthians 4 reminds us:
3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing,
4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus' sake.
6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

You know the slogan, "to infinity and beyond!"  If you are a fan of the Toy Story movies or that was part of your young or younger children's entertainment, you easily recognize that phrase, spoken by the one and only Buzz Lightyear, the toy friend of Woody and Jessie, the main characters of the successful movie franchise.

Well, Buzz is back on the big screen, but it's just not the same, apparently.  The long-time voice of the mechanical superhero, Tim Allen, has been replaced by Chris Evans, the actor known for playing Captain America in the Marvel Cinematic Universe of movies.  While Evans' movie character is quite likable and a capable symbol of virtue in much of his Marvel content, the real Evans, well, isn't really that likable.

Especially when he is calling people idiots!  Like who?  The Christian Post reported that, "Earlier this year, Variety reported that the film “Lightyear...” would feature a female character who was in a relationship with another woman as well as a same-sex kiss between the two. While the scene was initially deleted from the film, outrage from LGBT-identified employees at Walt Disney Co. prompted the restoration of the same-sex kiss in the final cut."  It goes on to say:

Actor Chris Evans, who plays the titular character Buzz Lightyear in “Lightyear,” responded to a question from a Reuters reporter asking him to address the “pushback” surrounding the effort to increase “representation or diversity” in the film in a June 9 interview published on YouTube Wednesday.

“The real truth is those people are idiots,” he said.

After describing “the human story” as “one of constant social awakening and growth,” Evans remarked that “when that happens, there’s always going to be people who are afraid and unaware and trying to hold on to what was before.”

The actor suggested that “those people die off like dinosaurs,” adding, “the goal is to pay them no mind” and “march forward and embrace the growth that makes us human.”

The article also notes:

Keke Palmer, the actress who plays the LGBT character in “Lightyear,” replied to the same question by urging critics of the same-sex kiss scene to “refurbish your idea of tradition” and “understand that it’s ... to infinity and beyond” now, referring to the character of Buzz Lightyear’s signature catchphrase.

So that's now the "beyond" part in the familiar cry?   Well, you might say that people are steering "beyond" the local cineplex where "Lightyear" is playing.  Variety stated in a recent story after the film's release:

To infinity and beyond? Not exactly…

“Lightyear,” a spinoff story set in Pixar’s “Toy Story” universe, fell short of that boundless milestone in its box office debut, collecting a lackluster $51 million from 4,255 North American theaters. Family audiences, the movie’s prime demographic, haven’t returned to theaters in full force since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Even so, those ticket sales are disappointing for a brand as recognizable as Pixar, the home of “The Incredibles,” “Finding Nemo” and “Up.” It’s particularly problematic given that “Lightyear” cost $200 million to produce and tens of millions more to market.

Movieguide related:

In a recent article published by The Atlantic, writer David Sims notes that “LIGHTYEAR is the origin story that no one needed.”

Sims went on to call the movie “formulaic to the point of dullness,” and “while all of the film’s visual excitement is handled with Pixar’s usual polish, the intrigue is only surface-level.”

The Movieguide article also stated:

But if a bland story wasn’t enough to discourage avid TOY STORY fans, the movie’s ideological and worldview issues should.

According to Movieguide®’s review, “Buzz isn’t really the hero of this story. His lesbian friend, Alisha, is the real hero. Eventually, it’s her life that inspires Buzz, her granddaughter and everyone else.”

“Thus, the whole movie becomes a validation of LGBT ideology and an attack on masculinity and the biblical view of family. LIGHTYEAR also taints the TOY STORY franchise, because it says the politically correct movie became Andy’s favorite movie.”

The more recent article included a link to a previous Movieguide piece, which said that, "...it is clear that Disney is finally folding under internal and external pressure from the LGBTQIA+ community," adding, "While Walt Disney Company held its ground to focus on story versus sexuality in the past, LIGHTYEAR could mark a significant turning point." That article also noted, "...by catering to a small minority of moviegoers, Disney would ostracize one of their largest audiences: Christians who believe in biblical truth."  It also said:

According to Gallup, 7% of Americans identify as something other than heterosexual. Gallup also reported that in 2021, 69% of Americans identify as Christian. From a logistical standpoint, it makes sense that studios want to target the largest audiences.

One could contend that the same-sex relationship portrayed in Lightyear is insignificant.  You could say it's mild compared to some fare that you see in entertainment media these days.  I would say that it is a sign: of several things.  One is the capitulation of Disney higher-ups to employees who are dedicated to this agenda.  But, there are people in influential positions in the company who are promoting this agenda, as well.  

In the excellent Christian Post piece by Brandon Showalter at The Christian Post, he cautioned against concerned parents being "gaslit" by those who would say that attempts to influence young people regarding sexuality, including the LGBTQ+ agenda, are nothing to worry about; he writes:

Evidence continues to pour in that insidious, widespread sexualization of children is taking place.

As a journalist who has tracked some of this over the years, I have heard from parents whose political and religious views span the spectrum. Many contact me and are enraged, fuming over what they see happening to their kids. Such parents feel like they are going crazy. I usually assure them that, no, they are not being paranoid. What they are watching unfold with their very own eyes is real.

Brandon spoke with me about the article, which you can find in the Media Center at FaithRadio.org or MeetingHouseOnline.info.  He concludes the article by saying, "Please, let kids be kids. Stop sexualizing them. And for the love of God and all that is decent, quit gaslighting their parents."  Parents can decide not to allow charges that they are overreacting to the furtherance of sexualization in the culture discourage them from being diligent to teach their children the principles of God regarding sexuality, in the appropriate way in an appropriate time. 

Chris Evans has called parents who are determined to protect the hearts and minds of their children "idiots" who, like "dinosaurs," will go extinct eventually.  That's certainly a technique to marginalize Christian parents and those who are like-minded on these matters. We have to be careful we don't allow criticism to marginilize us. The lack of respect for the viewpoint of Scripture is chilling, and it's a poor move on his part to chastise people who you would think he would want to go see his movie.  

The Word of God is powerful; God's principles are perfect, and offer a clear and compelling way to live. His is the way of love - not the "love is love" nonsense of the gay advocates, but the love that gave of Himself, a love that draws us closer to a loving Father who wants the best for us through obedience to His ways.