Black Panther


        In Black Panther, T’challa takes up the throne of Wakanda after his father, T’chaka, died in the bombing at the UN (refer to Captain America: Civil War). Through the entirety of Wakanda’s history, they have hidden their abundance of vibranium, a highly valuable metal, from the rest of the world in order to protect their way of life. Shortly after T’challa is officially crowned king, he has a conversation with his ex who tells him that she would like to see Wakanda help the less fortunate in the world with their great knowledge and vibranium for an improved way of life. Then, a man who goes by Killmonger comes to Wakanda to claim his blood-right for the throne as he reveals himself to be T’challa’s cousin. Killmonger appears to brutally kill T’challa in ritual combat, partly for the revenge of his own father’s death at the hands of T’chaka, to claim the throne. In his first meeting with the elders of the five tribes of Wakanda, he announces with his full authority as king that Wakanda will stop hiding in the shadows and immediately begin providing vibranium weapons to the oppressed all over the world so they can fight their oppressors.



God calls us to provide for those in need when we are given the ability. That is one of the very first things that the first Christians did. In Acts 5, starting in verse 32, the believers gathered before the apostles and distributed what they had, sacrificially, among the needy among them as they had need. 1 Timothy 6:17-19 tells us that those who have abundance should cheerfully give to those who are in need of those things. For if they keep those things in abundance for themselves, they are storing up for themselves temporary treasures that do not matter in eternity and simply are untrustworthy. But if they do cheerfully give, they store for themselves treasures in Heaven which last for eternity and are certain. During Old Testament times, God commanded that there be Cities of Refuge established in order for refugees to have a safe haven. This, in principle, applies today for the Church to serve as a safe haven for those escaping oppression. We as believers are to welcome refugees with open arms and work with them to bring them to do our part in fighting oppression.



It becomes revealed that T’challa did, in fact, survive the beating from Killmonger, so traditionally, he still is the king because he also did not yield. Before showing his face to Killmonger proving that he is alive, T’challa re-enters the ancestral plane to tell the kings before him “all of you were wrong to turn your backs on the rest of the world. We let the fear of our discovery stop us from doing what is right. No more… I must right these wrongs.” He eventually defeats his cousin and regains the throne. In the first mid-credits scene, T’challa makes true on these words and announces that for the first time in Wakanda’s history, it will share its knowledge with the rest of the world and help refugees going forward.



Are there some things which you have an abundance of? Do you know anybody in need of any of those things? Will you cheerfully give them those things? Would you rather store up abundance in this life to only have it dwindle away or give your abundance away now and store up for yourself treasures in Heaven? Will you help protect those who can’t protect themselves? 

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