Trunks (picture from Wikipedia article on Super Saiyans)
Have you ever watched Dragon Ball Z? If you have then you know about the power of a Saiyan. If you’re a guy and you’ve seen an episode you most likely love it. I have yet to meet a guy who doesn’t. My wife has tried to watch it with me, but she only last five minutes or so before she gets up and says, ‘I don’t see what you like about this." If you have no idea what I’m talking about but want to know more… keep reading.
Let me now place my disclamer: There are two versions of DBZ - the unedited Japanese version and the edited American version. I watch the edited version that used to air on the Cartoon Network and understand that the violence in the unedited version that can be much stronger. So for those who would want to watch this show - I recommend the edited version.

So, what’s not to like about DBZ? It has cool fight scenes, with epic battles of the cataclismic kind and sweeping landscapes that spans the earth, outerspace and other dimensions. The earth is always in peril - on the verge of destruction by some alien invader, robotic artificial intelligence, other-worldly attackers and beings from alternate dimensions. i’m sure I’m missing a few bad guys here or there.

But there stands a group of fighters, a band of brothers… and sisters, a fellowship, a justice league of sorts - made up of humans and aliends (who mostly look human) who train to be ready when the planet and its inhabitants need saving. The most striking of the group is an alien by the name of Goku who is from a race of immensly powerful beings called Saiyans. He is the most powerful of his kind and his story arc closely follows certain aspects of Kal-El/Clark Kent/Superman. Along with him is Vegeta, Gohan, Trunks, Goten and a number of others. (More about this later)

Goku vs. Superman (picture from Wikipedia article on Goku)

Two Ultimate Reasons…

There are two ultimate reasons why I enjoy this show - beyond what I’ve already stated. 1. The powers they wield - flight, strength, teleportation, energy projection from their hands and a number of other abilities. Tell me who wouldn’t want superpowered abilities, if not just for a day? The other aspect is, 2. The spiritual correlations to my faith in Christ. Now let me say here, that not everything translates… in fact within every aspect of secular culture -when we view through a biblical worldview lens we will see that there are things that translate and things that do not. Our responsibility, as followers of Christ, is to be able to engage the culture and highlight where things are right and help to restore the things that need redemption.

DBZ is a major Japanese Anime series - and it gives insight into the mindset and beliefs of the creators of the show: what they tend to think about life, death, heaven and hell, the battle between good and evil, redemption, family, social structure, fame and fortune, etc… this series says a lot about a culture as well as human nature in general.

Biblical Illustrations?

But, you ask, what does this show illustrate about being a Christian? The most obvious, to me, relates to Jesus’ quote about those who follow him: "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid." (Matthew) What’s the connection? Saiyans have the ability to increase their power level by concentrating and focusing their energy. When this happens, the immediate atmosphere around them is stirred up and energized. When their power level is increased passed a specific threshold, they move to the category of Super Saiyan. At this point a transformation occurs which causes every cell in their body to radiate photonic radiation… light. Even their hair glows golden. They basically become moving, self-contained, living "Light bulbs." With practice they can learn to sustain this power level for long periods of time. When surrounded by darkness, all they need to do is power up and cross the threshold - and they become "lights of the world." In this powered up state they have the ability to do more than they could before. And it seems that they draw this power from an energy source at the core of their being.

Goku (Picture from Wikipedia article on Goku)
How much does this sound like how a Christian is to be? Raising the power level of the Holy Spirit - our inexhaustible Power Supply that lives within us - as we deliberately dwell in God’s Presence. And what happens hwen we work with God’s Spirit within us and move beyond our own threshold of resistance which allows God’s Presence to flow freely?

Peace that passes all understanding, A heavenly joy that literally becomes our physical and spiritual strength, the outflowing of spiritual gifts and the increase in the efficiency of our physical talents. Miracles flow through us to others and we feel completely alive! There have been reports of some who have been so full of God’s Presence that their countenance seemed to almost glow!

Real Life Happenings…

But even this idea of radiating light isn’t reserved for DBZ because thousands of years ago it literally happend on 2 occasions. 1. Moses spent 40 days in the very presence of God on Mt. Sinai and when he came down to the Hebrew people he was leading - he was glowing… literally. He glowed so much that the phenomon scared the people and Moses had to veil his face when in their presence so that they would approach. 2. The other instance was when Jesus was transfigured on top of the mountain. He was literally glowing - not just glowing but truly radiating light from his body and clothes. So this was happening way before the creators of DBZ thought it up.

Well this is enough for now. Am I saying that those who belive in Christ will have "super powers" and be able to fly? No. But I am saying that those who believe in Christ and his words will be able to do the things he said they would. Read his account for yourself. See you with part two.

Let me know what you think.

-Allen Paul Weaver III-

If you liked this, then check out, The Power of a Saiyan: Part Two