My son, Benjamin, wanted us to watch a new Netflix series, "One Piece.” I was unfamiliar with the show but learned that some have called the source material the most influential manga (graphic novel) ever. The main character is Monkey D Luffy, a likable, goofy winsome leader. When he was younger, Luffy ate a unique fruit that allowed him to become rubber, making him quite formidable in battle. He aims to be the king of the pirates. Luffy finds himself against other pirates who cheat, kill, lie, and try to become dictators. While others see kingship as power, strength, and influence, Luffy wants to be strong to be free. In turn, by being free, he can be a catalyst for positive change in the lives of others. Luffy’s great skill is making friends and forming a crew. His unselfish leadership allows him to see the best in others, believe in them, and defend his friends above all else.
The series goes through many examples of sacrificial love. One example was when Sanji, the crew’s Chef, was a boy. Sanji was stranded on an island for over 50 days with little food and a man he barely knew. There were two bags of food, and the man gave Sanji one of the bags and was asked to go on the other side of the island and not come back. After almost two months, Sanji runs out of food, sees the man, and asks for food, only to find out the other bag had no food. The man cut off his leg at the knee for food instead of eating any of the boy’s food. This sacrifice brings a tearful goodbye when Sanji leaves his mentor to join Luffy’s crew.
Just like Luffy and Sanji’s mentor, the church and its leadership are called to have the same kind of unselfishness and sacrificial love for one another. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35)
As the Church obeys the Lord together from his word and is united in Him, they can be used by God in powerful ways. Despite differences, church members are to have each other’s back and be there for one another in this divided and suspicious culture. In some ways, the crew led by Luffy is a model of a church united for the same cause (though not searching for riches but glorifying Christ), willing to fight for each other (in prayer) and believe the best in one another. This unity is what the early Church in Acts was like as they shared their possessions and testified to others what Christ had done for them. The Church needs this kind of community today.
