The Doctor: I wanted to be ginger! I've never been ginger. And you, Rose Tyler! Fat lot of good you were. You gave up on me! Oo! That's rude. Is that the sort of man I am now? Am I rude? Rude and not ginger.
Sycorax Leader: Who exactly are you?
The Doctor: Well, that's the question. I don't know! See that's the thing. I'm the Doctor. But beyond that I just don't know. I literally do not know who I am. It's all untested. Am I funny? Am I sarcastic? Sexy? Right old misery? Life and soul? Right-handed, left-handed? A gambler, a fighter, a coward, a traitor, a liar, a nervous wreck? I mean judging by the evidence I've certainly got a gob.
What I love most about television, books, and movies is how often God uses those things to teach me about him, about myself, about my faith, and other important life lessons. I've been known quite often to use Lord of the Rings in all sorts of ways from classroom presentations to faith lessons. But Lord of the Rings isn't the only thing he has used. As cheesy as perhaps it may sound, God has shown up in Doctor Who quite a few times. Here are the five lessons I've learned about the regeneration of the Spirit from one of the most iconic British Shows of the last fifty years. For those who aren't familiar with Doctor Who, he's a time traveler who travels around in a blue police box called a Tardis. When he gets wounded or close to death, he can regenerate and essentially becomes a brand new person.
Lesson Number One: Regeneration is painful but brings so much freedom
In the show, as the picture shows, the Doctor regenerates. He leaves behind his old face, his old mannerisms, and sometimes his old friends as well. When we become Christians, God also works a process of regeneration in our lives. The thing of it is the Doctor never really wants to go. He knows what is going to happen; that he will become a new man. Even though he knows he must go, it's still a fight. In much the same way, we know we must let God perform that regeneration in our lives. It may been a painful process. It may mean giving up things we don't really want to give up, it could mean all sorts of things but the thing is, once we've given those things over, there is so much more freedom that comes. We become a new person, a freer person, and a person who is able to see the world in a new God centered way.
Lesson Number Two: Regeneration must be complete
We must let God do a full work on our hearts. If we only regenerate a hand or a foot, what good would that do? If the Doctor only regenerated part way, then he would be carrying those bits of him that are still unclean, that are still wretched, and that are still sick. We need to let God work fully in our lives. If we want to change and become the person we need to be in Christ, we must let the regeneration work all the way through to every part of us.
Lesson Number Three: Regeneration is a choice
There was an episode during the David Tennant years that he has a choice whether to go through the whole regeneration process or not. If he is not near his time machine (the Tardis), then if he did come to the point of death, he would die. He has a choice in that moment whether to regenerate or just die. In the same way, we also have a choice. We can chose whether we let God work in our hearts or we harden our hearts and choose not to. But again, if we choose to let God do what he needs to, then the results will be beautiful. We will be healed and given a greater sense of freedom in the process.
Lesson Number Four: We must be plugged in to the source for any work to be done.
As mentioned in Lesson Number Three, the Doctor without the Tardis, means nada on the regeneration and transformation. But with the Tardis, he can survive. In the same way, we must be plugged into our source. We cannot do it in our own strength. If we try, we will absolutely fail. Nothing in our power allows us to do anything. We can try to change but our change may last for an hour or until the next hardship or the next person annoys us or does something we don't like. But if we are plugged into the power source, then that source can change, mold, and reshape us into who we need to be.
Lesson Number Five: We will receive a new identity.
Referring to the quote, the Doctor having newly regenerated, isn't sure who he is. His identity is called into question. But the thing is when God regenerates us, our identity is not ours. God gives us his identity. We are his children, his workmanship, and his heirs. So therefore, he shows us who we are. He gives us a new identity, a Christ centered identity. Our reputation is his. It's amazing! He shows us who we are in Christ. We no longer have to question our identity and who we are but the more we walk with him, the more he will show up and show us exactly who he has made us to be.
Alas, I admit that pulling deep lessons of faith from Doctor Who may seem a little silly to some people but the truth of the matter is God has given us a new identity when he regenerates us. We must choose to accept and walk in the newness of what God has given us. If we shun that moment, in all honesty, we are quite silly. Regeneration, brokenness and renewal brings freedom. God calls us to walk in it and find out exactly who we are. So let us as the Doctor regenerates, let us also allow the source to regenerate our souls and truly make a difference in our lives.
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