“Assassins, Shadows, and Samurai: Finding God’s Light in the Darkness”
Assassins, and Samurai – two warrior classes with ties to Feudal Japan. One fought from the shadows, striking unseen. The other fought in the light, bound by honour. Two different paths, yet the common goal that they both shared and pursued: Peace.
In the upcoming game Assassins Creed Shadows, we get to step foot into the shoes of two such warriors – Naoe, a female shinobi skilled in stealth, espionage and assassination, and Yasuke, an African samurai who stands mightily and unwavering in the face of battle. Despite these two coming from different worlds and having different backgrounds, their destinies intertwine with one another during a time period that was riddled with chaos, uncertainty and war.
Much like them, the world we live in seems to reflect those times. On the news, you read about the numerous wars, conflicts and even about the difficulties and challenges in our own homelands, both seen and unseen. Yet just as light pierces through the darkest of nights, God’s truth shines, even when we are surrounded by shadows.
With the game set to release on the 20th March, let’s take a deeper look into what we can learn from these two protagonists. Not just from the history and the combat, but also how faith, hope, perseverance and God’s light can shine in the world of shadows.
The Battle Between Light and Darkness (Spiritual Warfare)
Even in the darkest waters, the gate of light stands unshaken—just as God’s truth prevails against the shadows.
Ephesians 6:12: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
The Assassins Creed series is based around the fight between the Assassins and the Templars. The Assassins fight for peace and free will whereas the Templars also desire peace, but through order and control.
Assassins achieve victory by striking from the shadows. Ezio Auditore da Firenze, one of the most popular and acclaimed Assassins in the whole series once said: “We work in the Dark to serve the Light.”
As Christians, our bodies and minds will be attacked, but the biggest battle is with our spirits, the internal struggle. It’s a war that we can sense, but on the surface it can’t be seen by anyone or by ourselves. Only that we can feel it.
The battles unseen are very often the toughest, but it is also where the greatest victories occur. Everyone has the potential to overcome the physical, but it takes someone unique and of supernatural potential to emerge the victor from the spiritual battles. Guess what? You are that individual.
Just like Yasuke refuses to back down and Naoe relies on her Shinobi intuition, you too can rely on God to help you overcome any challenge you face.
Fighting battles is not just about engaging in combat. It’s about trust. A shinobi must rely on their instincts when they cannot see the complete layout, much like how we must trust God when we can’t see the path ahead.
Application: This week each morning in prayer, before you walk out of your door, actually speak putting on the full armour of God and then see yourself spiritually putting it on. Use Ephesians 6:13-17 as your reference.
Walking by Faith, Not by Sight (Trusting God in the Shadows)
A warrior moves unseen, guided not by sight, but by instinct—just as faith leads us through the unknown.
2 Corinthians 5:7:” We live by faith, not by sight.”
As a Shinobi, Naoe is well equipped with an arsenal of weapons like kunai’s, shuriken, even a blowpipe. But one of her most important aspects is herself. She has multiple talents and gifts which she uses to navigate her way through danger. She must detect booby traps, anticipate enemy movements and find the best position to strike.
Having weapons are helpful and they are a great resource for her to have, but if she were to be disarmed, lose them completely or they are unavailable to her, she would be unarmed and would have to rely on her own natural ability to see her through.
As a Shinobi, she knows what she is capable of and never worries if she is forced to use a ranged weapon and lower her ammo count, because she knows who she is and what she is capable of.
Just as she trusts on her skills and instinct, so to must we understand that with God by our side, that is enough to overcome anything that comes against you. He has blessed each of you have been blessed with different skills and abilities, that is why none of us are the same. We may do similar things, but it is done differently, because we are unique.
David had to learn how to become a leader by leading sheep as a shepherd before he was entrusted to lead the people of Israel. He was already anointed to be King, but he had to go back to the shepherd’s fields to grow and develop himself, until the time was right for him to step up to defeat Goliath and inevitably take the throne of the Kingdom.
Don’t take what you have for granted and don’t EVER discount yourself. It is easy to compare ourselves to others and feel like we are being left out or feel we are not important.
Some things take longer to develop, but that is because they are so much bigger and so impactful that they need time to develop. Don’t despise this part of your journey, it is a growing period. It is preparing you and getting you ready for what God has in store for you and for what he has created you to become. He sees the full picture and overtime you will see the artistic and beautiful finish he has been creating for you.
Just as Naoe had to develop her shinobi skills and senses, so too do your spiritual muscles need to grow. Eventually you will experience the blessings and the dreams he has for you, as well as tasting the victory that you trained and worked so hard for. So, keep going, and keep training. What you have been praying and dreaming for is literally within your grasp.
Faith gives us the courage and hope to move forward, but integrity ensures we walk the right path. Just like the samurai are bound to the code of Bushido, we must live by principles that God has given us to follow.
Application: Write down things you both trust God with and what you are praying for. Document and keep track as to how he answers your prayers. Even if it feels small and insignificant, write it in. You will eventually see how it all comes together and you can look over it for inspiration and encouragement, if you are struggling with your faith.
The Strength of Honor and Integrity (Living Righteously in a Fallen World)
A warrior stands at the threshold, bound by honor, as the setting sun ignites the sky—will you stand firm in righteousness?
Proverbs 10:9: “The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out.”
The Assassins follow three core tenets, collectively known as “The Creed” principles they must uphold at all times. These were put into place around 38BCE in the Ptolemaic Kingdom when the Assassins Bayek of Siwa and his wife Aya were active. These were like oaths that every member must take if they are to join the Order of the Assassins.
In Assassins Creed Shadows, Yasuke is bound by the Samurai Code, also known as Bushido, the Way of the Warrior. Every Samurai throughout the history of Japan was bound to it as it emphasizes everything required of a warrior of Japan, honour, loyalty and courage.
This can be testing at times. It is easy to break away from our commitments, especially when the wrong path seems to be the easier one to take.
Whether a Shinobi or a Samurai, the code they follow is like a Spiritual GPS, it only works, if they actually follow it.
In fact, there is another character outside of the Assassins Creed franchise who struggles with the line of between loyalty to the Samurai and breaking their code to achieve victory. This will be someone I write about in a much later post.
As Christians, we have the 10 commandments that we must abide by. There are other commands that God has given us and at times it is easy to stray from them.
Compromise is common in today’s age, it is easier to take the path that seems to be the easiest, even when we know it’s not the right one.
When Jesus knew he was to be crucified, he could have avoided it. He foresaw it and could have taken actions to prevent it. But he knew it was part of his Father’s plan and under betrayal, torture and persecution, he still walked that path, all for our sake and salvation.
The hardest path is very often the most difficult. Some people walk away even before they have taken the first step. I’m sure, up to some degree, we have all chosen to avoid this in some capacity.
Whether a Samurai, Assassin of a Believer in Christ, every great warrior must choose between honour and compromise. Integrity isn’t the easiest path to take, especially in the face of battle, but it is the only one that leads to a lasting and true victory. Yasuke upheld his Bushido, Naoe remained committed to The Creed when things were heavily against them. As Christians, we too must stand firm in our faith, no matter how many and how strong the pressures are.
True integrity is about doing the right thing when no one is watching, especially when no one is watching. Take heart, stand strong and in the words of Psalms 40:2: “He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.”
Honor and integrity shape our character, but they are also heavily rooted into our identity. A samurai’s code defines his role just like an Assassin’s Creed defines the purpose. What about all of us? How can we discover our identity and the purpose that God has given us? Let us see how Naoe and Yasuke individually walk in the purpose that they have been set upon.
Application: Commit to making one integral and God-honouring decision each day, no matter how small. Over time as more are done, these will shape our character and allow us to do more when bigger things arise.
Identity and Purpose (Understanding Who We Are in Christ)
o know oneself is to walk boldly in one’s purpose—just as a warrior who understands his calling.
1 Peter 2:9: “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”
Each of us has an identity, our names, our backgrounds, the families we come from, these are just a handful of things that form who we are.
What we are called to do from God, is the purpose that he has given each and every one of us. Joseph and David were called to be leaders. Abraham was called to be the A Father of a Nation. Jesus was called to be The Saviour of the World.
Some people probably struggle with both of these things and sometimes we can sometimes forget who we are. We literally become lost.
To understand more, we will be looking at both characters individually to see how they find purpose and identity in a world plagued by war and strife.
Naoe’s Journey
Here we have a very skilled and resourceful shinobi who is deeply affected by the chaos within her homeland. She observes: “There is evil at work in our homeland.” She further reinforces that point up by noting: “Greedy lords who bring war.” She is not oblivious to the suffering of the land that is plagued by corruption and war. After the destruction of her village and people, her path takes her on a quest for justice and meaning.
The symbolism of receiving the ‘Hidden Blade’ from her father/mentor, shows that she has a new identity and mission. With this new path comes new challenges as she grapples with the life of an Assassin and the purpose that she has now been forced to take.
Yasuke’s Journey
Yasuke, an African slave bought by the Portuguese Empire, working with Portuguese Jesuits, before he was taken into the service of the Japanese warlord Oda Nobunaga reflects on his journey: “My whole life, I have been caught in a wind-blown across the world.” This reveals how he feels displaced in a foreign world and tries to find a sense of belonging. Because of this, he faces cultural challenges and prejudice which makes him question his place and purpose in Japan. His encounter with Naoe ends up being a turning point, especially when he recognizes the Hidden Blade she carries. This moment makes him realize their destinies are intertwined as he states to her: “Our fates are connected.”
The character arcs of these two make a clear connection to Christians about their journey of identity and purpose. They must navigate a ‘different’ world, filled with trials and even misrepresentation while fulfilling their divine purposes.
We are all in this together as we are called to a higher purpose. Your past does not define you and we have others who we can lean onto for prayer and for assistance.
Knowing who we are in Christ is only the beginning. When we embrace our identify and purpose, we are then called to action. Naoe and Yasuke don’t just find peace in their world, but they fight not just to bring peace to Japan, but also hope and justice. This also tells Christians that we are not just meant to keep the light to ourselves. Others need it and we need to shine the world around us.
Application: Reflect on Ephesians 2:10: “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Write down the unique gifts and talents has God given you, but also write down positive things about yourself and you will see how God uses you for the kingdom, no matter where you are in your journey.
Being a Light in the Darkness (Bringing Hope to a World in Turmoil)
Even in the darkest night, the light of hope shines through—just as cherry blossoms bloom against the backdrop of twilight.
Ephesians 5:8: “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as Children of Light.”
Assassins are seen as the protagonists of the series. There are times when the tables have turned and some turn their backs on the order, but for the most part they are the good people, they serve the light, even though they work in the dark.
Despite the brokenness sweeping through Japan, both Naoe and Yasuke work together to restore peace and bring prosperity by eliminating those who would do harm.
Just like Christians, despite the broken world we live in we are called to bring hope and light to the world. We do this by living the way Jesus did. The phrase: ‘What would Jesus do?’ is a reflection of how we should respond to the ways of the world.
Even the simplest things can make a big difference. A word of encouragement, helping someone in need of assistance, even a hug (within reason) can go a long way.
By doing everything with love and showing it, you are being a reflection of what Jesus does on this earth. Just as children learn things from their parents. We pick up how to live and serve from God.
Light always break through the darkness, no matter how strong it is. Whether in Feudal Japan, the modern world or fighting unseen battles in the spiritual realm, the call remains the same – stand firm, walk by faith and shine brightly. As this blog post reaches the end, let us reflect on what it truly means to be Warriors of Christ and soldiers for the Kingdom. We don’t carry a sword and shield into battle, we instead carry his light into the world.
Application: Everyday find one small act of love where you can ‘be a light’ to someone. An encouraging message, praying for a friend. Find some way to make a difference to that person and you will be showing what God means to Love one another.
Conclusion
Whatever your role is. You all have a major part to play. Just like Naoe as a shinobi and Yasuke as a samurai play their parts in bringing about peace to Japan. All of you are key to making this world a better place.
The enemy would love for this world to live in carnage, it may be intimidating to stand up to an enemy like him, but just like samurai are warriors of Japan. You are all warriors for the Kingdom and you have all been anointed to be peacemakers.
Honor God’s code, let your spiritual senses assist you and live the way God commands us to, as one with each other.
Disclaimer: The majority of pictures in this blog post are ‘designed by @Freepik.’ You can find similar ones at www.freepik.com