I confess: I like superhero movies. So…shoot me. Rail on me. Chastise me. I have always been one who had an “imaginative” personality. My dreaming started early when I wanted to be a professional baseball player. Then I wanted to be a professional basketball player (but remember white men can’t jump). 🙂 I used to read every sports fiction book I could get my hands on. I read every Hardy Boys (not Nancy Drew thank you very much) I could find in the school library. I dreamed of being the one who kicked the sand in the other guy’s face. But alas, those dreams never happened.
My imagination kicked into a higher gear when I read The Chronicles of Narnia and then began reading Steve Lawhead’s books. Fantasy/fiction was my escapist reading of choice. Hulk (Yeah, I watched it on TV). Indiana Jones. MacGyver. Back to the Future. Field of Dreams. Lord of the Rings. Bourne. Transformers. You get my drift. Now, it is the superhero era: Captain America. Iron Man. Avengers. Batman. (I have not seen Man of Steel yet). My grandson absolutely loves watching these over and over.
Sadly, there is one major setback to this superhero “worship” that so many have. Superheroes don’t exist in real life. Least not in the comic book sort of way. They do feats no human can. They have abilities no human does. They have shields and hammers, and suits that do what can’t be done.
All this brings me to my point. One falsehood most superheroes kick out at us is the power found in strength. But if I may be so bold…Jesus had the opposite idea. “The first will be last and the last will be first” is how He put it. The Apostle Paul said, “His strength is made perfect in our weakness.” When we are weak, He is made strong.
I am about halfway through Frank Viola’s book, God’s Favorite Place on Earth, and it is rattling my cage. He is talking about brokenness when he says,
We live in a day where the popular idea behind ministry training is to focus on developing one’s gifts. Gift inventories, personality surveys, and strength indicator tests are all the rage…But these kinds of tests set your eyes on your gifts…focus on your strengths, your natural abilities. They make you the center of attention…However, the Lord is far more interested in your weaknesses than in your strengths. He’s interested in breaking you. Why? Because when there is less of you in the way, there is more room for Him to work.
God likes it when His strength is pushed through our weakness. Instead of acting like a superhero, God wants me to act like a weakling in need of strength-His strength. Jesus said, “Apart from me you can do nothing.” That includes when acting or thinking we are superheroes.
Who is your favorite superhero? Any thoughts about weakness vs. strength?
Bill, I have liked Wolverine for about 30 years now. I often wonder what it would be like if superheroes were real. I think it would be difficult for most of them to come to Christ, because they would often be worshipped.
I know about Wolverine from the X-Men Larry but not much more. A new movie is coming out this summer. I totally agree with your last statement.
Great post and I love the quote. Oh, and you already know how much I enjoy Lawhead. I have read everything he has published. The Song of Albion trilogy is one of my all time favorite series.
Thanks Daniel. I liked Song of Albion also. My favorite was Dragon King Trilogy.
My time for confession – though I thought by now it would be an open secret 🙂 – I like sci-fi in a lot a shades, but *every* superhero tale from our childhood (you and I being a matter of months apart 🙂 ) has, well, bored me once made into the special effect spectacular it has to be, and pretty much for the same reasons: no human has been endowed with such power.
I’ll take it a step farther: to this kid who had a *real* hard time separating fantasy from reality, I wished for a super man to come get me out of the house I was born in, and when none materialized, there went faith and hope of rescue – too bad I was counting on fictional characters to do the work that only Christ could, but I couldn’t know that then.
I have a bit better grasp on reality today, BTW – but I’ll leave superheroes where they belong (for me), and that is on the shelf alongside other fictional characters.
Tragically, your scenario is one of the issues I didn’t have time to deal with. What happens when a superhero doesn’t come along? Reality is sometimes hard to grasp if we expect fantasy characters to become the norm.
I’m grateful you *didn’t* have to go through it, grateful I was able to live past the hours and days of disillusionment and grow up into an understanding of who the one true hero is. I’ll have to check into the book – on top of my other reading 🙂
I loved super hero comic books as a kid. As a kid, before the original TV series, The Hulk was my favorite, but I loved em’ all. I have to admit even cartoons can warp or bend a kids perspective and I agree; it tends to make us believe we are the god of our universe.
I love that line from that book about being broken, in my case I was completely worthless to the will of God until He allowed me to be broken… It was the best thing that ever happened to me and I still get a reminder every now and again.
The Hulk was one of my favorites too Floyd, but would have to say Spiderman was my first. The quote was right on and as you stated, sometimes it is the best thing to happen. Thanks.
Did I hear that some Christian communities are making a big deal about an upcoming Superman movie, comparing Superman to Christ?
The studios have even prepped a sermon or two for pastors. Check out http://theamericanjesus.net/?p=9894 for a bit more on this.
yes, they are. I think Rick has already helped answer that for me. 🙂 Even the director or producer said there is a lot of Christ image in it (I think those are the words he used).
That may have been with the last Superman movie, the one with Brandon Routh. If I remember correctly there was a moment when Superman was compared with being a Savior. In fact, in the Superman lore, he is a savior, having saved the world many times over. Christians jumped on that one rahter quickly.
Actually, the new Man of Steel is what he was talking about. The imagery of a father sending his son to another world, etc is being related to God sending Jesus.
Having a 7th grade and 9th grade boy in the house means we watch a lot of superhero movies. Truth is, my husband and I enjoy them too. While I know they are impossible in the way the movies portray them, what I really see in them is the attributes of God. I wrote a post titled “The Avenger” (http://www.struggletovictory.com/the-avenger/) that kind of gets at my meaning here. So, when I see these movies, I don’t wish I was a superhero or had those qualities. I instead am thankful that my God is the ultimate superhero and He’s real!
Gonna have to check out that post Kari. Sounds like a good one. I also see God as the ultimate superhero and the only one worthy of that title.
Captain America is my favorite of the modern superhero movies that you mention. I really like Hancock and Unbreakable as more creative superhero movies.
We were talking about Moses last night and how he was not the most talented man for the job but God chose him anyway. And now we can look at the Exodus story and say “what an awesome God who delivered the Israelites” instead of pointing to Moses as the deliverer. God certainly knows what He’s doing.
You and I are on the same page with Cap DJ. I am looking forward to his new one. I like his line in either his or the Avengers about “I’m pretty sure God didn’t dress that like.” But, in all honesty, Moses is more my speed. 🙂
WOW!!! You and Michael are soooooo much alike it’s scary…..he loves all those movies you mentioned! Can Marty McFly be a super hero???? 🙂 I like Marty! That Frank Viola quote is right on. I have found that in my weaknesses is when I feel God working in my life. When I feel “strong” I tend to not keep up with my devotionals, etc….yet when I’m weak, I will devour the word, and will shut up & listen. So I’d say being “weak” isn’t a bad thing in some instances. Great post! (Have to get Michael to read this one, when I actually get to see him in the daylight hours)
Michael and I can regale you and Jo with our movie IQ whenever we get together. 😀 Being “weak” in God’s eyes is not a bad thing at all Jan.
Our weakness is what qualifies us for Kingdom life because it promotes our dependence on Him. I used to think about this problem or that struggle, “one day I’ll be strong enough to overcome it.” But the reality is all I have to do is trust that Jesus overcame and He gives me the same victory and righteousness by my faith in Him. That doesn’t mean it’s easy! It’s simple, but it’s not easy. 🙂 Thanks Bill.
Great point jason in your first line. He wants us dependent upon Him. Never easy for sure. Thanks for the input.
Just read a story titled “A Coach’s Courage” in the most recent (June 24th) issue of my son’s Sports Illustrated. Definite hero story for you to check out!
is there a link to it Kari?
You have to buy the magazine to read the full article, but this link has a synopsis: http://tracking.si.com/2013/06/19/frank-hall-sports-illustrated-cover/
That sounds like a phenomenal story.
Great point! I’m a huge fan of superhero movies–probably because I like the theme of great power triumphing over evil. I do notice that the movies almost always tap into the hero’s weakness which I like. My favorite is Spiderman because they delve into his weaknesses so much.
I like Spiderman and the quote from that first movie is powerful: “With great power comes great responsibility.” WOW! I am glad they to tap into their weaknesses.
I like those moments when there’s a superhero’s weakness tapped into, as well. It shows the vulnerability and that makes it highly… relatable, I guess. It’s hard to love a superhero who is always right and has no vulnerable points.
Thinking about Jesus, He also had vulnerable points. I think that the very fact that He died – and died a rather gruesome death (theological part aside) made the resurrection so much more victorious. Every time I watch Jesus movie (my favorite was filmed in ’99 with Jeremy Sisto in the lead role), I grin every single time Mary meets Jesus at the tomb. I watched that movie over 30 times now, but every single time I grin.
I agree Zee. I haven’t seen the movie you are referring to but I do smile a lot when I read or see the Resurrection story.
I love superheros too! Last summer i preached a sermon about David and Goliath (David is probably my favorite SuperHero as long as we are not counting Jesus.
There were 4 points –
Sometimes when you think you need a super hero what you really need is:
a servant
a shepherd
a son
a Savior
I threw the notes and an audio link on my blog back then, but it agrees with you here. We think a superhero would be awesome, but God is looking for servants, and looking to take what is week and demonstrate His strength. Good word Pastor Bill.
Looking for servants. That the whole crux of it right there Ben.
I really like superheroes too, but my favorite is still Batman. The one who was human without any special abilities, just resources that he chose to spend on helping people and fight bad guys.
Regarding weakness vs strength… Being (or, rather, allowing oneself to be) weak is sometimes a privilege. I can’t count how often I longed to just be weak so that someone stronger would take care of things… I mean, in usual life.
Thank God that with Him we don’t have to be strong and try to do everything on our own in our spiritual lives because His strength is enough.
Batman may be the most “human” of all of them. Although Iron Man is nothing (except brains) w/o his suit. Cap has his shield and strength and agility. I know there have been times I have wished for someone stronger to come along. 🙂