Sidekicks and Superheroes!

Robin. Speedy. Kid Flash. Aqua Lad. Bucky. Jan, Jayce and their pet money, Blip. What do all these comic and cartoon characters have in common? They’re all sidekicks! For some reason sidekicks don’t get the same level of recognition and respect as other heroes.

In an episode of Young Justice, four superheroes—Batman, Aquaman, Green Arrow and the Flash—invite their sidekicks on a tour of the famed Hall of Justice as the first step in becoming full-fledged members of the Justice League. When Roy Harper, better known as Speedy, complains that their initiation seems more like a glorified back-stage pass, Green Arrow responds, “Roy, you just need to be patient.”

“What I need,” Speedy snaps back, “is respect.” Turning to his youthful colleagues, Speedy complains, “They’re treating us like kids. Worse, like sidekicks!”[1]

Despite Speedy’s strong sentiments to the contrary, being a sidekick isn’t such a bad thing. In fact, the concept is quite biblical. Jesus himself mentored not one, but twelve sidekicks! He called them disciples. These twelve sidekicks lived with Jesus for three years. They traveled with him from town to town, watched him perform breath-taking miracles and absorbed his life-changing teachings. They often performed menial tasks as part of their training, like distributing food to thousands of people when Jesus multiplied the five loaves and two fish… not to mention cleaning up the leftovers. But the disciples’ most important job was simply to learn from the Master—to follow in his footsteps. The more they listened to Jesus and learned from him, the more like him they became. When Jesus ascended into heaven, their training ended and these twelve sidekicks became full-fledged heroes. They continued Christ’s mission and ministry, and trained others to do the same. From one generation to the next, this process continues.

Superhero sidekicks often experience a similar cycle. Kid Flash eventually assumed the mantle of the Flash and trained his own sidekick named Impulse. Thanks to Batman’s tutelage, Dick Grayson, the original Robin, became the leader of the Teen Titans, adopted the superhero persona Nightwing, and even filled in as Batman for prolonged periods, during which time he mentored two other Robins—Tim Drake and Damian Wayne. Even Speedy eventually graduates from sidekick to superhero.

In an issue of Justice League, Green Lantern and Black Canary show up Roy Harper’s home with an invitation to join the Justice League. At first, Roy can’t believe it. “This is a joke, isn’t it?”

“It’s not a joke,” Black Canary replies. “We don’t joke about this. Now would you like to join the League?”

When Roy hesitates, Green Lantern hands him a package, saying, “Maybe this will convince you.” Inside, Roy find a red replica of Green Arrow’s costume, complete with a “R” insignia on the belt. As Roy dons his new costume, Green Lantern smiles, “Ollie will never say it, kid, but this is what he was training you for… Welcome to the League, Red Arrow!”[2]

The mentor/sidekick relationship is essential not only for superheroes, but also for Christians. If you’re relatively new to the Christian faith, seek out a spiritual mentor who can help you grow in you walk with Christ. If you’re a veteran Christian, be on the look out for new and young believers who could benefit from your wisdom and experience. In either case, our work isn’t done until our sidekicks have sidekicks of their own.

“You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others.”

(2 Timothy 2:2 NLT)

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[1] Young Justice. Season 1. Episode 1: “Independence Day”

[2] DC Comics. Justice League of America (2006) #7.

The Hand of God

In a riveting episode of Justice League Unlimited, a green, glowing orb containing two determined heroes tumbles through a temporal vortex of swirling chronal energy in pursuit of the time-traveling villain—Chronos. Batman questions, “Where’s he going? There’s nothing left!” Green Lantern replies, “Yes, there is. The beginning of time!” Contemplating the consequences, Batman asserts, “He can reset everything, make himself into a god.”

“Only if he gets there first,” Green Lantern affirms. Pressing forward with grim determination, Green Lantern announces, “The Green Lanterns have a legend. No one can see the beginning of time. It’s a universal law.”

“Write him a ticket,” Batman quips. As the heroes draw closer, Green Lantern uses his power ring to snare Chronos, drawing him into their glowing, green sphere and hitting the brakes. Unable to stop in time, Batman and Green Lantern witness the beginning of time. And what do they see? A colossal, cosmic hand holding the swirling fundamental quantum elements of our universe—the hand of God.[1]

This “Hand of Creation” appears again and again whenever DC Comic’s characters journey to the beginning of creation and reminds readers that there is a powerful, creative hand behind not just the DC Universe, but the universe you and I live in as well.

While actual time-travel may be relegated to science fiction and fantasy, astronomers today can literally observe the past. Because light takes time to travel from distant objects to the astronomer’s telescope, the farther away they look, the farther back in time they see. Astrophysicist Hugh Ross has said, “The universe is now sufficiently ancient that astronomers can directly view and analyze 99.9972 percent of cosmic history and directly behold the cosmic creation event.”[2] What do astronomers see when they behold the beginning of the universe? Well, they don’t see the hand of God, but they do see his finger prints—evidence of God’s presence.

Remarkably, the universe itself offers tremendous insight into the Creator of the cosmos. First of all, we know that whatever caused the universe must be a transcendent Creator beyond the universe itself. Since cosmology tells us that literally all of space, matter and even time itself came into being at the Big Bang, then whatever caused the universe must be space-less, timeless, and immaterial—that is, a nonphysical entity that exists outside of time. It must also be unimaginably powerful, since it caused all matter and energy to spring into existence. So, the creation of our universe points to a space-less, timeless, immaterial entity of immense power.

Astronomers have also been stunned by the discovery of how complex and delicate a balance of initial conditions must have been present in the Big Bang itself if the universe is to permit the existence of intelligent life anywhere at all in the cosmos. This delicate balance of initial conditions has come to be known as the “fine-tuning” of the universe for life. Famed British theoretical physicist, Steven Hawking, described this observation in his book, A Brief History of Time, saying, “It would be very difficult to explain why the universe should have begun in just this way, except as the act of a God who intended to create beings like us.”[3]

Thus, what we can observe about the creation of the universe we live in tells us that whatever caused it, is a transcendent, space-less, timeless, immaterial, unimaginably powerful, highly intelligent, personal creator who crafted the cosmos with us in mind. I don’t know about you, but that sounds an awful lot like the hand of God to me!

While you may not have the ability to travel through time or own a powerful telescope capable of seeing billions of lights years away, I challenge you to stand beneath the stars on a clear night, gaze into the heavens, and see if you don’t sense the hand of God yourself.

“The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard. Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world.”
(Psalm 19:1-4 NLT)

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[1] Justice League Unlimited, "The Once and Future Thing Part Two: Time, Warped"

[2] Ross, Hugh. “Beginning and End of Cosmology.” Reasons to Believe (www.reasons.org). July 2007

[3] Hawking, Stephen. A Brief History of Time: from the Big Bang to Black Holes. Bantam Books, 1988.

Jesus Christ: World's Greatest Hero!

I'm excited to announce that the comic-book project I've been working on for the past year is finally finished! Jesus Christ: The World's Greatest Hero! is a fast-paced, twenty-four page synopsis of the life of Jesus, highlighting his heroic nature. The first edition features well-known heroes like Superman, Batman and Spider-man on the cover as well as a few interior pages. This edition is only available through our ministry, Costumers for Christ. The variant edition features less familiar superheroes, but is available through Amazon in paperback and on Kindle. I want to thank Zac Pensol and Ryan Crissey for their help with this project. Please pick up a copy and share it with a superhero fan who needs to know that Jesus is the greatest superhero of all!

Save One!

Now that Justice League is available to stream online, I enjoyed watching it again from the comfort of my living room. While it suffered from a garden-variety villain and a somewhat disjointed story due to multiple directors with very different visions, I believe Justice League was still a step in the right direction for the DC cinematic universe.

As I mentioned in a prior post, this film is much brighter and more hopeful than DC’s previous films, like Man of Steel or Dawn of Justice. One scene in particular ought to resonate and inspire Christians who fear sharing their faith.

Socially awkward and short on friends, the Flash, played by Ezra Miller, eagerly joins the Justice League when Batman extends the invitation. But when it comes time to battle the bad guys and save the civilians… he freezes. Turning to Batman, he explains, “Here’s the thing. See, I’m afraid of bugs, and guns, and obnoxiously tall people. I can’t be here! It’s really cool you guys seem ready to do battle and stuff, but I’ve never done battle. I’ve just pushed some people and run away!”

Batman responds with two simple words: “Save one."

The Flash: What?
Batman: Save one person.
The Flash: Which one?
Batman: Don’t talk. Don’t fight. Get in. Get one out.
The Flash: And then?
Batman: You’ll know.

In one of the most inspiring moments of the movie, Batman offers advice that both novice superheroes and new Christians should take to heart.

Jesus said of himself, “For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost” (Luke 19:10 NLT). He then passed that mission onto us, instructing believers, “Go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you” (Matthew 28:19-20 NLT).

Saving souls—sharing Jesus with another person—can be a daunting task. Maybe you’re just not an extroverted person. Neither am I. Maybe you don’t know what you’re supposed to say or how to broach the subject. And, of course, there is always the fear of rejection: What if they’re offended? What if it turns into an argument? What if I ruin an otherwise perfectly good friendship? The very idea of carrying on Jesus’ mission to “save the world” is pretty intimidating.

Batman’s advice to the Flash, is my advice to you: “Save one!” That means sharing your faith with one lost, broken, hurting soul at a time. And after you reach just one person with the Gospel of Jesus, just like the Flash, “You’ll know.” You aren’t called to save the world, just the life of one person at a time. Who’s that person for you right now? Get in! Get one out! Save one!

Contending for the Crown

Like most Marvel fans, I was eager to see Black Panther in theaters last weekend. Also, like most Marvel fans, I loved it. The dazzling special effect, beautiful African scenery, well-timed humor, and action-packed fight scenes made Black Panther an absolute joy to watch. The movie touches on relevant themes like race, identity, and social responsibility—all of which revolve around an epic battle for the kingship of Wakanda.

After his father’s death (in Captain America: Civil War), the five tribes of Wakanda crown T’Challa their new and rightful king. But T’Challa must defend his crown from a challenger, M’Baku (the White Gorilla), in gladiator-style combat on the edge of a waterfall cliff, while African-drum music fills the air and Wakandan natives chant to the beat. T’Challa defeats the challenger and takes his rightful place on the throne, but it’s not long before his reign is challenged once again. When T’Challa’s long-lost cousin, Eric Killmonger, makes a claim to the thrown lines are drawn, sides are chosen, and Wakanda’s entire civilization is threatened.

I’m convinced that this theme will resonate with thoughtful Christians.

Everyone wants to be the king.

Some of us want to be the king of our workplace, or the king of our house. Some of us want to be the king of our fantasy football league. Some of us treat the highway as our own little kingdom, demanding that our minions ask our permission before they change lanes or slow down.

Kings stand above everyone else, receiving praise and reverence from everyone around them. Nothing is withheld from kings. They never come in second place, and they never have to acquiesce to another’s needs.

In the infamous words of Mel Brooks, “It’s good to be king.”

But the truth is, whether we choose to accept it or not, there is only One True King. It’s not me. It’s not you. Jesus alone is King of Israel, king of all nations, king of nature and the universe. At one point in the movie, T’Challa acknowledges, “I am king of Wakanda, not king of the world.” Jesus, on the other hand, really is the king of the world. Revelation says, “he is Lord of lords and King of kings” (Revelation 17:14 NIV).

Like T’Challa, though, Christ’s kingship is often challenged. If Jesus is the king, then we’re not. We don’t like that very much. We want to be the ones in charge. In charge of our own lives, in charge of our relationships, in charge of our destinies. Like M’Baku and Killmonger, we’d rather rebel than relinquish control.

What we need to realize is that we’re much better off with Christ on the throne. Before his death, T’Challa’s father told him, “You are a good man, with a good heart.” That’s what made T’Challa a good king. Likewise, Jesus is the perfect King. He’s just, loving, merciful, and full of grace. He doesn’t barter with lesser kings, he can’t be bribed, and he’s not corruptible. He doesn’t just do good—he is good. And the best part is—he invites all of us into his Kingdom.

Have you accepted the kingship of Jesus?

Justice League: Hope and Heroes

Fans of Superman and followers of Jesus will delight in DC’s Justice League. Although the movie suffers from a bland villain and sub-par CGI (not the least of which covers Henry Cavill’s mustache), Justice League delivers something that was conspicuously absent from Man of Steel and Dawn of Justice… hope. This hope resides in the film’s resurrected savior, Superman. Director Joss Whedon establishes this theme right from the start. In the opening sequence, set prior to Superman’s death in Dawn of Justice, Superman pauses after a daring rescue to chat with a couple kids. “Is it true that your symbol stands for hope?” one child asks. “Yes,” Superman replies. “But it looks like an S,” the youngster persists. “It’s meant to,” Superman says, “It winds like a river. It comes and goes.”

In the wake of Superman’s death all hope seems gone. The whole world appears darker and drearier without him. Early in the film, Martha Kent tells Lois Lane, “There’s so much bitterness. I think it’s because he’s gone.” Batman agrees, commenting to Wonder Woman, “Superman was a beacon to the world.” Lois Lane sums up the situation in a voice-over at the end of the film. “Our darkness was deep and seemed to swallow up all hope…”

I think the followers of Jesus could relate. In the wake of his death on the cross, Jesus’ followers were devastated, depressed, and disillusioned. All their hopes rested in a man they believed was God in human flesh. But then He died. I think the two disciples walking on the road to Emmaus, spoke for everyone when they said, “We had hoped that He was the one” (Luke 24:21 NIV). Had hoped? Anytime you start talking about hope in the past tense, you know you’re in trouble. Thankfully, Jesus conquered death and rose from the grave. So did Superman.

In the film, Superman dramatically returns from the dead and, as alluded to by his symbol, brings hope back to his fellow heroes and the world. Lois Lane speaks of Superman’s return in her closing comments, saying, “Hope is real and you can see it. All you have to do is look up in sky.” The idea of a resurrected savior who brings hope to the world ought to resonate with Bible believing Christians. Prophesying the coming of Christ, the Bible says, “his name will be the hope of all the world” (Matthew 12:21 NLT).

Jesus is our hope. The hope of all the world.

In an interview with USA Today, Batman actor Ben Affleck makes a compelling comment. “Part of the appeal of this genre is wish fulfillment: Wouldn’t it be nice if there was somebody who can save us from all this, save us from ourselves, save us from the consequences of our actions and save us from people who are evil?” Thanks to Jesus, we don’t have to wish. We just have to hope.

Searching for Significance in Spider-man!

As I sat watching Spider-man: Homecoming with my kids, I truly appreciated being able to watch it on Vid-Angel. This newest iteration of everyone’s favorite web-slinger contains more foul language and suggestive themes than previous Spider-man movies, including a nonchalant reference to pornography and a (almost) F-bomb from Aunt May, of all people!

Despite these failings (which disappear thanks to Vid-Angel), Spider-man: Homecoming does tell a heartwarming story with some significant spiritual value.

The movie picks up where Captain America: Civil War ended. Peter feels special after receiving his spider-suit from Tony Stark and being chosen to help the Avengers with their internal conflict. In the wake of those prestigious events, however, Peter occupies himself with lower-profile acts of heroism. He thwarts a thief trying to steal a bicycle, bungles an attempt to stop an ATM burglary, and even gives directions to an elderly woman lost in Queens.  All the while, Peter anxiously awaits a call from Tony to join the big leagues. “I feel like I could be doing more,” Peter complains.  “I’m just curious when my next real mission is going to be.”

Surely, Peter Parker isn’t the only one to feel insignificant, as if the little things we do simply don’t matter. As a pastor for a small rural church, I can certainly relate. When I hear stories of rapidly-growing congregations or visit some mega-church, it’s easy to feel like my “small” ministry is insignificant and unsatisfying. Perhaps you feel the same way about your ministry, career or lot in life. The truth is, though—the little things really do matter. Jesus once said, “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones” (Luke 6:10 NLT). He also compares the Kingdom of Heaven to “a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade” (Mark 4:31-32 NLT).

At the end of the movie, Peter gets his wish. Tony Stark offers him a brand-new suit and a place on the Avengers’ roster. But by now Peter has discovered that the little things he does make a big difference. He tells Tony, “I’m good. I’d rather just stay on the ground for a little. Just a friendly neighborhood Spider-man. Somebody’s got to look after the little guy, right?”

Like Peter, I believe God wants each of us to “bloom where we’re planted.” Even if your life doesn’t seem grand or glamorous, what you do matters because it matters to God.