Christianity is Not for Cowards
WHY WE’RE DRAWN TO SUPERHERO STORIES
In 2019, the world witnessed the release of a record-setting amount of superhero movies. There were eleven, to be exact. Eight were released in 2020, and we should see seven by the end of 2021. Something is compelling about stories that pit hero against villain in a fight of good versus evil.
According to a study from Kyoto University in Japan, humans are drawn to heroes before they can even talk.1 The study had infants watch videos in which someone acted heroically, and someone did not. The results showed that they preferred the videos when someone stepped in to save the day.
Have you ever been disappointed when a character runs away from the battle, or, even worse, betrays the hero? If babies can tell the difference between a coward and a hero, maybe that points to our innate sense of justice. Maybe, just maybe, we were created to live out the superhero story ourselves.
DECEIVED INTO COWARDICE
Most people don’t want to be a coward, yet many of us are living that way. The allure of the superhero story that plays out on our screens has lulled us into apathy. We’ve been deceived into believing these stories are the things of legends because even if they did happen in real life, only certain people could reach such high levels of virtue. At the end of each film, something inside us aches to be a part of the adventure. We walk away longing for the power of Thor, the confidence of Ironman, the beauty of Wonder Woman, or the chivalry of Captain America.
Then a tiny whisper inside says, “I’ll never be good enough, so why even try?” We settle and become spectators. The thrill of our lives gets condensed into a few hours in which we live vicariously through our superheroes. The final credits roll, and so does the adrenaline. The wonder of it all blocks out the reality of the story that unfolds in front of us every day.
“God’s pattern is to take ordinary men and women and equip them with His power to live extraordinary lives. It’s often in simple ways, but one thing is certain: they are transformed.”
ORDINARY PEOPLE
The basic narrative of hero stories is that of an average, relatable human faced with an impossible assignment who is then filled with supernatural power to accomplish it. Joseph Campbell, in his book, The Hero with a Thousand Faces, explains the pattern:
A hero ventures forth from the world of common day into a region of supernatural wonder: fabulous forces are [then] encountered and a decisive victory is won: the hero comes back from this mysterious adventure with the power to bestow [a timely blessing] on his fellow man.2
We’re so drawn to these stories because we see ordinary and flawed characters that we can relate to. Then they’re called out of their comfort zones to a great task that they don’t feel worthy to accomplish. They are rarely self-sufficient, the tasks highlight their weaknesses, and victory comes after their failures are put on display. Most of the time the hero has at least one or two people behind the scenes supporting, helping, and assisting them. True heroes are never self-sufficient.
Heroism is the heartbeat of Christianity. Just browse the pages of the Bible. Start with the people listed in Hebrews 11. You’ll quickly discover that God’s pattern is to take ordinary men and women and equip them with His power to live extraordinary lives. They’re not special according to the world’s standards. Usually, they’re pretty messed up people that make a lot of mistakes. But they show up and make themselves available for however God wants to use them.
SUPERNATURAL POWER
In the Bible, when Jesus gave His final commandment to His disciples to, “Go and make disciples of all nations,”3 He didn’t tell them to obey immediately. He told them to wait. Jesus knew His disciples were too weak, cowardly, selfish, and foolish to do it on their own. Without supernatural power, they would screw everything up. Yet, that didn’t change the command He gave them. Instead, Jesus promised to give them the power they needed to fulfill their impossible assignment: the Holy Spirit.4
The Holy Spirit is God in spirit form. He’s not an “it” or a “thing” or a “power,” but rather a Person. All Christians are given the Holy Spirit when they repent of their sin and place their faith in Jesus. His presence inside a person is the spark that sets their soul on fire to live large for Jesus instead of self. His continual presence enables them to live as Jesus commanded because Jesus will never give a command that He will not enable someone to obey. That would be depressing at best and sadistic at worst.
This seems like the stuff of legends, doesn’t it? Real Christians are ordinary people who live lives of heroic bravery. They “revel in desperate ventures for Christ, expecting from God great things and attempting the same with exhilaration.”5 Why else would “Do not fear” be the most repeated command throughout the Bible? Humans are wired for the superhero story, but only Christians are equipped to live it out.
You may be thinking, “But Christianity is just a social club. Why would anyone need special power to sit in a church building once a week?” You’re right. If there’s nothing to fight for, then there’s no need for power. This is where we must zoom out and look at our understanding of what Christianity is. Sadly, defining “Christian” is messier than eating an ice cream cone on a hot summer day. The term has been tossed around and redefined so many times that it’s unrecognizable. Everyone wants to make their own definition of it. However, Jesus doesn’t give us that option. He’s the one in charge, and He gets to define it. You can agree or disagree, but you cannot redefine it.
To be a Christian is to be a “little Christ.” The essence of being a Christian, according to Jesus, is to give up one’s own life and follow Him. Jesus didn’t come to the earth to make peace.6 He came to battle, and He expects His followers to do the same.
“Jesus knew His disciples were too weak, cowardly, selfish, and foolish to do it on their own. Without supernatural power, they would screw everything up.”
THE REALITY OF THE BATTLE
God intends for every human being to have a relationship with Him. That was His plan since day one. But Satan, one of God’s created angels, in prideful rebellion, became God’s greatest enemy. He started the battle that we have inherited. Since sin caused a great separation from God, the worst thing that could happen (in Satan’s mind) is for humans to discover the truth, respond to it, and live accordingly. Satan attacks the truth – twisting it, deceiving us, and distracting us. God on the other hand, “desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”7 Don’t you feel the tension?
Ephesians 6:12 says, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” This doesn’t sound like a social club to me.
ENDGAME
No superhero story can end without a victor and a loser. Sometimes, it may seem like Satan is winning. A glance through the daily news reveals a world of poverty, famine, illness, murder, broken families, selfishness, confusion…it’s all chaos! It looks like a scene from Avengers: Endgame. Where is the hero that will save our world?
Colossians 2:15 says that Jesus “disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.” He did this on the cross when He satisfied the debt we owed to God for our sin. Don’t you see? We are the ones that need to be saved. When Jesus died on the cross, He defeated Satan and satisfied God’s wrath. He is the ultimate hero, and now He’s calling us to fight with Him so that others can be saved, too. The battle will end when He returns to the earth, defeats Satan, and reigns forever. Victory is certain.
Perhaps you have watched all the Marvel movies and felt something deep inside of you that wants to be a part of it. Don’t ignore that – God put that inside of you on purpose. You were created to participate in a story that’s so much bigger than yourself, something beyond your wildest imagination. It’s the stuff of legends, but it’s real.
You don’t need any impressive talents or special abilities to participate. The only requirement is your own weakness. Jesus can work with that. The emptier you are, the more you can be filled with the Holy Spirit. All you have to do is decide: will you be a coward or a hero?
1www.bustle.com/p/why-we-love-superheroes-according-to-psychology-49470 2Joseph Campbell, The Hero with a Thousand Faces (Princeton University Press, 1949), 23. 3Matthew 28:19 4Acts 1:4-8 5C.T. Studd, “The Chocolate Soldier” 6Matthew 10:34 71 Timothy 2:4