An Incredible Truth the Superhero Movies Keep Teaching Us
There is a real Superhero out there, and unlike all the fake ones, He's not content being the only one with great power. He wants to help us discover powers in ourselves beyond our wildest dreams.
Anyone else feeling super-hero-ed out lately?
Long before movie-makers decided to make over 150 hours of superhero movies in the Marvel and DC animated universes, I grew up fascinated like many other boys with a person who could fly and tear apart steel with his bare hands. My brother’s admiration was reserved for another mighty dude who could stop bad guys with a flick of the wrist, all while scaling buildings like they were hurdles at the track field.
You surely can’t blame me, then, for eventually introducing my own boys to this same Americanized version of the Greek gods: quirky, irreverent and death-defying. And no surprise, my young boys were as captivated as me and my brothers always were.
Photo by Steven Libralon on Unsplash
A yearning to be strong. What is it about witnessing someone discover new courage and powers deep inside themselves that likewise stirs something deep inside us (maybe especially for boys and men)? For one, there are few places in our toxic-masculinity-sensitized world where guys hear encouragement to be strong - even if you don’t feel like it - and to fight hard for what’s right.
American Christianity should be one of those places. But for whatever reason, boys and men can sometimes come away with a different message. As Christian author John Eldredge says, “I think most men in the church believe that God put them on the earth to be a good boy” - with the models of Christian maturity held up for believing men often amounting to “Really Nice Guys” - e.g., who “don’t smoke, drink, or swear; that’s what makes us men.”
More than Mr. Rogers. Eldredge goes on to argue provocatively and persuasively that no boy grows up dreaming of becoming a “Nice Guy” - and that, in fact, Jesus Christ himself was far more than that. He suggests that Jesus also had a Braveheart side to him, living more as a dangerous man (to the establishment, to evil) than we sometimes admit.
“We have so domesticated Jesus,” Pastor Rich Knight stated in agreement, “We’ve painted a picture of him as totally meek and mild, gentle and whimpy. He’s Mr. Rogers in a Robe.”
With our own boys, appreciating how much they like the obviously fake Hulk, Batman and Spiderman, Monique and I have taught them: “remember, there is a Superhero who is real. Someone who we can look up to - and someone who can save us from all the bad stuff.”1
It’s really true. Believers all around the world look to a Savior of the World – literally a Redeemer and Deliverer who is “mighty to save.” This majestic being is stronger than the strongest Avenger superhero – and best of all, not even a fantasy.
So why give so much attention to the fake superheroes rather than to the Real One?
The superhero witness. However distracting these superhero movies can become in taking us away from more important things, I’ve also wondered: if “all things” can somehow bear witness of Christ2, then why not appreciate how superheroes can remind us of the Almighty God who has power to save us for real?
For instance, although originally created by two Jewish teens inspired by Biblical heroes, the Superman story itself contains numerous parallels to the Christ story (coming from a Father in another world, living on earth to help and watch over humanity, dying and coming back to life).
In how many other superhero dramas do we see innocent people rescued from harm and certain destruction, often involving the suffering and pain of the rescuing hero - and always thanks to a power beyond human understanding being manifest.
But I would suggest that the truth found in superhero sagas goes beyond even this.
A superhero that leaves us? The following jumped out at me while reading the prayer offered right before the Real Savior allowed himself to be tortured for our sakes. At any point in his saga, Jesus could have followed the plotline of all the other made-up superhero stories, essentially saying, “okay, I’m here to stay - I’ll take care of whatever you’re struggling with.”
But he didn’t. Instead he said to his father, “I’ve finished” what you wanted me to do - “I have given unto them [your] words” and then “declared” and “manifested” the Father’s majesty.
This is the point at which Jesus could have theoretically opted to permanently and undeniably occupy the central, physical, visual focus of these early follower’s lives. But instead, Jesus announced in his prayer - just as he had at the meal prior - that he was going to leave them, and return home to his glory.
Why?
A superhero who shares His great power. So his disciples “might have my joy fulfilled in themselves” and the Father’s love in such a way that would leave them (and us) “sanctified” and in receipt “the glory which thou gavest me.”
By stepping back, Jesus gave the rest of us a chance to somehow - miraculously - be able to align our hearts, minds and lives with this Mighty God and “be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us.”
Super-powerful Jesus left so that the rest of us could find power within ourselves!
Only then - after He had left us seemingly alone here on earth - could the Comforter come, whom He would send unto them from the Father” and who could teach them “all things” and help them “receive power” in marvelous ways.
In their own silly way, this is another truth I believe all those make-believe exciting superhero stories are teaching us: you have more in yourself than you’ve ever imagined.
It’s not just Spiderman who has something Amazing to discover - and not just Batman who has power beyond himself to realize.
It’s you too.
Your own mighty change. Right after showing my boys the video of Captain America getting changed from laughably puny to breathtakingly strong, I read to them again the story of Alma the younger experiencing his own mighty change, while hearing from the Lord:
“Marvel not that all mankind, yea, men and women…”
One of my boys interjected - “hey dad, notice that even the scriptures are saying ‘Marvel not’ (“yes, there’s something even better than Marvel movies from God’s perspective!”)
“Marvel not that all mankind, yea, men and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be born again; yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and daughters; And thus they become new creatures.”
New creatures!? Maybe it’s not just Superman, Captain Marvel, and the Hulk who can become mighty beings that do incredible things.
And just to be clear, I told my boys: “The power that Alma the Younger and the sons of Mosiah received is way better than making webs or flying.”
Beating up a few bad guys is cool. But how about becoming instruments in God’s hands to change the hearts of “thousands of souls” for good?
Power that even beats the Marvel Universe. This power goes beyond even just the converting power of the Holy Spirit. After their faith had become “unshaken,” the ancient Nephites led by the American prophet Jacob were described as receiving a power to truly “command in the name of Jesus and the very trees obey us, or the mountains, or the waves of the sea.”
In the Joseph Smith translation of Genesis, Moses likewise explains the source of Melchizedek’s power to bring about peace: “God having sworn unto Enoch and unto his seed with an oath by himself; that every one being ordained after this order and calling should have power, by faith, to break mountains, to divide the seas, to dry up waters, to turn them out of their course; To put at defiance the armies of nations, to divide the earth, to break every band.”
About Enoch himself, we also read that “So great was the faith of Enoch that he led the people of God, and their enemies came to battle against them; and he spake the word of the Lord, and the earth trembled, and the mountains fled, even according to his command; and the rivers of water were turned out of their course; and the roar of the lions was heard out of the wilderness; and all nations feared greatly, so powerful was the word of Enoch, and so great was the power of the language which God had given him.”
Pretty awesome, right? But could these just be outliers? Does God really intend to make all of us into powerful, loving forces for good?
If we believe the actual words He places in our hands, the answer is yes. Remember the basic message to Alma, “Marvel not” (don’t be surprised or astonished) that all mankind, yea, men and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be born again; yea, born of God…[and] become new creatures.”
No matter how dark and angry and heartbroken we’ve become, the central promise of the gospel is a total transformation of life, including a “new heart” (Ezekiel 18:31/36:26), “new mind” (Romans 12:2), “new life” (Romans 6:4) and even a “new spirit” (Romans 7:6/Ezekiel 18:31).
Isn’t that amazing?!
Most especially when we learn it for ourselves. After reading about that in scripture for many years, I’ve been experiencing more of that in my own life in recent months and years. And honestly, it’s almost been as surprising as Spiderman discovering things he can do - that he couldn’t do before.
And just as exciting.
For a goofy, lego 2014 animation that my boys liked based on a Hillsong service, check out “Jesus You’re My Superhero” (Whiplash Studios) or here’s a tamer song from 2021 by George Horga Jr. Jesus You’re My Only Superhero (David & Goliath Productions).
While the Lord’s words do seem to specify that “all things” in the natural world bear witness of him (“all things are created and made to bear record of me, both things which are temporal, and things which are spiritual; things which are in the heavens above, and things which are on the earth”), I think it’s clear that even those things human beings are inspired to create can do the same. Read Les Mis or Lord of the Rings if you have any doubt about this.
You wrote well today Jacob about superheros in the movies. I recall one that most of us pass over as less than super. The character Frodo Baggins stands out to me as a little person who made a difference in helping to defeat great evil in middle earth. Little people, which includes most of us, can accomplish great things for the King of Kings.
We really do have a real superhero! Always grateful to read something from you. Thanks!