Superheroes: What America Needs Once Again

Why do we need superheros today? In a country where a 3 year old can pilot an ipad, unassisted, to her favorite episode of DORA (I've seen it happen), are superheros needed any longer? Can old, outdated, 1950's print media protagonists really appeal to the up and coming 'Generation Z'? I say, YES! We've always need superheros and always will need them.

Superheroes have been an important part of American history since their beginnings. They have fought against the Nazis, terrorism, bullying, and basically all the forces of evil. They have been upstanding as presidents, congressmen and women, senators, even mayors (in the comics at least). Superheros taught us things like having a moral code (Superman), breaking free from the shadows of your past (Batman), and working with what life throws your way (Spider Man). Superheros have been and continue to be inspirations. Whether it's Superman to a G. I. in WWII or the ipad generation of today, superheros make us root for right and cheer when wrong is brought to justice. 

Now, am I saying that all superheroes are good? No, we have our anti-heros: Punisher, Elektra, Deadpool, Sub-mariner, Rorschach, Spawn, and in some cases even Wolverine and Batman. Even with these, in most cases, they do good ... just going about it in the wrong way.
  
Sadly, these anti-heros are beginning to look like saints. Now gangster movies have been popular since the 40's and continue to climb in our culture. I'm not trying to bash on a good gang flick, but the rise in popularity has become a concern of mine. Movies in which the star is a drug dealer, a mafia boss, or a convict on the run may be entertaining, but what happens when generation Z starts idolising these 'heros' over the real ones. When these things start to reform our attitudes of good and bad, making cops the bad guys and the criminals the guys we cheer for, this is wrong.

Movies where an illegal lifestyle is promoted and glorified would include: The Godfather, Scarface, Goodfellas, Lord of War, Casino, Pulp Fiction, Gangs of New York, Public Enemies, Blow, Brooklyn's Finest, Brother, Gone in 60 Seconds, Bonnie and Clyde, and Sin City ... just to name a few. Let us not forget video games such as, grand theft auto (which is what initially prompted this article), Gang Life: Gang Wars, The Warriors, 50 cent: Blood on the Sand, Saints Row ... also ... just to name a few. 

I'm not even going to get into gangster music...

With all this negative influence it's refreshing to see Batman defeat Bane. It's good to see superman struggle with the death of Zod. It's good to see Loki dethroned! Stop cheering for the bad guy, America!

To sum up: in a year of Gangster Squad, Parker, Pain and Gain, and Identitiy Theift, it's good to see some Superman holding up a moral code and fighting for truth and justice. Did I like Superman? ... to be honest it wasn't my favorite ... but amid the other movies this year, Superman has never flown higher.

Reasoning

I am no fool to think that I will persuade some with this article. My writting this is two fold: 1. to write out my thought for myself and 2. To reassure thoughs how think the same way as me.

Now I can use scripture to prove my point. So can everyone else. Any 'theologin' can twist scripture to say what he would like. I am more just asing people to use their noodles on this one.

Now I have heard many arguments about why people don't believe reformed doctrine. The biggest thing I've heard from folks is that they can not believe that God chooses His elect. Or that it is not fair that God chooses. My focus is not so much on that subject. My thoughts are on the questions: 'How can a loving God create people to go to hell?' and 'How can you say that God wants people to sin'

Some folks believe that God creates people specifically to go to hell. Some believe that God does not. Say God does not create people ot go to hell, that's a fair conclusion to be found in the scriptures. But lets think for a moment. God knows every person that will accept Christ as their Saviour. I believe both camps of thought can agree on that. So God creates John Lenin. Knowing full and well that John Lenin will reject the gospel. Is that not creationg some that is just going to go to hell? 'But Lenin had the chance to hear and believe!' Fair enough but even if he had that chance to hear and believe and God still created someone knowing full and well that he would live his whole life and go to hell.

Are there holes in my logic? To me, no. To you there are so many holes they should film a Disney movie on this essay. That's just fine.

Second is the question, 'How can you believe that God wants people to sin?' Let us travvel back to the garden in Eden. Don't you think that God could have not created woman? Don't you think that God could have not created Lucifer? Don't you think God could have destroyed Lucifer when he fell? Could God not have chosen another reality in which man and woman did not rebel and, of there own free will, chose to obey God and serve Him?

We know that sin displeases God. It angers Him and breaks His heart...but does it not seem that God could have stopped sin from happening? Would it be safer to say that it just might be part of His eternal purpose? And that though it angers Him that He is allowing it to happen for a purpose?
Once again, I am not trying to sway anyone in what they believe. If God chooses to use this post to do that, prasie Him. This is for people who believe as I do, and that this might help them sort out things in their own minds and studies.

May God get the praise for all He accopmlishes through us.

Day 27 The Acts ix Saul's Conversion

for he is a chosen instrument of mine

Sorry for the lack of postings. I've just started working third shift and this is the reason for the delays.

Saul was chosen by God for a special service. God had chosen, long ago, to use Saul to give the gospel to the Gentiles. God has special plans for all of us.

I told my fiancee the other day that I have never chosen what church to God to. The choice has always been made for me. I have either gone with my parents, to my college's church, or the church where my fiancee goes now.

Could I choose to go to a different church? Sure. I had a hard time with this. I had never chosen for myself what church I wanted to attend. Then God worked in my heart to show me something.

When we have no control over a situation, then we know God is in complete control (He is in control of ever situation, we just realize it more during these times). Since I was not the one choosing where I wanted to go, Then God was the one choosing for me.

God places us in places and situations even when we don't realize it. I praise God for every congregation He has brought me to.

Day 26 The Acts ii Pentecost

And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.

When I read the book of the Acts I am amazed at the power of the Holy Spirit. What He did in the apostles' lives and what He did through them.

I want to have this filling of the Holy Spirit! What Christian wouldn't? I believe if we simply ask God for the filling of the Spirit and believe that He will do it, then He will.

We complicate things. In today's times we do not believe these things can happen, that is why we do not see them any more. Believe and you can move mountains.

Day 25 Lk xxiv The Ascension

Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.



This is it. This is a sum up of Christianity. Think about the weight of these words. Christ tells us what was accomplished by His death. The repentance and forgiveness of sins.

First thing we see is that Christ opened their minds. Christ has to first open your mind. Then he tells them that He has fulfilled the scriptures. And these people were still shocked that He did what He said he was going to do. He rose on the third day.

And by that He has given us the repentance and forgiveness of sin, but not just to keep to ourselves! It should be proclaimed in His name to all the nations.

Proclaim it!

Day 24 Jn xx The Resurrection

Peace be with you

A small phrase but it is repeated several times in this passage. Christ was saying to His followers because, well, it was a scary time. They thought for sure that Christ had died! Now here He is walking and talking with them. It is quite an or deal. They were pretty shaken up.

When Christ comes into our lives things get shaken up. Our world view is shattered and reformed for us from the Bible. Even after we have been saved for some times, God will send things our way that will, make ripples, disrupting our peace.

Christ final message, in the book of John, is peace. Don't worry, don't fret, don't get worked up. Peace.

Day 23 Jesus Death

Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor's headquarters, and they gathered the whole battalion before him. And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" ... When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, "Truly this was the Son of God!"

The thing that stood out to me was the actions of the guards. Pilot delivers Christ into the hands of his guards. They beat him, put a crown of thorns on His head, put a purple rob on Him, and put a reed in His hand. The solders then kneel and mock Christ.

Think about it, this is Christ, God's son, what they were doing in mockery was some of the greatest blasphemy recorded in scripture, mocking the prince of Heaven. But by the end of they day their world had been turned upside down.

When Christ gave up the ghost the rocks broke open. The veil in the temple ripped (it was old to be sure, but it was also several inches thick). The graves were opened and the dead were brought back to life. The dead even went into town and talked with their families.

Then the head of the solders said, 'Surely this was the Son of God'. I can't imagine what that solder felt like as he rehearsed in his head when he had hit Jesus and mockingly knelt before him. Just an interesting thought.