Comic book theology – Devotion for
Growing up I wasn’t as much of a comic book fan as some people I know (and you know who you are!), but I certainly had a fair share of them, and I certainly watched a plenty of “Super friends” on Saturday mornings. I for one have particularly enjoyed watching so many of the comic book heroes be turned into movies, and I now have enjoyed sharing these movies and experiences with my sons. A couple of weeks ago we were able to go see Spiderman 3, and although I wasn’t as pleased with the movie in general, I will not give away any details in the event that you have not yet seen it.
One of the things that I got to thinking about as far as the comic book heroes (and many bad guys) is that something happens to them, and then they become something different. I’m sure some of my comic book expert friends could correct me on this, but even characters like Batman who in his own right has no specific powers other than his utility belt and other assorted tools and weapons, there was an event or events that set him in motion to fight crime. Spiderman was bit by the spider and developed his special powers. The Fantastic Four were transformed after being exposed to cosmic rays during an outer space mission. The Hulk was exposed to gamma rays to change him into the green monster. Green Goblin under went the experiment that transformed him. Doctor Octopus was a part of another experiment gone wrong. Superman didn’t necessary have something happen to him that made him different than the way he was born, but he did come to realize that on earth he had “super” powers. In each situation something happened, and they became different – a transformation took place. And in each situation then individual had to figure out what they were going to do with that power. As Uncle Ben said, “Remember, with great power comes great responsibility.”
How have you been made different? Once you become a believer in God something happens. As 1 Corinthians 12:7 states, “But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit . . .” That means that when you become a believer in God you have a manifestation of the Spirit within you. Just like Spiderman, your DNA changes (or something like that) and you now have something different within you – you have a manifestation of the Holy Spirit. That Spirit gives you new powers – not that you’ll be able to climb walls or suddenly burst into flames and fly. But with the manifestation of the Spirit within you, you will be given a new “power.” Paul talks about some of those powers in 1 Corinthians 12 – wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discernment, etc. So to restate, when you become a believer in Jesus Christ as your Lord, you become different. You are transformed. Something is taken away (sin), and in it’s place you have the manifestation of the Spirit that now enables you to do something that you couldn’t do before.
The difficult thing is twofold: one, trying to figure out what your new superpower is; and two, trying to figure out how to use it. This struggle is evident early in the life of all superheroes, trying to determine exactly what the transformation is, and then how to use it. We have that same struggle. Each one of us must determine what our superpower is – what is it that we now have the ability to do now that we are believers in God. And then once we have determined what that superpower is, we have to decide how we are going to use it. Remember again what Uncle Ben said, “With great power comes great responsibility.” Paul sort of says the same thing. Remember when he said that thing about the “manifestation of the Spirit”? That verse continues on: “But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” For the good of all of us together. For the good of everyone. For the common good.
Today maybe you already know how you are different. Today maybe you already know what the transformation is, and maybe you already know what your superpower is. Or maybe you are in the midst of your transformation and your superpowers are still developing. Today you need to be thinking about what your superpower is and how you are going to use it. Don’t forget what Uncle Ben said.
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