Avengers Endgame has already earned the second highest box office
receipts of any film in history. Obviously, a lot of people are watching it. My
wife and I watched it this past weekend. I thought it might be worth sharing a
few thoughts about some aspects of the story that can remind us of biblical
lessons and some that don’t line up with biblical truth. I’ve chosen just four lessons to share. I’m
sure you could think of more.
Note: This post is intended for people who have already
seen the movie. It includes spoilers.
Lesson #1:
From: Captain America
Lesson: When you can’t help people in big ways, help people in
small ways
After Captain America and his team initially fail at getting the
infinity stones back from Thanos, it appears there is no way for them to undo
the terrible destruction that Thanos unleashed. While all the characters struggle
in their own ways with this defeat, Captain America keeps helping people in
whatever way he can. This even includes encouraging normal folks in a small
support group setting to move forward with life and make the best of it.
(Unfortunately, in the small group a man is wrongly confirmed and encouraged in
seeking a homosexual relationship, which is something we should not imitate.)
This reminds me that most of us aren’t going to be involved in
saving the world in a big, splashy way, like superheroes in movies do on a
routine basis. But we can make a world of difference in the lives of our
friends, family, and neighbors by helping others in small ways. An encouraging
word, a kind act, or a small gift can be used by God to bless and help others on
their journey. Jesus taught that even small acts of kindness are noticed by God
and will one day be rewarded by Him:
And whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in my name,
because you belong to Christ-- truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward.
(Mk. 9:41 CSB17)
This truth is
captured in this contemporary Christian song:
Lesson
# 2
From: Thor
Lesson: Don’t deal with depression
through isolation and substance abuse
Even heroes struggle with depression.
This was true for some of the great heroes of the Bible, it has been true for
heroes of the faith throughout history, and it is true for the fictional
superheroes in Endgame. Thor has been dealt a whole series of terrible life blows.
No one should look down on someone who is struggling with depression after
suffering loss and tragedy.
While we can’t always avoid
depression, we can choose how to respond to it. Thor is an example of how not
to deal with depression. He isolates himself from others and he turns to alcohol.
There is no doubt that abusing alcohol or drugs can bring a temporary form of
relief from the pain of tragedy. But it’s not worth it. In the end, substance
abuse brings only more loss and more pain. The Bible warns us, “And don't get drunk with wine, which leads to reckless living, but be
filled by the Spirit” (Eph. 5:18 CSB17).
Too bad Thor didn’t
know about the healing love of God that is available when His Holy Spirit is
working in our hearts. We can’t avoid going through dark valleys. But when we
go through them, we can choose to cling tightly to God through Christ and find
healing and deep growth.
Lesson #3
From: Iron Man
Lesson: Family is very important, but there is something even more
important
Tony Stark and Pepper start a family in the aftermath of the
destruction that Thanos brought to the universe. Tony is a gentle, loving, dedicated
father and husband. After all he’s been through, movie goers are glad to see
him enjoying some happy, quiet days.
But then some of his old friends from the Avengers show up with an
idea for a long-shot scheme to bring back everyone who was turned to ashes. But
there are problems. They can’t pull it off without Tony. And the risks involved
are so great that there is no way Tony could promise his wife and little girl
that he would come back to them if he chooses to get involved.
Tony initially refuses to help. He likes his Avengers friends, but
he loves his family. However, in the end Tony realizes that he can’t turn his
back on helping so many people in such a big way. But what seems to make the
difference is not so much the raw logic of helping billions compared to being
there for his family, but rather the thought of being able to bring back one
person in particular, the young Spider Man whom Tony loved as a son. And so,
Tony chooses to risk his life again, even though it means leaving his family
with no guarantee that he’ll ever return. In the end, Tony makes a decision
that brings back billions of people, but which he knows will likely result, and
does result, in him leaving his wife a widow and his daughter without a father.
Family is an incredibly important part of God’s plan. God wants us
to love our families and care for them. But sometimes, for the sake of the gospel
and for His Name, He calls Christians to make decisions that may require great sacrifice.
The hardest part of this sacrifice comes when it affects our families whom we
rightly love so dearly.
"Truly I tell you," Jesus said, "there is
no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or
children or fields for my sake and for the sake of the gospel, who will not
receive a hundred times more, now at this time-- houses, brothers and sisters,
mothers and children, and fields, with persecutions-- and eternal life in the
age to come (Mk. 10:29-30 CSB17).
We are called to
a serve in a real life mission that is more important than the fictional
mission in Endgame. The Avengers faced danger and made great sacrifices to save
billions from an early death. But all those people were still doomed to die
again. We are called by God to a mission where the stakes are much, much higher.
We are called to share God’s truth and love with people all around the world.
When people respond to this message with faith, they gain the gift of eternal
life. In service to this great mission, many have made great sacrifices,
including leaving their families and losing their lives. It’s that important.
Thankfully, while
God calls us to be involved in His great mission, the results are not ultimately
left up to us. And that brings us to our final lesson.
Lesson #4
From: Captain
America
Lesson: Captain
America is wrong about one thing, the world is not in our hands.
Captain America
says, “The world is in our hands.”
In the fictional
world of the Marvel Comic Universe that is true. Whether or not the world is
saved from Thanos’ maniacal schemes is entirely up to the Avengers. If they don’t
succeed, no one will.
As pointed out in
the previous lesson, God calls Christians to an even more important real life
mission than the fictional mission the
Avengers have. But thankfully, while God does work in and through us, the world
is not ultimately in our hands. It’s in His. There is no chance that evil will
win in the end. The outcome is not in question. Our failures do not threaten God’s
plans. And that’s a very comforting thought.
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the
everlasting God, the Creator of the whole earth. He never becomes faint or
weary; there is no limit to his understanding. (Isa. 40:28 CSB17)
Hebrews 13:16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others . . .
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