Should Christians like superheroes?
Full disclosure: I am a huge fan of superhero movies, especially ones produced by Marvel. I read Marvel comic books when I was a kid, so seeing my favorite comic book characters portrayed on the big screen is a lot of fun for me.
My wife tolerates the movies. She once bought me a Batman shirt by mistake, not knowing that Batman is a DC character. She finds it hilarious that when we go to superhero movies the audience is usually primarily men in their 30s and 40s. It seems that I am not the only man who enjoys seeing the action we read as children exploded into 2-3 hours of awesomeness!
On to the subject at hand, though. Should Christians like superheroes? Unlike a lot of blogs out there, I am not going to describe Jesus as the greatest superhero ever and then use that as a bridge to justify why I like superhero movies. Jesus is infinitely more than a superhero. Yes, Jesus had, in a sense, superpowers. But we have to remember that Jesus is God. Jesus is the infinite, eternal, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, holy, and righteous Creator of the universe. To describe Jesus as a superhero is an understatement, to say the least.
I am also not going to try to justify my superhero fandom by pointing out the occasional “Christian themes” in superhero movies. Yes, superhero movies often involve the heroes sacrificing themselves, or at least being willing to sacrifice themselves, in order to save people. But, in no sense do I think superhero movies consistently promote a truly Christian worldview. There are far more anti-Christian and anti-biblical things in superhero movies than there are quotes and actions that are in agreement with the teachings of the Bible and the message of the Gospel.
So, how do I justify my superhero fandom? I don’t think it needs to be justified. There is nothing wrong with entertainment as long as it is kept in balance. I do not obsess over comic book movies. I do not daydream about being a superhero. I do not allow my enjoyment of superhero movies to distract me from my relationship with God, my relationship with my wife and family, my ministry, or any other important responsibilities.
For me, superheroes are nothing but occasional entertainment with a dose of nostalgia mixed in. If you can say the same, if you can watch superhero movies and/or read comic books without it distracting you from the truly important things in life, I say go for it. But, ultimately, it is between you and God. As with all things, ask God for wisdom regarding what He wants you to do (James 1:5).
Important note: In no sense is this an endorsement of Rated-R superhero movies or comic books that are in any sense truly graphic. This post is not an endorsement of anything. It is simply an expression of why I am comfortable seeing most superhero movies.
S. Michael Houdmann
GotQuestions.blog homepage
Should Christians like superheroes?