October 2008: The Not-so-Superheroes

The Not-so-Superhero Like Heroes of the Bible
Batman is the best superhero because ____________________________.
Yeah, right! Spiderman is because _______________________________.
No, no, your both wrong. The all-time best superhero is...Mighty Mouse!

Superheroes. Definitely a fascination of these characters is alive and well amidst our culture today. Walking through any major store you will find Halloween costumes of not so much the traditional zombie or witch costumes, rather, you will find Batman, Spidey, the Hulk and other “great superheroes”. People will do anything to be like them. Why is there such a fascination of these characters?

Cool Costumes
Neato Gadgets
Multiple identities
Or perhaps, the ability to make a difference in the world...perhaps

Often times they are young, good looking, with a confident personality. Yeah they struggle with things, but in the end, they always come out on top and if they don’t at the end of one comic, wait until the next edition and you’ll see them rise to the occasion again and save the world.

Constantly fighting off “evil” and appearing to have it all together.
Yeah, these are perfect candidates for making an impact, changing the world and doing incredible things.

Although they help us escape our problems for a while, we can’t help but ask the question, “What about us?” Think about it, where are the super hero’s at here? When was the last time you saw someone swing down from the roof of the Executive Inn building to save someone? Better yet, when have you looked up and saw an image of a bat in the sky and felt reassured that things were going to be ok?

How are we to live up to these characters? Can we compare to the man who can stop a train, or a man who’s only vice is from another planet far, far away?

Why aren’t there any ordinary people, with ordinary powers that change the world by doing ordinary things? Why can’t I be a superhero? Why can’t I make a difference like them?

In a book that contains lots and lots of stories, there are appearances of some pretty ordinary, world changing people who’s lives were a wreck. Who needed no costume or mask to change the world. People who were young and old; people who again to repeat, were a mess, who did not have it all together, who believed like a superhero: That Another World is Possible.

Moses—A stammering, murderer and Exodizer
Abraham—Old and doubtful who’s offspring became a great nation
King David—Murder, Adulterer, father of a son who was into incest
12 men and women who were misfits, the “un-popular kids of society”
Paul—A murder, blasphemous, doubter and scholar
Finally, classic clown of them all, Jesus—from a nobody mother and father, from a bad part of town, nothing special but a carpenter, hung-out with the misfits of the town.

These people, are contributing authors of the greatest story ever told. A story of a God who used all of these people to save, not just a city, not just a girl, but the entire world. People who were not perfect. People who did not have it all together. People who missed the mark often. People whom no movie would probably ever be made for. People who were just like you and me...an ordinary mess.

Are you ready to become a hero? Are you ready to live into your identity that God has called you into? One with that contains a power much greater than any of the superheroes from our comics and movies. We can be heroes too. Do you believe it? Can you sense it? The seasons are changing and with it hope, peace and love are coming! Get ready ! Embrace yourself for a ride of a life time!