When Luthor shouts at Superman, "Alien!"
Superman confronts him that he is indeed very human, like everyone else who is able to feel and understand human life, and that's his strength. Luthor finally gets exposed as a traitor, a real villain, a character of Satan. He makes every attempt to destroy him.
The same thing is done to Christians by the world under the influence of Satan. Jesus is treated as a real threat by the world; the Gospel is treated as a destroyer. The world treats him so much like an alien, but what the Gospel presents is simple: Jesus is very human, like us, and what's more? He is more human than us! This very theme is run throughout the Superman movie!
He was sent to be a hope, to make the world a better place. Jesus was indeed for the same purpose: to make this world turn again to Edenic paradise! Satan makes every attempt to spoil Jesus' character, but Jesus would step back no more. He knows his mission, and he will complete it no matter what, even if the world hates him.
The Superman movie depicts Clark as a weak Superman. Meanwhile, he claims and admits that's his strength! It's so much like a common criticism against Jesus, a god who couldn't save himself and got death by 3 nails on a cross! Sounds similar? Yes, that's how the world defines what it means to be strong! But Jesus showed that's not how God defines what it means to be strong. Jesus became one of us, weak and fragile, and went through all points of temptation and struggles yet without sin. He successfully became an example for humanity. Becoming weak, Jesus enabled us to relate with him! This new Superman is thus relatable.
The new Superman shows his love for people and even a tiny creature. For him, every life matters. For Jesus, not just us but the whole creation matters, and the whole creation is awaiting the emergence of sons of God for its redemption! The new Superman also feels the pain when he gets rejection from the people and when he becomes a threat for international political concerns. Yet he faces every challenge for the sake of humanity. He is beaten badly yet never stumbles. Jesus feels our pain, our suffering. When we suffer, we don't do it alone. Jesus partakes with us! He knows what it feels like to be rejected by his own people, and yet he never gave up and moved on with the mission he came with.
The new Superman movie shows a better human side of Clark Kent than Henry Cavil's version. The movie could be a great approach to the current generation in offering the Gospel. Superman is merely a fictional character, but Jesus is real, alive, and with us forever. ❤
Some concerns and responses:
1) Isn't this way of looking at movies too extreme?
Ans. Yes, it can surely turn that way too! But it depends on how we watch and interpret. If we watch just for the sake of passing time and pure entertainment, then it is of no worth for us. But remember, every piece of art does have some meaning and background. Humanity is created in God's image, and so they have at least something in their mind that can point to biblical themes, except for the twists and turns that we should expect in a fallen human mind. Remember, even Paul used certain materials to bridge the gap between people and the Gospel in Athens!
2) Superman isn't Jesus.
Ans. That's obvious... Well, nobody is saying Superman is Jesus here! This is merely a tactic and way of drawing parallels to make a bigger point. Jonah wasn't Jesus when he was pointing towards his story. This is called the literary art of drawing parallelism.
3) Superman admits to being a human like others, but Jesus wasn't a human.
Ans. Now this is catching a big ditch that would take you straight to Heresy! Who said Jesus wasn't human? He was human and, indeed, a better human than anyone ever born! Jesus' role as a human is very important for our salvation! He could retake the authority over creation because he was a man! He could begin a new human generation because he was a man! Jesus is indeed that human who meets God's standard!
4) Some preacher thinks these characters have demonic influences and meanings.
Ans. And we should expect that! We are in a fallen world! Our thoughts and minds would obviously have that aspect! We have distorted God's image that needs restoration. Therefore, we obviously have some elements of light and some of darkness within us! Sometimes we get near to the truth, and at the end we totally get deviated by our fallen conclusions! And do we not have lessons to learn even from such materials? Otherwise, why preach tons of sermons from biblical characters? Was any one of them so perfect?
5) What's so special about the movie at all that we can use it for Gospel bridging?
Ans. In one word, Hope. Yes, it's hope. Most Superman movies echo the deep theme that humanity is in need of hope. Superman expresses his aggression in logical and practical debate with Lois Lane. While both sides were so strong logically, Superman had no more concern than "lives of people." Politics wasn't his concern, but people were. The Gospel is about a hope, a hope for humanity to come out of its fallen nature and restore itself back to God. They couldn't do it by themselves except for Jesus. As Jesus said, his kingdom is not of this world. He didn't care about the world, politics, or critical human affairs. He was only concerned about their souls that were about to be doomed! He only concerned himself with their future that was meant to be with God in a heavenly new world forever! The way Superman interfered, Gospel too interferes!
6) The movie has been so controversial and the claims has been made that the origin of Superman has been slightly altered. How can we use this movie to present Gospel?
Ans. It's so simple! The movie has its own boundaries and runs under the control and decision of the director. This is not our concern. I'm not saying that just because we take one or two things in parallel to the theme of the Gospel, the entire movie must be parallel. No, that is not the case. Even in Jonah's event, Jesus only talked about the timeframe; however we know Jonah ran away from God, but Jesus didn't! The absolute and wholesome parallel is not necessarily intended. Even book of Jude quotes from non-canonical text Book of Enoch but it doesn't follow he believes the entirety of the work as fully true. The New Superman movie can obviously have issues but that is not concern here. The main character Clark clearly shows what he is becoming to the world, how he is living in the world and how he feels about humanity! Again, some may draw issues of Kryptonian conquest but that's very normal thing as human history has shown human heart aligning to conquest and colonization. However, it is God-given authority to us but distorted in unintended way because of sin. And what's more? What is the Gospel? In a sense, it is also a conquering mission! It is also spreading God's kingdom here on earth! Some other issues deals with intervening human free will but this theme is also presented in the scripture! God interferes with our free will so that it could align with his will! Yes, obviously the movie could turn out to be controversial but we don't mean it to take everything of the movie as parallel but just some relatable and relevant elements as bridging way to the Gospel :)
7) Finally, is this genuinely your own attempt or are there other Christians who thinks like you do?
Ans. I shall give a smile and suggest reading 'Hollywood Heroes' by Christian Apologist Frank Turek :) Thanks!
📖 Biblical References
Jesus’ Humanity and Identification with Us
John 1:14 – “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us...”
Hebrews 2:17 – “For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way...”
Hebrews 4:15 – “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses...”
Hope for Humanity
Romans 5:6 – “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.”
Titus 2:13 – “...while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.”
1 Peter 1:3 – “...he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ...”
Strength in Weakness
2 Corinthians 12:9 – “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
Philippians 2:6–8 – “...he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!”
Rejection and Suffering
Isaiah 53:3 – “He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering...”
John 1:11 – “He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.”
Hebrews 5:8 – “Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered...”
Creation Waiting for Redemption
Romans 8:19–23 – “The creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed...”
Mission Beyond Politics
John 18:36 – “My kingdom is not of this world...”
Luke 19:10 – “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
Cultural Engagement
Acts 17:22–23 – Paul speaks to the Athenians using their altar “To an unknown god” as a bridge to preach Christ.
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