The Dark Knight Rises.......

I awoke this morning to the news on the radio of murder and mayhem in Aurora, Colorado. A depraved young man had decided to make the premiere of the new Batman movie his moment of infamy. My heart ached as I heard of the shooting at the theater and the fact so many had lost their lives and even more were injured. A night out at the movies had turned into a nightmare. It was made all the more poignant because my daughter had been at a premiere showing in our own city with her work mates from Chik Fil A and it could have so easily been her caught up in the evil.

This morning I took my other three kids to see the movie just as we had planned, the late night stuff is too much for a mid-forties guy who has more important responsibilities that needs sleep. It felt different going this morning against the back-drop of Colorado. The excitement was tinged with apprehension, the hype was dulled with sorrow and empathy, America is in mourning again as evil has raised its ugly head in a quiet place when it was least expected.

Sitting watching the drama and action of The Dark Knight on the big screen I found myself deeply moved in my soul for this generation and for this Western Civilization we are part of. Batman has always been my favorite superhero figure. He has not super-powers like Superman but he is such an interesting and enigmatic figure. As far as the movie goes, it was not a disappointment, it was classic Batman with all the interesting elements of the plot that makes him who he is. For me as a Christian and a servant Christ I could not help but think about what Batman represents with regards to man's deepest need and deepest struggle. Batman is all about man's need of a Savior, someone who can rescue him from death and destruction. It is impossible to watch the movie and not see this theme at its core. As I thought about this during the movie perhaps the most poignant illustration of it all came at the football game in which a little guy is singing the national anthem and then mayhem breaks loose and everyone is helpless as the evil Bane takes control of the city. Gotham will perish if no one steps in to save it. Sadly there is no one able to save it except.....Batman.

What it is about the American psyche that is fascinated and even obsesses about facing doomsday scenarios, and always looking for a deliverer, and finally finding one ? The impact of the Christian gospel is clearly evident to those who have the eyes to see. Of course there is much that contradicts the Christian gospel, there is much that denies the Christian gospel in this movie, but there is an imprint there that exists. Sadly for many Batman will be only what it is meant to be, a movie, action packed, dramatic and exciting. Their lives will rumble on in this world of evil and in this world of darkness without God and without Christ in spite of the fact they know they cannot fix their addictions, their habits, their sins.....they have no answer for evil when it rises......they have a forlorn hope someone might rescue them from temporal tragedy, but eternal tragedy is something they simply close out their minds hoping it will never come.

As I looked around at the people in the theater this morning and at my kids as they got back into the car I thought about those who went to the same movie just a few hours earlier than we did and who are now in eternity, but for the grace of God it could have been me and my kids. The issue that arises for me as I reflect on these things is this......Batman is not our hope......only Jesus Christ is. If we do not believe in Him then we have no hope in this life or the one that may come upon us much quicker than we expect. Thank God for His Son who came to accomplish our redemption through His resurrection from the dead and give us hope in the midst of such an evil and wicked world ! May we hold fast by grace through faith to the only one who can bring us peace with God and rescue us from the clutches of sin, death and the devil !

Making disciples.....

There is a lot of discussion, debate and division today with regards to the central purpose of the Christian church. Recent years has witnessed an upsurge in interest among conservative evangelicals in social justice and cultural renewal. Such is the interest shown that many churches are now putting a lot of energy into so called 'Seasons of Service' where social projects are dominating the activity of many churches. We are being told it is the church's responsibility to feed the poor, it is the church's responsibility to house the homeless, it is the church's responsibility to stop abortions, it is the church's responsibility to provide health care for the needy etc,etc,etc,etc.....

Whilst all this social concern is admirable to an extent, is it really the church's responsibility to do all the things mentioned above and whole lot more? Should the local church be preoccupied with issues of social justice? Should the finances of the church and the time of the church be dominated by 'Seasons of Service'? Or have we lost our way in terms of the central purpose of the Christian church?

When you read the NT it is very clear that at the center of the church's mission is not deliverance from material poverty, or physical homelessness, or physical health issues, nor dare I say it even the eradication of abortion. The central mission of the Christian church is the proclamation of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. The central mission of the Christian church is to make disciples of the nations for the glory of God. When the church moves the proclamation of the gospel and the making of the disciples to the side and replaces it with social justice issues or cultural renewal issues it unwittingly loses its purpose and the power of God in its ranks.

If the Christian church is to enjoy the presence and power of God in its midst it must remain faithful to its calling and keep first things first and central things central. If not then it can be certain that it in a generation if not sooner it will cease to truly be the salt and light Christ calls it to be......