SECOND COMING: DC Comics new Superhero?

What do you think of this? Controversial/blasphemous OR an opportunity to engage with friends? Read this article for some ideas.

‘Second Coming’ – Abomination or Opportunity?

DC Comics, famous for their depictions of superheroes such as Superman and Wonder Woman, is preparing a series, Second Coming, in which a new superhero, Sun-Man, teams up with Jesus to try to save the world.

‘The conceit,’ explains writer Mark Russell, ‘is that God was so upset with Jesus’s performance the first time he came to Earth, since he was arrested so soon and crucified shortly after, that he has kept him locked-up since then.’ Seeing Sun-Man’s performance, the Father thinks Jesus could learn a thing or two and sends him to Earth for another try.

Many Christians are rightly troubled about this utterly unbiblical depiction of the Lord, and have signed petitions calling for DC Comics to drop the series. For those who would like to express their strong reservations, this is a good way of letting media companies know that we love Jesus and are committed to seeing his name honoured and not mocked.

But the comic also gives us a wonderful opportunity to talk about our beliefs with our friends and colleagues. How will you respond if someone asks what you think about it? You could brush it off in disgust, or use the opportunity to bring light in the darkness.

We can learn from Jesus’ approach in this. When people questioned him about the controversial topics of the day, he refused to take their bait, and instead turned the questions on them.

So, if someone asks what you think about a cartoon depicting Jesus as a failure, why not ask if they agree that he messed up the first time round? Why do they think that? What would success look like to them?

Should Jesus have used superhero-like powers to wipe out all the bad guys so the rest of us can live in peace? The Bible’s view of the human problem is that we are all ‘bad guys’. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.

The wonderful news is that Jesus didn’t come to wipe us out. Nor was his goal to subdue humanity and make us obey him out of fear of the consequences. He came so we could be transformed into genuine ‘good guys’.

His crucifixion was not the failure it might first appear, but a glorious victory that was the only way the world could be saved. What an opportunity to share that good news with our friends!

Jennie Pollock

Jennie is a freelance writer and editor who lives in London and worships at Grace London. She blogs at jenniepollock.com and tweets as @missjenniep

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