SPIDER-MAN AND YOU HAVE AN IMPORTANT THING IN COMMON
I've got good news for you: your future isn't defined by your past.
I'm a Marvel comic book fan, have been since my junior school years. I was born the same year as the Amazing Spider-Man, 1962. I know his origin story as well as I know my own life story. Steve Ditko and Stan Lee created a memorable character.
I love how every Marvel character has a distinct origin story and clear character traits that are consistently threaded through the story lines of the past 50 years.
Spider-Man, Peter Parker, is an orphan and unlucky in love; he's a geek, but really smart and he's usually struggling financially. He learned to his cost that with great power comes great responsibility, but little personal security.
The Incredible Hulk, Bruce Banner, is a mild-mannered scientist with an angry alter ego. Consistently misunderstood and hounded by the authorities, there's no situation that can't be improved with a double handed smash.
Marvel writers typically keep their stories consistent with the continuity established in earlier publications. But sometimes a bold writer might depart from Marvel lore, changing the character or altering their circumstances. Some fans would react favorably, some would send hate mail. (Fans have a lot invested in their childhood heroes.)
As an adult now I have a few years of adventures behind me; some I'm proud of, some I'm not. I'm grateful that the good news of Jesus Christ is that he does not tie his followers to their earlier story lines, trying to maintain consistent continuity. He uses that foundation to build something new. A new start, a new heart and healing of the past.
Christ does not limit you based on your past. Irrespective of your socio-economic standing, your gender, your education, your race, your scars - Christ brings new life. Irrespective of past mistakes, Jesus brings hope.
Broken Continuity.
Skin deep scars were easy to shoulder,
while the deeper ones each hardened my heart.
Life-long wounds still wept and smouldered,
carving permanent paths.
Hidden cuts wouldn't stop itching,
and beneath my smile shadows kept screaming.
Treacherous memories would sting
and bite right through my once thick skin
then slowly burrow, refusing to die,
spreading their cursed lies ...
The scars are mine, the wounds are real,
the memories follow me, still
I was the haunted boy, the wild child.
I was the son, loved, beaten and reviled.
I was the dreamer. I was the drama.
I was the fiction that made me me......
--
That was then, but now see,
I have a new writing team,
a change in narrative, a brand new me,
a departure from past continuity.
Now I have a team-up.
Now I have back-up.
And in this story arc,
I get a power-up:
one new ability,
His power to HEAL ME!
Life's not a comic book, it's much more exciting than that.
If you would like to know more about how Jesus changes lives, why not come along to Redeemer this Sunday. You won't find any superheroes, but you will find people enjoying renewed lives.
OPEN UP OPPORTUNITIES BY SLOWING DOWN
We think faster than we talk, which is a great advantage sometimes. But if we are not careful it can be a handicap when spending time with friends
X-Men Apocalypse was an OK movie. Not up there with Marvel's best, but entertaining all the same. The most memorable scene for me was Quicksilver moving faster than thought to rescue the students at a school while an explosion 'slowly' expands to engulf them.
Quicksilver is quick, but from his perspective he has plenty of time - real time appears to slow to a crawl.
We can't compete with his physical speed, but our minds can.
We think faster than we talk, which is a great advantage when studying, negotiating, planning etc. But if we are not careful it can be a handicap when spending time with friends.
When we are in conversation with someone, it's too easy for our thoughts to jump ahead of what they're saying. We miss out on what they are actually telling us about themselves and about what is important to them. This is particularly evident from the questions we ask.
We tend to ask closed questions, which invite a simple answer. When you ask, “Did you spend childhood holidays in the UK?" you're not asking them about their holidays, you're telling them to confirm what is in your mind.
If we slow down a little and actively listen, we'll learn so much more.
Open questions are much harder, but invite a more involved answer on their agenda. “What about childhood holidays sticks in your memory?”
We fall into the same trap when thinking about Jesus or reading well-worn Bible narratives. We can be quick to assume rather than explore.
A simple example is assuming that three wise men visited Bethlehem, because they brought three gifts. But the narrative doesn't tell us that. There may have been a horde of wise men, or only two.
More importantly, we may assume that following Jesus is a chore, but if you ask folk at Redeemer they will tell a different story. It's natural to superimpose our preconceptions on God and make assumptions based on those preconceptions. We ask questions of God with an expectation of what the answer will be, rather than open our minds to explore alternatives outside our expectations.
So, I have two challenges for you.
- Next time you are catching up with a friend, actively listen. Slow down and explore what they are sharing with you. You'll soon build a stronger friendship.
- Push aside your preconceptions about Jesus and explore what he has to say. If you do, you'll quickly discover someone surprising.
You can do both of these over a meal in a restaurant this Tuesday.
Redeemer will pay.
Redeemer is hosting 'Christianity Explored', an opportunity to ask some really searching questions.
Quick, email hello@redeemerlondon.org to get the details!