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First, let me say that I always enjoyed the Superman stories, whether the small screen versions or the motion pictures. When I was a kid, they made me want to try flying (much to my mother’s dismay). There is a sort of morality play embedded in the stories, as there is in nearly every good story. But that does not give us the liberty to wed the Gospel of Christ with the myth of a superhero.

It seems elements within evangelical Christianity have not learned Paul’s lesson in Acts 16:16-18. Paul was beginning his ministry in the city of Philippi. This ministry seems to have been in response to Paul’s vision of the man pleading, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” Also in this ministry stop, Luke records the conversion of Lydia (Acts 16:13-15).

While there, a “girl possessed with a spirit of divination” began following them and saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” Paul’s response was two-fold. First, the text says he was “greatly annoyed.” Paul evidently did not welcome this endorsement, nor see it as useful in his ministry. Secondly, Paul, not recognizing this as confirmation of their message, ordered the demon, in the name of Jesus, to leave her.

Rick Warren is Pastor of Saddleback Church in the Saddleback Valley of California. In a recent online article on his website, Stephen Skelton wrote an article extolling the recent movie “Superman Returns” as a cinematic-cultural retelling of the story of Christ returning to bring peace to the earth. This is not the place to go into all of Skelton’s analysis. However, if we learn nothing else from Paul, we learn that it is dangerous for believers to read the Christian message into pagan culture. It is dangerous to think that somehow, believers can take pagan stories, told by unbelievers and make them fit vessels for the gospel.

Actually, it is more than dangerous. It is treasonous to the rule of Christ in the church and the believer’s life. In the story of the rich man and Lazarus, Abraham tells Lazarus that his brothers had access the Moses and the Prophets, the written word of God. Well, Mr. Skelton seems to think that, if someone is having trouble with the written Word of God, there is a primer on the Gospel in “Superman Returns.”

Is it any wonder that the message of the gospel is so confused today? There will no doubt be those who, in their quest for cultural relevance, will use video clips, or quote dialog from the movie to illustrate their points. Those who dare to declare the clear message of God’s Word to this world, had better not mix it up with the muck of this world, even if that muck is a box-office hit.

As others see us ...

Every once in a while, believers shoot themselves in the foot – or something more disastrous. Dr. Kent Hovind, a well-known creation speaker, is being prosecuted on 58 federal charges (read the article here). First, I believe that Dr. Hovind is innocent until proven guilty. But, I have seen this before. Christians try to do things that the normal man would consider shady – at best. What damage is done to our witness for Christ. It really doesn’t matter that is was “that guy” when we are all tarred with the same brush. Whether it is “fundamentalist,” “creationist,” “evangelist,” or “Bible believer,” other’s testimonies are hurt when believers act idiotically. Again, I am not pronouncing guilt on Dr. Hovind. These may be trumped up charges. Or, they may not. Time will tell. The issue is that integrity matters. The moment we start down the road toward our own convenience, integrity goes out the window. I hope these charges are proven untrue. I also hope that we all learn to walk with integrity in all of our life.