Every experience God gives us, every person that He puts into our lives, is the perfect preparation for a future only He can see.
- Corrie Ten Boom

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Captain America: Like a Pastor?

One of my former Pastors threw down this challenge to his fellow seminarians this week, and while I'm not in his seminary class (nor have I ever been to seminary) I did watch the movie yesterday and inevitably had this in mind while doing so. So, here is my rational. lol

In the beginning, Steve Rogers is a 90-lb. weakling and while we may or not be physically weak in comparison to those around us, without Christ in our lives we are all weak. Yet, Mr. Rogers is determined and fearless in the face of opposition that is much stronger than him. This is something that all Pastors need to have. Ephesians 6:12 states, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." By ourselves, these forces are much bigger than us, much stronger than we could ever be alone. The serum and machine could be likened, then, to the Holy Spirit and His dwelling within us which gives us the power to defeat those forces. Right after that, he becomes a part of a dog and pony show, so to speak. Much of the time, early in our Christian walks we try to do things that we think will please God, but on our own terms and in our own power, a bit of a dog and pony show of our own. At some point we realize that this is not what we are made for, and submit to God's will for us--to reach others for Him. Rogers does similar when he goes out to find his friend. From this point on, he does whatever he can to help his friends and defeat his enemies. This is often dangerous work, attacks come from all sides and his enemies are ruthless. The attacks on pastors are no different, though they are spiritual rather than physical. The enemy also seems to have better equipment and more money, and this is often the case with our churches. Our churches have limited budgets and other resources, whereas the world has much more to entice those in our communities away. However, in the end, Captain America, and Christians win. 


I guess, my rational is more for Christians in general than Pastors, because I see the need for all Christians to fight the good fight and do not see that as just the work of Pastors. Rogers always led the battles, however, and that is often the work for Pastors in their churches.  

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