Loki vs. Jesus
Welcome to the Whedonverse my friends! Joss Whedon the Buffy producer has created a film that will move even the non-geekiest folks to get their geek on… (And yes, I'm one of the geeks. For example, I know the name of Thor's Hammer…"Mjollnir"…Yikes!)
Six superheroes who you would think have zero reason to be working together are forced to unite in the face of a threat that's too big for any one of them to handle. So throw in sarcasm slinger Stark, silver tongued Thor, old school patriot Captain America, stone cold assassins Hawkeye and Black Widow, and top it off with some HULK SMASH! – and you've got yourself a movie that causes one to simply marvel in amazement.
And as an added treat, The Avengers also features one of the better bad boy villains we've seen on the screen in a while. Loki, the loco bro of Thor, definitely does not stay low key in this film. His smoldering angst ridden expressions and goth rock star look (except for the reindeer helmet) make an impressive show of eeeeevil and villainy.
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I'm quite certain you'll enjoy The Avengers, but you can take even greater gratification in the fact that the spiritual world created in the Marvel film series is about as real as a ginormous green guy in purple pants. It's more of a "reel" reality based on Viking mythology, where Loki is a "god" of sorts. The problem with all these "gods" is that they act just like sinful humans with superpowers.
At least Captain America proclaims this truth when he's getting ready to jump out of a plane to pursue an escaped Loki. When he's warned that he's about to go after a god, he replies, "There's only one God, ma'am… And he doesn't dress like that."
And I would add that He doesn't act like Loki either. This Norse god is a power hungry and insecure being trying to force everyone to worship him. He displays his might and power in an attempt to subdue the cowering masses in obedience, but that's not how the one true God won us over:
Jesus had equal status with God but didn't think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn't claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death-and the worst kind of death at that-a crucifixion (Philippians 2:5-8, The Message).
Jesus could have come to earth and put on a demonstration of power that no human could ever imagine. Instead He "humbled" Himself by completely limiting His power and voluntarily pouring His immortal Being into finite and mortal flesh so He could die and save our eternal lives.
And p.s. – Jesus vs. Loki? Oh Puh-lease! Over before it started – right?
But back to my point. You might guess that at the end of the film, the world doesn't end up becoming little Loki-ites, but it sure is a fun ride getting to that part!
And in the real world? Well you don't have to guess, because the Bible gives us a clear picture:
Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
and gave him the name above all other names,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:9-11).
Quite simple, isn't it? Jesus Christ is the Lord of all – and that is an objective reality. Every man, woman, and child who has lived, is living, and will live must proclaim that truth at some point. Christians do so while on earth, and because of that, we will share in Jesus' eternal rule and reign.
Everyone else has a choice to reject Jesus' offer of salvation and claim over their lives – but that defiance can only last during this lifetime. Hell itself will be filled with those separated from God – yet eternally acknowledging that He is Lord.
This is why we have to look at the world as if it is facing a global destruction – because it is! There is a real version of Loki named Satan who is desperately attempting to take as many souls with him as possible. In light of this, don't be low-key when it comes to sharing your faith in Jesus with your friends.
Let's avenge the works of the devil and shield our friends from the coming devastation, and let's make it an exciting ride all the way to the end!
