How to Share Your Faith Using Batman Begins
After roaming the world and battling his inner demons of guilt, anger and fear, Bruce Wayne, AKA Batman, returns to Gotham City and takes on the evils of crime and corruption! Batman Begins gives us a window into Batman's struggles and motives. It shines a refreshing light on the merits of walking away from bitterness and devoting yourself to an ideal.
As Director Christopher Nolan says, "What's always been fascinating about Batman is that he is a hero driven by quite negative impulses. Batman is human. He's flawed. But he's someone who has taken those very powerful, self-destructive emotions and made something positive from them." We can all identify with Batman's struggles with guilt, anger and fear. If you're a living, breathing human being, you've experienced those emotions!
During the course of the movie, Wayne is transformed from an angry victim into a crime fighter committed to justice, rather than revenge. Why does he decide not to wipe out Gotham City to wreak his revenge, and instead choose to do what he can to save it? Batman has reached the realization that bitterness will lead to a foul, poisonous dead-end. This is a Biblical truth that rings true! Bitterness sows seeds of destruction in our lives, while forgiveness is a powerful vehicle that can change hatred into compassion and revenge into mercy.
Bruce Wayne's efforts to do good in an evil world and become a purposeful example of integrity appeal to us. He believes that one good person can make a difference in the world. Do you believe that as well? Jesus does, which is why He calls us to a light in a dark world. In Matthew 5:14-16, Jesus says,
"You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand--shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven." (The Message)
You can make an incredible difference being God's light in your world! You may not be as skilled as Batman in crime fighting, but remember you have the power of God Himself inside you for "sin fighting".
But how can you use these Biblical truths in Batman Begins to talk to your friends about God? Here are some conversation starting ideas:
- It's hard to forgive past wrongs and not become bitter. Ask your friends if this is difficult for them. Talk about how God forgave you and whether experiencing his grace and mercy in your life has helped you, in turn, forgive others.
- Ask your friends if they want to do good in the world. Why or why not? Share what motivates you to want to do good. There's a world of difference between doing good to try to earn your way to heaven and doing good out of gratitude for the free gift of eternal life that God gives us through his son Jesus. It's the difference between trusting in your good works for salvation and trusting in Jesus! For help in understanding or explaining this, see the GOSPEL Journey.
Do you want to devote yourself to an ideal? In Batman Begins, Henri Ducard tells Wayne, "If you make yourself into more than just a man, if you devote yourself to an ideal . . .you become something else entirely." As Christians, we are called to live our lives for an ideal - the ideal of walking with God and bringing glory to Him in all that we do. When you share His truth and His love with the world around you, you too can become something else entirely!
