How to Share Your Faith Using Smallville
Sent to Earth by his father from somewhere beyond, taking on human form as a baby, intent on battling the forces of evil and destined to rescue others with his superhuman powers, Clark Kent, a.k.a. Superman, taps into some serious Messiah imagery.
The CW's popular TV series, Smallville, depicts the unfolding adventures of a young Clark Kent as he is just beginning to discover amazing things about himself and about his adversaries. This season holds new dilemmas for our hero. After being stripped of his special powers, will he regain his superhuman abilities? Will he successfully rescue his friends from the forces of darkness? Will he survive and thrive in his new job at the Daily Planet? While the ultimate outcome of Clark's action-packed adventures may seem entirely predictable (good will eventually triumph over evil), it wouldn't be exciting if there weren't some totally out of control obstacles to overcome along the way.
Smallville throws those kinds of obstacles Clark Kent's way at an astonishing pace. When you're watching Clark step up to challenge after challenge with courage and conviction, do you ever stop to think about how you respond when things are stressful and spiraling out of control? Our yound superhero has a few standard operating procedures that would serve us well as followers of Jesus.
- He taps into a supernatural power! As Christians we too have access to supernatural power - a power we can tap into whenever we call upon God in prayer and use our spiritual gifts to further His kingdom and bring glory to His name. A power that is amazingly beyond what our finites mind's can sometimes even think or imagine. The Bible tells us it is the same power that raised Jesus from the dead! It's described like this in Ephesians 1:18-21:
"I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know...his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at this right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come."
- He leans on his friends when the going gets tough! And just like Clark Kent needs a little help from his friends sometimes, the Bible has words of wisdom for us in this area as well. It's clear that as believers, we're "better together," encouraging and watching out for each other. Check out Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, 12:
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
- He keeps the faith and never gives up! No matter the obstacles hurtling his way, Superman never gives up. When your world is stressed and out of control, do you lean into God's promise that He "will never leave us or forsake us" (Hebrews 13:5)? Do you walk in the kind of confidence the Apostle Paul spoke of when he said: "I can do everything through him who gives me strength" (Philippians 4:13)?
Next time you find yourself in a conversation with friends about Smallville or even if you just find yourself talking about the stresses and challenges of life, try turning the conversation toward God-talk. Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Ask your friends if they've ever thought about some of the symbolic similarities between Superman and the Messiah? (Sent by his father to Earth, taking on human form as a baby, battling evil, rescuing those in distress.)
- Superman always seems to be up for taking on most any challenge. What do you do when life throws challenges your way? Share what the Bible has to say about tapping into God's power.
- Why does it help to lean on friends when the going gets tough? Share how God has wired us to be relational and to be in relationship with Him and with others who can help and encourage us.
- What do you do when you're overwhelmed and feel like giving up? Share how God is a source of strength for you.
Tapping into God's power in our lives gives us strength and courage. This week use some of both to reach out to your friends who need Jesus and share His message of grace.
