How to Share Your Faith Using The Incredibles
Have you ever wondered what happens to superheroes when they get older? Do they just fade away at some Superhero care facility? Do they go off to some spot in the mountains to ski in the winter and fish in the summer? Do they get jobs and work in the office with your parents?
WHAT IF YOUR PARENTS ARE RETIRED SUPERHEROES?!
Well, thanks to Disney and Pixar Studios, we now have the answer! Superheroes get married, have kids, work jobs and live in the burbs, but they never fully retire.
In the full length animated movie The Incredibles, Mr. Incredible, his new wife Elastigirl, his friend Frozone and many other superheroes are forced into retirement by lawsuit-happy idiots looking to make a buck off of not being saved “perfectly.” I mean, what’s the deal? The guy saves your life and you sue him because you got a broken finger? Gimme a break!!
But, that’s the reality in this great work of fiction, and it forces these superheroes into retirement and the Superhero Relocation Program so that they can be hidden and disappear into the world of normal people. They drive little ragged out cars, work going-nowhere jobs, and relish the days of crime fighting.
WARNING: There could be some spoilers from this point on!
That is until the day Mr. Incredible loses his job and gets a secret message…and a new mission. He’s called out to take out a rogue robot that is terrorizing an island and has caused everyone to evacuate in fear of their lives. He quickly takes care of the robot, collects his pay and returns home. From that point on, he’s living the good life, confident in himself since he proved once again that he can kick some serious evil-guy tail. He loses (some) weight and begins getting back into his crime-fighting shape.
From there, he gets a new “mission” which is actually a trap and has to be saved by his superhero wife and their superkids. It’s a great series of fast-paced action, close calls, and victory…or defeat? Well, I guess you’ll just have to watch it…with a friend…who needs Jesus!
Here are some ways to share the Gospel using The Incredibles.
Violet – Violet is the super-daughter of Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl. Violet isn’t confident in herself and feels like she’s nothing special. She wears her hair so that it covers almost all of her face. She’s hiding from the world and hiding from herself. Part of the reason for that is that she has super powers that her parents told her she can’t use. She can be invisible and can create force fields, but she has to keep that part of herself hidden from the world. Eventually she comes out of that: she pulls her hair back and comes into her own as she opens up and begins using her special abilities and finds out who Violet truly is.
There are many, many, MANY teens out there who are in the same boat. They have no confidence in themselves because of things like their looks, things people have said to them, or lack of talent in certain areas. Point out that God made them just how he did for a reason. God doesn’t create no-bodies, because everybody is a potential hero in Christ. The key is tapping in to the power of God by placing their trust in him for salvation and turning over control of their life to him. Like Violet, they too will come to see who they really are and will emerge to serve the life purpose that God has for them.
Mr. Incredible – Mr. Incredible was the man in his crime fighting days, but now that he is working behind a desk like a “normal” person, he feels cheated and trapped by his current life. That attitude is what leads him to lose his job, lie to his wife about taking a secret mission and almost get him and his family killed.
A lot of your friends feel the same way. They feel that they’re trapped in a situation that’s not their fault and they will lie and cheat to get out of it. They need to realize that God uses all things for good for those who are called to his purposes (Romans 8:28). The key there is that we let God use everything for his purpose and bring the good out! The key to that is a relationship with Jesus Christ, our savior. Ask your friend if he or she would like to find out how God can take their situation and use it to fulfill his purpose.
Syndrome – Syndrome is a whack job who was hurt when he was younger by being rejected by his role model. He comes up with inventions and schemes all designed to gain him power, fame and prestige. He thinks that having these things will make him complete and help him become who he wants to be.
Sound familiar? Ask a typical high school or college student what they want to do when they get older, and it will normally center around money, possessions and success in the business world. But will those things make them happy? No! They will only leave them wanting more, because no matter what position you get to, there’s always one step higher that you could be at. No matter how much money you make, you could always have more. The only way to be satisfied and content in life is to have the one thing that will never run out, can never be surpassed and always satisfies. That is Jesus Christ, the bread of life, the living water, the way, the truth, and the LIFE. Tell your friends about how Jesus can bring fulfillment and a full life to them and give their life purpose and meaning. Take them through the GOSPEL Journey and invite them to trust Christ as their savior.
Sure, it would be incredible to have superpowers, but this week think about the power of God that you have inside you that gives you the guts and the strength to share the life changing message of the GOSPEL Journey with your friends who need rescuing from hell! Pray for opportunities to be an Incredible in someone’s life today.
