My kids have recently become interested in Marvel movies – specifically the Infinity Saga. With Christmas break upon us, we have decided to watch Infinity War and Endgame. These movies, of course, are not perfect Christian entertainment – they have unnecessary swearing and some violence etc., but I also have found that they can offer some interesting insights into the Gospel (especially for kids).
So please humour me as I try to identify a couple of these insights.
I’ve always been struck with the way Dr. Strange uses the Time stone to look into the future and see millions of possible outcomes for the Infinity War against Thanos (whose name likely comes from the Greek mythological “Thanatos” who was the personification of death). After looking into the future, Strange tells his fellow avengers that out of the multitude of potential results there is only one in which they win and Thanos is defeated. Only one.
While this analogy will obviously break down at points, it makes me think of how God sees all the future, sees all the possible outcomes, and knows which one is for the best for everyone involved. Despite tremendous pain and suffering from Thanos’ snap (that eliminates half of all living creatures), Dr. Strange decided to give him the Time stone anyway because it was the only way to win in the endgame. While God does not cause evil (free will does that), God has infinitely more wisdom than any Marvel character when he allows pain and suffering to happen in our lives.
It is also true that both Natasha (Black Widow) and Tony (Ironman) sacrificed their lives to win this war with Thanos. You probably see where I’m going with this. In the war against Death and the Devil, Christ sacrificed his life to gain victory for all of us.
“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:55-57
Please know that I am not trying to Christianise the Avengers. I am trying though to use secular poets and storytellers to convey Gospel truth (similarly to what Paul did in Acts 17 at Mars Hill). While Marvel movies have definitely gone down hill recently, the Infinity Saga survives as some great story telling.
God bless.
