Tag Archives: Think on These Things

Why the World Doesn’t Need Superman


The other night I sat down to watch the latest Superhero movie, Superman Returns. I grew up dazzled by the man of steel’s heroic exploits. The second movie with General Zod and his cronies was my favorite. I generally don’t acknowledge the last two films in the series – for obvious reasons. The people who developed the latest incarnation of the man of steel apparently do not regard them either. Superman Returns takes place after the events of Superman 2, or so I’m informed.

The main thrust of this post is not a review of the film itself but about some concerns I have with its content. Mainly, I’m talking about the ramifications of purposely portraying Superman as a Christ figure. Wikipedia explains the term like this:

A Christ figure is a literary technique that authors use to draw allusions between their characters and the biblical Jesus Christ. More loosely, the Christ Figure is a spiritual or prophetic character who parallels Jesus, or other spiritual or prophetic figures. Continue reading →

The Lost Tomb of Jesus: Just Another Excuse For the Deceitful Heart


Most everyone has heard by now about the controversial new documentary directed by Simcha Jacobovici and produced by James Cameron called ‘The Lost Tomb of Jesus’. It aired this past Sunday on the Discovery Channel.

I admit, I watched it. Including the Critical Look afterwards. I tuned in with absolutely no apprehension whatsoever that my faith would take a critical hit after observing the evidence.

My confidence was well justified. Continue reading →

Mailbag Musings: For God So Loves the World… Or Does He?


 

A reader, after digesting the post entitled Is God in Control?, has posed a few questions. Here is the first part:

 

‘In this blog you mention, “God elected certain men to salvation before the foundation of the world. Christ secured their salvation at the cross, dying for sin.” Some people may ask what John 3:16 means based on what you have said. Why did Jesus say, “For God so loved the world…” if He was only talking to the “elected certain men”? After all, it was “their” salvation He died for, right?’ Continue reading →

Mailbag Musings: A Calvinist Explains the Fall


I received an email the other day from a reader with the following question:

How would a Calvinist explain the fall of man to someone who does not understand the story?

First, let me give the straightforward answer to this question.

A Calvinist would explain the fall no differently than any other Christian who believes in the authenticity and authority of scripture.

Most orthodox Christians believe in the literalness of the story. It is not a fable, a myth or an allegory. The story of the fall is all fact, and all truth. Reject a literal interpretation of the fall and the mystery of man’s corrupt state remains unanswered. The story of Christ and his redemption would not make sense unless the story were true. Jesus is called the second Adam. Where Adam caused humanity to fall into sin, Christ redeemed humanity from sin. Continue reading →