The Death of Superman

I couldn't believe my eyes. It really happened.

Superman was dead. My ten-year-old self was in shock. I even knew it would happen ahead of time. The title of the whole arc was The Death of Superman, after all. But seeing it happen didn't make it any less impactful.

The story, the art, the emotion... don't tell me comic books can't be a viable art form. I still remember it to this day... the shot of Lois Lane holding his broken body, his iconic uniform in shreds.

Sure, he'd come back, but the Return of Superman wasn't nearly as good a story. This was unforgettable. It was powerful.

"Come read how Superman dies." The marketing worked. It sold like hot cakes. I didn't purchase each issue in the arc separately; I bought the trade paperback with all of the issues in the storyline collected together. There he was, displayed on the cover, dying. Front and center.

If only we could do the same thing for another type of "Superman."

Oh he's dead, alright. In fact, he never really existed. But we hide that fact. We present him to the masses as "alive and well."

The problem, however, is that this Superman is a fraud.

What Superman am I talking about? Why SuperChristian, of course!

You hear about it him every Sunday. He's faithfully obedient and "sold out." He desires God above everything else. He's selfless and sacrificial. When bad things happen to him, he smiles and gives glory to God, knowing it's for his good. 

He never deals with depression. He doesn't have anxiety issues and certainly doesn't worry about paying the mortgage next month, because he learned long ago that worry is a sign that he doesn't trust God enough. Besides, he's radical. He'd be sinning if he wanted his house anyway. 

He's strong and moral. You can inspect his fruit and tell that he's the real deal. Just look at his behavior and actions. SuperChristian charges hell with a toothpick.

He's also non-existent. He does not exist. He is an ideal. He is presented as a level to which we must aspire. A rung that we must climb to reach. 

He's popular to talk about. He's typically the subject of most modern sermons. "Be SuperChristian!" "Follow these steps to be SuperChristian!" "Don't do these things, or you definitely won't be SuperChristian!"

Here's what's so fascinating: those who talk about SuperChristian are not SuperChristian. You read that right. The people preaching this aren't living up to this themselves. If, for some reason, you are one of the people I'm talking about (if you haven't quit reading my posts by now because I talk about grace and mercy so much), let me just tell you plainly: you aren't as good as you think you are.

Sorry to burst your bubble, but you aren't SuperChristian. You don't even live up to the standard you ask other people to live up to. 

How do I know? Because I know me. I know what keeps me up at night. I know the masks I wear. I know the insecurity I harbor as I try to present my SuperChristian front. Some of you know you don't measure up to SuperChristian. You just don't want anyone to find out, and you think that telling other people to be SuperChristian will make up the slack. Some of you, however, think you actually are. You think this whole thing's about you now, don't you?

I ask you the same question Paul asked in Galatians 3:

This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? - Galatians 3:2-3 (NKJV)

Where does it end? You say, "If you don't do ____, you're probably not a Christian." How do I know I've measured up? How do I know when I've obeyed enough? How is this not salvation by works?

You are not Superman. I'm not either.

In fact, I'm the opposite. I'm a weak man, and I don't say that out of false humility. I really am. I lose my temper way too easily. I can't bring myself to focus on the Bible like I should. I can talk all day from behind a pulpit, but I shrink back at sharing my faith in daily life. I get nervous.

And the only reason I can be that honest with you is because you're just as screwed up. People don't fool me anymore. You certainly don't.

There's only one SuperChristian. He lived a perfect life of righteousness for me. He died on the cross for me. 

Yep, it's Christ Himself. Jesus was faithfully obedient to His Father. Jesus was sold out. Jesus was selfless and sacrificial. He kept the Law perfectly in every point. He secured a right standing with God for me. I received forgiveness for my sins AND His righteousness. Jesus is pleased with me through His Son.

SuperChristian? Me. Nope. I'm a weak vessel. But here's the cool part.

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. - Galatians 2:20

Christ lives IN ME. It's not my life anymore. It's His. I live by faith in His work.

I keep saying it over and over again to anyone who will listen. It's ONLY in Him that we grow.

It's ONLY in Him that we begin to be obedient.

It's ONLY in Him that we begin to serve our neighbor. Because we live out of His grace. Out of the freedom of knowing we're loved unconditionally.

Any other kind of preaching, any other kind of teaching, any other kind of "motivating" factor is powerless. POWERLESS. If you're trying to bring about change in people through any method other than reminding them what they already have in Christ, it's powerless.

It is only through faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me, that I live. You want me to grow? Want me to be more obedient? Nurture my faith in the fact that Jesus has completely and utterly forgiven me and loved me.

So forget SuperChristian. Put this notion to "death." Superman already died for you.