The Secret Message of Jesus & A review of that one movie

My friend Billy Minard had a punch line for a horrible joke that went, "I've seen shaggier."
The crux of the joke was a shaggy dog contest- it was one of those ad nauseam jokes, but the punch lines stuck and it still brings a smile to my face.

For a while I thought of entitling this post, "I've seen 'supier'", (I have) but my reaction to Superman Returns was more visceral than it was intellectual. Consequently, things that otherwise might have bothered me (Brandon Routh's blandness compared to Christopher Reeve) fell by the wayside. Conversely, things which might have been hokey and over-sentimental became very meaningful- such as listening to Marlon Brando' voice & especially John Williams' score. They registered aurally within my memory. The movie itself had some definite blog-worthy moments. Certainly, we discussed with the kids how Superman was like Jesus (conveniently glossing over a couple glaring differences) and to her credit, the eldest noticed quite a few instances where Bryan Singer made his superhero a messiah for today's generation.
Toward that end, I'd like to comment on just one interchange between the Son of Jor-El & Lois Lane

"The world doesn't need a Savior and neither do I!", says Lois

Superman quietly replies, "Come with me." and he takes her on a flight above the beautiful and fallen Metropolis.

"What do you hear?" he asks her.

"Nothing," she replies.

"I hear everything," he tells her.

When they return, he makes his case. "In your article you wrote that people don't need a Savior, yet everyday I hear people crying for one."

One thing leapt out at me as I watched this interchange (both times) and I think it's the result of the book I am just finishing: the Secret Message of Jesus by Brian McLaren. The book has, so far, been the most challenging and rewarding book I have read this summer. I long to discuss it in a small group setting (there is a downloadable study guide available), it's that good. One thing about Superman Returns that relates to the Secret Message is the idea that we have a responsibility to work with Jesus in establishing kingdom of God. I thought of this as Superman said "Come with me" to Lois. In the past, the church left it to Jesus to establish the kingdom when he returned. In the movie, Jor-El tells his son that he has sent his only son to earth because we have an incredible capacity for good, we only need to be shown the light (It should be pointed out, there is little actual evidence of this- wars rage, crimes occur, and we revel in our helplessness, until Superman comes). Now, with the emergent and progressive Christian movements, there is a sense that the church is deciding to step up and become the Body. The Church is coming with Jesus to create the kingdom. That's exciting. And scary. And challenging.