The Gospel in The Avengers

It has already been pointed out that we seem to have an endless appetite for movies about a part human/part supernatural hero who saves us and the world--i.e. the superhero as Christ figure (Mark Driscoll's blog covers this nicely).  This is true about any superhero move, but I think there is something more going on in "The Avengers" in particular.  I think the the reason this movie is doing so well at the box office is best encapsulated in one specific shot. You know the one I'm talking about: the centerpiece moment where all the heroes are standing in a circle while the bad guys swarm around and they each in turn perform their version of cocking their weapon (You can see it at the 1:59 mark in the trailer below).  It's a fantastic moment.  Even though it feels a little too staged, you can't help but smile.  What's going on there?  What are we responding to?

You could say that it's nothing more than awesome characters looking cool.  That may be true, but the movie is filled with heroes battling and saving people in thrilling individual exploits.  Part of the appeal could be that we always like people fighting for a righteous cause.  But I think the big thing that makes this particular moment special is its togetherness; it's a snapshot of a group of individual characters working together and bringing their unique talents to the fight.  In our own world that is under the constant attack of Sin, Christians are called to do the exact same thing: use our unique gifts and and work together to fight for what is good.  This is what Paul is talking about in 1 Corinthians 12 when he compares the Church to the human body with all its specialized parts.

In the same way that not even the Hulk can wield Thor's hammer, no one can bring your particular gifts into your specific spheres of influence.  There's something beautiful in that, and we like when we see examples of it because it reminds us of who we are.  Unfortunately, in our story this "fight" usually manifests itself in subtle and messy places like ongoing relationships and mundane day-to-day opportunities to love and serve others.  I think we sometimes long for the simplicity of a good fist fight.

So yes, as Driscoll's article points out we are always looking for a mighty savior who will ultimately rescue us, but beyond that, the Avengers reminds us that through God's grace we have the privilege of joining in that fight for restoration.  

The Gospel In the Hunger Games

Powerful stories often draw elements (knowingly or not) from God's story. There is something in us that responds to the timeless themes found in the Bible. The most commonly borrowed element is probably the Christ figure as a protagonist (think Superman or William Wallace in "Braveheart"), but there are plenty of others. Let's look at some Gospel elements in The Hunger Games.

Before I go on, I should warn you that I'll be talking about events in the movie and all three books. So SPOILER ALERT! Consider yourself warned. Also I want to acknowledge that I will touch on some complex theological issues that can't be fully covered here (things like "If God loves us so much why would he let us sin if he knew it would mean death?"). My aim here is not apologetics, it is simply to point out places in culture where I see the Gospel.

General Story Arc: The Redemption of Panem

When we are introduced to District 12 and later the whole of Panem, we see a population that is severely oppressed. The Capitol takes what it wants from the rest of the country and uses fear to keep the districts in line. The Hunger Games themselves are a perfect example. As an outsider, the reader knows that this is wrong, but the citizens of Panem accept that this is the way life has to be: they will be treated like slaves as penance for a transgression by their ancestors. But then...

A righteous hero emerges, calls out what is wrong with the world, challenges the powers-that-be, and through great self-sacrifice starts a revolution that brings peace and justice. Sound familiar?

In the Bible, we see what used to be a perfect world corrupted by Man's selfish desires. Because the first man and woman chose their own way instead of God's, generation after generation lives under the tyranny of death and suffering. By the time the Hero emerges, even the religious leaders of God's chosen people have become agents of oppression, twisting the holy Law to suit their own desires. Like Katniss, Jesus is born in the most backwoods, downtrodden city, but he rises to fame by preaching that the world is not as it should be: suffering and selfishness were not God's plan; evil should not reign. Jesus then sacrifices everything on the cross to redeem mankind. According to the Bible, we are living in a period of revolution, where God is working to restore the world to its intended perfect harmony. Just like Katniss left the Capitol wounded, starving, and half dead only to return triumphantly and overthrow the government, Christ will return to the world in victory and set all things right.

Now obviously it's not a perfect analogy, but the general theme of sacrifice redeeming a corrupt world is very strong in The Hunger Games. (This is a common trope that can be found in lots of powerful stories like Lord of the Rings, "Braveheart", Robin Hood, "Gladiator", and "V for Vendetta" to name a few.) District 12 at the end of the story sounds a lot like New Jerusalem as it's described in Revelation: a beautiful, peaceful place built on the ashes of a broken, corrupt city.

Katniss: The Girl on Fire and the Sacrificial Lamb

Do you want a glimpse of how much God loves you? Watch the first 20 seconds of this video (don't bother watching the rest of it). That cracked-voice panic and then firm resolve is a fantastic picture of God's willingness to move heaven and earth to keep you safe. In the same way that Katniss volunteers for the Games to spare her sister's life, Jesus accepted the debt for our wrongs and saves us from death. This is the doctrine of Substitutionary Atonement. Essentially, they say "I will take her place and die so that she doesn't have to."

Speaking of debt, did you noticed how much the dread of owing someone plagues Katniss? Many times she laments that she'll "never be able to repay ___ for ___." Peeta for giving her that bread, Thresh for sparing her, Haymitch for choosing her over Peeta, Boggs for saving her life, etc. Similarly, she is haunted by the pain and death that have resulted from her choices. The concept of personal debt weighs heavy on the human heart. I think that deep down we know that we owe the universe something, something we're not sure we can ever give. More on this in a bit.

Peeta: The Boy with the Bread and the Bread of Life

Katniss reports Peeta's charm and winsomeness often, but we don't really get to see it much (except in the movie during his interview with Caesar Flickerman; he's pretty damn charming there). So why do we come to like him so much? I think there are a couple reasons. First, there is his confession the night before the games that he doesn't want the Capitol to change him into something he is not. Peeta believes that there is something inherently good in him that he doesn't want corrupted. Katniss is so surprised by this because she sees nothing good in herself; at one point she says "I can't believe how normal they've made me look on the outside when inwardly I'm such a wasteland." Through the eyes of someone so racked by guilt, Peeta's self opinion seems so attractive. This is an acknowledgment of the imago dei--the image of God that we all carry, the intrinsic part of us that is pure despite the presence of terrible sin in our heart.

Even more than his belief that there is something good in himself, it is his insistence that there is something good in Katniss that wins us over. His dogged pursuit and unconditional love for Katniss is so moving. He is always trying to defend her and never gives up on her. The consistency of this belief is highlighted when the Capitol's brainwashing takes it away. Suddenly Peeta is not overlooking Katniss' faults and is blaming her for being manipulative and lying. None of his accusations are false, but they seem shocking because we have gotten so used to Peeta always adoring Katniss. There is a big part of us that wants to believe that we are not beyond redeeming.

Unconditional love is something that we all want but few of us get. The more we come to understand the Gospel, the more radical God's love seems ("He still loves me even though I did that?"). Peeta's love and pursuit of Katniss points to God's love and pursuit of us. In fact, accepting that free love and forgiveness is what it means to "become a Christian." So at the end of the story, when Katniss is consumed by guilt for all of the things she's done wrong and all of her unpayable debts, her accepting Peeta's love is actually an acceptance of grace. She can't change the past, but she doesn't need to; Peeta loves her no matter what.

This is why we celebrate when we read that last line. It's a reminder that love and forgiveness is costly but freely given.