By John Gocke

Growing up during the golden age of comic books, I was a big fan of classic heroes such as Superman and Batman. Superman was practically invincible, with super strength, invulnerability, and heat vision (thus classified as a super hero), typically winning any conflict decisively. Batman dealt with challenges using ingenuity, high-tech gadgets, superb physical conditioning, and no super powers (thus classified as an action hero).

I found that over time I accumulated more Batman comic books than Superman books. Batman seemed more intriguing than other super heroes. Batman would endure a lot of pain and loss while triumphing over the bad guys he encountered. During the years, I witnessed Batman’s back getting broken and the first Robin (his sidekick) dying. It was no easy road being the Batman. Conversely, Superman hardly ever got into life-threatening situations and was typically able to extract himself from any fierce cosmic battle using his superior powers and never needing an adhesive bandage afterwards.

Which character you most identify with often shows what kind of Christian experience you have had. I have noticed that some Christians suffer financial hardship, lose homes, businesses, jobs, cars, and close family members but still keep marching on in faith waiting for the tide to turn, like Batman did.

Other Christians are more fortunate. Not too many years ago, I was working in part-time youth ministry and losing all of my material possessions such as my vehicles and house due to the loss of my full-time job. On top of that situation, the birth of my twin sons and the death of a family member were equally imminent. A Christian neighbor walked up to me and told me that he had lost his job unexpectedly but had a better paying position offered to him within hours. “Isn’t God great!” he exclaimed.

Yes God is, but at that moment I felt as though I was God’s stepchild and my neighbor was the real thing. These Superman Christians may lose their jobs but get an even better one within a week, lose a car but someone gives them a new one. They rarely seem bummed out by anything because they are so blessed.

Is Superman more spiritual than Batman or vice versa? No! Does God bring a diversity of experiences to people because of what kinds of Christians God wants to make us? Absolutely! Christ even did so with his apostles.

Most of Jesus’ apostles died as martyrs for the faith after lives of sacrifice and suffering to spread the gospel. This hardship happened to them not because they were God’s stepchildren and got second-class (or Batman) treatment but because their suffering was the best way they could glorify Jesus and perfect their characters. Peter and Paul were greatly blessed by God. Paul even sang about it in prison. They apparently did not drive around in SUV-style chariots or make high-dollar sandal endorsements, but those status symbols were not a measure of their faith.

The Apostle John might be considered more of a Superman-type Christian. He did not have to die a martyr’s death even though the Romans tried to give him one. According to Church tradition, the Romans boiled him in oil but the torture had no effect on this Superman; so they had to give up and exile him to the Isle of Patmos. Was John less spiritual than Peter or Paul? No. Just given different experiences by God for his perfection in the faith.

We may suffer doing youth ministry, enduring things such as low pay, marginal respect, lack of resources, parental apathy, and youth indifference. But when we do, we can take comfort in knowing that our suffering may happen not because we are not capable of success but because some of us are simply Batman Christians. And that’s OK.

John Gocke is a veteran of youth ministry, having worked in various churches in Southern California and for Al Menconi Ministries, based in Carlsbad, California. John holds an MA in Theology from Point Loma Nazarene University and currently works on the staff of www.ileadyouth.com.

Other articles by John Gocke:
Eleven Signs of a Successful Youth Minister.
Dealing with sharing your office.
Christian Pirates?
Saying what you really think!
Cures for the Summertime Attendance Slump
Going Back in Time
The Epic Struggle Between Youth Pastors and Senior Pastors
You and Conan the Barbarian
A King Josiah-Kind of Christian
Fantasizing About Violence: Violent Video Games Promote Aggressive Behavior In Youth
Chico the Roach
Are you a Batman or Superman Christian?
Ten Skills They Don’t Teach You in Seminary
Teach your youth grace-not just mercy this Christmas
Five reasons you should encourage your youth to experience Christian music
Secular prophets in the business world and their lessons for us
Hollywood Secrets for Your Next Youth Meeting

Brought to you by your youth ministry colleagues at Cokesbury.

© 2004 The United Methodist Publishing House. This material may be reproduced for educational purposes only.

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