At the Movies: Spider-Man

Being a teenager is hard, but it’s even harder when you have superpowers, and there are many versions of you across the multiverse. Miles Morales has to confront family and societal expectations through the lens of grief and loss. 

Transcript

INTRO

In our second week of the At the Movies series, we feature Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. It’s the summer’s number two movie at the box office. Let’s check out the trailer.

And in case you don’t follow comic book movies, this one is the computer-animated sequel to Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, which came out back in 2018. We’ve also averaged one Spider-Man film per year since and have embraced the concept of a multiverse where parallel universes exist with their own versions of the superheroes and villains we enjoy. The Spider-Man movie we’re talking about today is based on a variant version of Spider-Man named Miles Morales who clashes with other Spider-People from other universes about the multiverse.

In general, Spider-Man is iconic and people generally like and appreciate him because he is relatable. In his superhero spandex, he’s got everything. He’s a wall-crawling, web-slinging, crime-fighting hero. But outside of the tights, everything in his life is falling apart. He can’t make ends meet, he grieves the loss of his uncle, and the romantic relationships always struggle. It makes for a great story, but it does get frustrating. I get frustrated because the greatness he experiences as Spider-Man doesn’t do anything to help him in his relationships with his family or friends. Instead, they get hurt.

This dynamic of having a dual identity is a major part of many comic book characters, but it feels frustrating because it feels hypocritical. Yes, a dual identity allows heroes to live a normal life and it protects their loved ones from experiencing retribution from their arch-enemies, but I feel conflicted by it. It feels like there’s a lack of integrity. If you’re willing to find solutions to the hero part of you, you’ve got to be willing to find solutions to the human part of you too. One can’t benefit while the other loses. This reminds me of my early years of marriage. On our way to service, Pang and I would argue with each other, but as soon as we stepped into the building for service, we changed our demeanor from anger to calm so that everyone thought everything was fine. Having a dual identity in the Hmong Christian context is something that I think runs rampant. At church, we appear to be all put together in our Sunday best, but at home, we are so broken.

LAODICEAN CHURCH

Jesus had issues with people who had dual identities. It ranged from religious leaders who taught what the scriptures said but didn’t live according to them. Or the rich who had everything they needed but lacked any real reason to truly feel alive. If Christ had something to say to them, I think Christ has something to say to us when it comes to our dual identities. I am reminded Revelation 2-3 where John records 7 letters to 7 churches regarding the end of times. The churches were affirmed in what they were doing well, but there were also points of correction and a motivating promise. All these churches dealt with the issue of having a dual identity, but the most notable one was the church in Laodicea. Let me read to you what was going on with that church. Revelation 3:14-21 says this,

14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:

These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. 19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. 21 To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne.”

The Laodicea church was in a city that was completely self-sufficient and flourished economically. They had lots of resources like a major bank center, booming textiles producing sought-after black wool, and the best eye doctor who had the best eye medicine, but John describes them as wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. The dual identity that the Laodicean struggled with was having all the resources to be successful on earth but lacked everything meaningful in their relationship with God. As great of a city as they seemed to be, their spiritual state was in jeopardy, so much so that John describes them in relation to their one weakness.

Laodicea was far from any major water source so by the time water reached the city it was lukewarm. Hot water was useful for bathing and medicinal purposes while cold water was refreshing, but lukewarm water was useless. Because the water traveled so far, by the time it reached the city it was lukewarm and contaminated making it undesirable and unsafe to use. And that’s why John writes that Jesus was going to spit them out because they were useless. Laodicea’s identity in their wealth and fortune meant nothing to Jesus. Similarly, as much as I appreciate how Spider-Man sacrifices for his neighborhood and city, it feels so unsatisfying that under the mask, Peter Parker and Miles Morales can’t get their relationships with their loved ones right. So, what is the solution with having a dual identity?    

APPLICATION

Some of us are great professionals at our job. Some of us may be experts in our hobbies. Some of us are the ideal citizen in public, but what happens when we are in private spaces? Does our greatness, expertise, and ideal behaviors translate into our marriage? Our parenthood? Our relationship with our parents, siblings, and extended family? Are the things that matter in our career consistent when it comes to our relationship with God and others? Or are we like Spider-Man and the Laodicean church where we are successful in some areas, but fail in others?

SERMON ON THE MOUNT

I think it’s worth considering Jesus’ solution to Laodicea’s problem. In verse 19 it says,

“19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.”  

I think it’s worth us considering God’s counsel even if it’s his rebuke and discipline. It is never fun seeking truth when you’re being disciplined, but if we carefully observe the truth the lies past the pain I think there’s a solution. I think the dual identity that we all struggle with is balancing the dynamic of depending on ourselves and depending on God. We can’t have both. We see how the world defines success and security and we take steps to achieve those things, but it comes at the cost of depending on God. God offers us success and security and I think one of the clearest passages that reminds how to depend on God is found in Matthew 5. This is what Jesus says,

“3 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,  for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek (or humble),  for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,  for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,  for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

 This is considered to Jesus’ greatest sermon, and it talk about what it means to be successful in this world and the world to come. Jesus offers these countercultural traits that probably wouldn’t help you and I land a high-level leadership or job opportunity. I think about someone like Elon Musk, and I doubt his success is a result of him being humble, merciful, or peaceful. As successful as Elon is here on earth, how does that translate when he passes away? What will that translate to us when we pass away? I think Christ spoke these words because he wanted us to be successful on this side of heaven and heaven to come so I think it’s worth us considering how we can dismantle our dual identity on take on the identity that Jesus has for us because he promises us that the result of taking on his identity results in the kingdom of heaven. As great as our friendly neighborhood Spider-Man is, he is not perfect and neither are we, but our Father in Heaven is and he offers us the ability to experience the promise of being successful in what matters most. Being in right relationship with God and with others. So let us take on His truth so that we can experience His promises. Let us pray.