Batman, Trump, and Anger in the Heart of
Fools
The
nice thing about writing a blog is that you don’t really have to know anything
to do it. Having some talent at writing
might be a plus, but real knowledge? Not
so much. Having opinions, thoughts to share,
a desire for expression, or a cause all help, but wisdom? I don’t know.
But we’re in the age of social media!
Everyone and anyone can make their opinion known, have their claim to
fame, and state their “fact” with confidence.
Someone will believe them. What
is truth?
About
a month ago I saw the new Batman movie with my fan girl daughter and sons. The theme revolved around Batman’s extreme
anger toward Superman for trashing Gotham and harming the innocent. Batman’s anger led him to do some uncharacteristic
things while plotting the demise of Superman.
He was pretty emotional throughout, with flashbacks and tormented
memories. There were even visions or
hallucinations or something. Admittedly,
I’m not that into the whole Batman/Superman/DC versus Marvel/should-the-hero-really-be-saving-people-angst,
but I like a good action story.
Incidentally,
Batman’s rage against Superman turned on a dime, when he found out their moms
had the same first name. Really? How sweet!
I guess I can hope that should one of my sons grow up to become a
tight-wearing vigilante with armor, cool cars, and crazy gadgets the mere
mention of my name would soothe his troubled soul. Mother!
Mamas are coming up in all kinds of movies lately. I guess when the world goes to pot even
Hollywood wants its mama.
What
intrigued me about this plot development is the idea that anger is its own
cause for its own sake. Anger does
indeed take on a life of its own when we let it reign in our hearts, but is
that a wise choice? It seems to grow and
fester in total disregard of truth. As
God queried Cain, “Have you a reason to be angry?” Cain’s anger led to murder. Where does ours lead?
This
2016 political season is thriving on anger and ugliness. All Trump’s media pictures have him frowning,
red in the face, and bloviating about something. Let’s not even talk about Hilary’s laugh and
neon jumpsuits! We are told that half of the masses are
angry with Washington and want an outsider running the country. The other half wants everything for free and
not to have to work at all. Here’s some
perceptive analysis on what we face:
Even stranger, nobody knows what bathroom to
use! It’s indicative of serious trouble
when bathrooms need to be regulated by the government.
People don’t
seem to think straight when they’re angry.
The ‘right wingers’ are not the only angry ones. They may want to keep their guns, but they’re
not the ones looting and rioting. There
are protests at colleges among youth needing a cause. Obviously, they’ve not been given enough to
study. These are movements based on lies
with violence perpetrated on those called to serve and protect. Here is an important analysis:
Who needs
terrorists? If we destroy each other,
what’s the point of enemies? What on
earth is this world coming to?
Things
are upside down – wrong is right – if we can even bring ourselves to say that
something is indeed wrong. There’s
nothing like Psalm 46 to put things back into perspective.
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change and though the
mountains slip into the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though
the mountains quake at its swelling pride (Psalm 46:1-3).
Those
verses paint a picture of unsettling occurrences – the familiar becoming
unrecognizable – this doesn’t have to be earthquakes and tsunamis. The death of a culture is an unsettling
occurrence. Only God stays the
same. He is our refuge and
strength. Everything around us could
change for the worse, but He is very present – no fear. Anger and its aftermath make fear. Regardless, the psalmist says, we will not fear. That makes fear sound like a choice. Because of who God is, we can choose not to
fear even as the familiar falls apart.
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy
dwelling places of the Most High. God is
in the midst of her, she will not be moved; God will help her when morning
dawns (Psalm 46:4-5).
These
verses make me think of some others. Then he showed me a river of the water of
life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the
middle of its street. On either side of
the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its
fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the
nations. There will no longer be any
curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His
bond-servants will serve Him; they will see His face, and His name will be on
their foreheads. And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have
need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will
illumine them; and they will reign forever and ever (Revelation 22:1-5).
As C.S. Lewis
said in The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe;
“Wrong will
be right, when Aslan comes in sight,
At the sound
of his roar, sorrows will be no more,
When he
bares his teeth, winter meets its death,
And when he
shakes his mane, we will have spring again.”
That
river, that holy dwelling place – that is worth waiting for – but the nations
need healing now. It’s hard to read
those passages and not long for home, not long for peace, not long for justice
reigning. But here we are, and things
seem to be getting uglier all the time.
The nations
made an uproar, the kingdoms tottered; He raised His voice, the earth
melted. The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our stronghold (Psalm 46:6-7).
It’s
understandable to wonder why some folks get away with deceit and wickedness. Peter had a reminder for us: Know
this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking,
following after their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His
coming? For ever since the fathers fell
asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.”…But do
not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day
is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as
some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish
but for all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:3-5, 8-9).
God
has abundant mercy for the Trumps, Clintons, and Obamas of this world – for liars
and racists of all stripes, for manipulators and deceivers, for the foolish and
naive. He doesn’t want any to perish, so
we keep getting more time – and we keep screwing it up!
Come, behold the works of the
Lord, who has wrought desolations in the earth.
He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and
cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariots with fire (Psalm 46:8-9).
Judgment is coming. But the
day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away
with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth
and its works will be burned up. (2 Peter 3:10)
So what do we do as we wait? Since
all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you
to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming day
of God…Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be
found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, and regard the patience of our
Lord as salvation…be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the
error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness, but grow in the
grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:11-12a,
14-15a, 17b-18a).
Yes, there is plenty to be angry
about. But the Scriptures are
clear: Be angry, and yet do not sin, do not let the sun go down on your anger,
and do not give the devil an opportunity (Ephesians 4:26-27). I’d say the devil’s been making the most
of his opportunities – we certainly don’t have to help him!
Solomon warned us: Do not
be eager in your heart to be angry, for anger resides in the bosom of fools
(Ecclesiastes 7:9).
So what do we do? We pray, stand, serve, vote, behave like sons
and daughters of the King – whatever He has called us to – we do it with all
our might for His name’s sake. The
results are not our problem.
“Cease striving and know that I
am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth,”
The Lord of host is with us; the
God of Jacob is our stronghold (Psalm 46:10-11).
We know the ending – Jesus will
reign.
Today Pastor Bob taught from Ephesians 4 too. This scripture is being put before me in spades! Thank you for reminding us that peace, not anger, is a better comfort when storms are all about. ---- Lynn
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