Iron Man 2

I went to see the aforementioned movie this evening, and am left with an ambivalent impression. The acting was generally well done and the script was full of witty sarcasm. The special effects were rather stunning and the roles were well cast. Perhaps, my ambivalence is rooted in the fact that I did not see the first one and have never read the comic. In fact, my knowledge of these characters is limited by my own lack of interest. I would never have seen this film had I not tagged along for the purpose of hanging out with my siblings.

However, there is one line that stood out above all the others. Mickey Rourke, in a moment that betrayed the ignorance or insolence of the screenwriters (I actually believe the former in this particular case), uttered the words "If you can make God bleed, people will stop believing in him."

There is little doubt that the line was only intended to mean that people like to believe in what is all-powerful. It makes them feel safe. But if there is a chink in the armor, faith falters.

But unwittingly, the writers actually managed to get Christianity exactly backwards. It isn't only that God the Son bled. But it is precisely because he bled that people do believe in him. Rather, it is precisely becuase he bled that people CAN believe in him. The grace of God is in the blood of Christ, and without that grace first preceeding, we cannot repent of our sins and we will not acknowledge God as Creator and Redeemer. Perhaps, the greatest legacy of this film is that it is a testament to just how convoluted man's portrayal of God can be. After all, this is the problem all us of struggle with to one degree or another: casting God in the likeness of men. As Christians we must remember and remind others, that it is because Jesus Christ showed weakness and humility-being tormented, tortured, and executed-we can have saving faith.