(pc: vox.com)
In 2018, Marvel Studios released “Avengers: Infinity War” in theaters all over the world. It was the adventure that would top all previous Avengers films. Many fans wondered how the storytelling could possibly become more epic. But, once again, Marvel Studios pulled it off. The Russo brothers forged a script that would include over 60 main characters. Infinity War was the beginning of a two-part, universal conflict that would show just how much some our favorite heroes would have to sacrifice to win.
All previous Marvel films had been leading up to this War. Fans had seen the Avengers win against impossible odds twice already. Even if enemy forces were too great, the team of heroes always managed to assemble and win. Together they could fight the battles that no one else could.
Unfortunately, Infinity War has a much different beginning than the other times we saw our heroes together. Instead of a unified team where all relationships are strong and there is singleness of mind, we have scattered heroes in different parts of the universe. Two years prior, the Avengers had fought each other in an ugly Civil War, combatting over how they should operate. This conflict brutally tears them apart, sending several of the Avengers into hiding. Things would never be the same.
With a few heroes still officially on the board, a new threat approaches the planet. Iron Man and other Avengers quickly find themselves caught up in an intergalactic mission that takes them light years away from home. It seems the only way to protect earth is to leave it and kill the enemy who has been hiding all this time.
Just how powerful is this enemy? Well, he’s not just powerful. He’s incredibly intelligent and a seasoned warrior. He’s the mad titan Thanos—a huge figure with an intent to wipe out half of all sentient life. In the film, we discover what this adversary has been after for years: the infinity stones. If he can collect them all, one snap of his fingers turns half the universe into ash.
Can the Avengers stop Thanos? This is the sinking question that keeps fans on edge throughout the movie. Every arc of the film makes audiences less and less certain. The Avengers are powerful, even with just a few of them to fight alongside each other. They can defeat Thanos’s minions. But the mad titan is something else entirely. Unlike previous villains, he doesn’t make mistakes. His tactics are calculated and thought out.
Meanwhile on planet earth, other Avengers—including Steve Rogers—come out of hiding to face the oncoming threat. Dealing with minions from outer space was doable, but there’s a lot more of them coming. And they are coming for an infinity stone.
Time after time, Thanos achieves victory in stealing the infinity stones throughout the universe. And while characters from all over attempt to stop him, it’s just never enough. He’s unbeatable.
But surely our main heroes can beat this guy. When it really matters, earth’s most powerful protectors will come together and defeat this monster. That’s the way it always happens. Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, and the others won’t let this villain win.
That’s the confidence that fans wanted to have in 2018. But they also knew that this adventure had two parts. Something bad was going to happen at the end. Everyone felt it in their gut. But few people in theaters knew just how bad it was going to end.
In short, Iron Man and his makeshift team attempt to defeat Thanos on his home planet. They come unbelievably close to accomplishing this, literally almost pulling it off—that is, the gauntlet with the infinity stones--but they receive the same tragic outcome as others before them. A mishap in the plan leads to utter failure, and the mad titan escapes.
It’s up to earth’s heroes now. Taking their final stand in Wakanda, the Avengers launch a brave and exhausting resistance against the invasion of an alien army. Thanos is nowhere in sight, but it is clear that no price is too high in achieving his goal. The remaining infinity stone is all that matters to him, and he is willing to rip it out of an Avenger’s forehead to get it.
With a valiant effort and the arrival of more heroes, the Avengers barely manage to pull off yet another win against enemies from outer space. But their forces are spent, and there remains only the Avengers to stand against the villain earth has been waiting for.
Like cruel poetry, it is this moment when Thanos portals to the Avenger’s location. Sinister music dominates the scene as the mad titan marches closer and closer. The gauntlet on his hand glows with the power of the infinity stones.
Immediately, the Avengers rush into action with Steve leading the way. But here we witness just how unbeatable Thanos really is. Every hero who charges at the titan gets tossed, crushed, or pinned down. The stones are just too powerful, even for earth’s mightiest heroes.
In the first two Avengers films, audiences came to understand that when the Avengers theme played, it not only meant they were assembling but also that they were going to win.
That doesn’t happen in this film.
The music of the scene slowly transitions to tragedy as hero after hero is easily defeated. This change in tone says only one thing: the Avengers are going to lose.
With all of his agility, Steve launches himself at Thanos, swinging rapid cuts at the titan’s knees and slamming a shield into the villain’s lower jaw. But it has little effect.
Taking a brave stand, Steve grips the gauntlet with both of his hands. At this point, everyone watching the film is saying to themselves, “Come on, Steve. If anyone can stop him, it’s you.” And, for the briefest moment, Captain America manages to hold his ground. But Thanos is too much. Steve glances up to see the titan’s brutal fist come down on him, knocking the soldier out cold.
Again the music changes. The hype of what is about to happen is frightening. The fate of trillions rests in but one remaining Avenger’s ability to hold ground and destroy the stone before Thanos can reach it.
Every person in the audience holds their breath. Can this last Avenger do it alone?
And that’s where I’ll leave things.
Yes, I know. You wanted to know the ending.
Maybe you’re not really into superhero films, and that’s totally fine. There are some weird things in these films, and, of course, it’s fiction. We’ve all seen shows like Starwars, Star Trek, and other genres. Marvel is just one of them.
For years, I’ve had this blog post in my head, but I didn’t have the right words at the time. See, I was one of those people who watched the Avengers movies in theaters. And every time I watched these incredible characters come together, I always asked myself, “Why can’t Christians be like this?” Sure, we don’t have superpowers or super genius. But what is it that really stops us? Sure, we don’t have invading creatures from outer space. And we certainly wouldn’t last very long if there was such a thing.
But what really keeps Christians from coming together and changing the world? Christians should be the bravest people on the planet. We ought to be heroes, not in the sense to be idolized, but in the sense of great sacrifice. What are we really willing to do?
Here’s the deal. The reason the world loves superheroes is because of what they are willing to do. Try watching a hero movie that doesn’t involve sacrifice. It’s absolutely boring. Sure, you might see some fighting and some explosions, but those will never touch the heart of an audience. Never.
Do you know why Christians don’t touch the hearts of others? Because our lives aren’t very sacrificial.
People (including myself) see a character like Steve Rogers launch himself at an unbeatable enemy. He puts his heart into stopping an awful threat, knowing it could break him. And yet he goes for it anyway. He does everything he possibly can to bring this enemy down.
Can I ask why there aren’t more people like Steve Rogers?
Millions of people all over the world watched the Avengers films. Now those movies are just a thing of the past. And maybe the same is true of brave Christians.
People are looking for people to look up to. They need brave examples in their lives. And if that isn’t true of Christians, where then will the world look?
As a Christian, I’ve spent years looking for brave people to fight alongside. I’m not an Avenger. I’m not Captain America. I’m not some fictional character. I’m a soldier looking for more brave soldiers. It seems that great things happen when the Church really does stand together, being of one mindset.
You know what I see? I see the Church comes together “when it really matters.” But there’s a question that screams back, “Doesn’t it always matter?”
Christians are stronger together. We look at society and it’s disheartening. We feel like the Avengers, seeing a foe conquer time and time again. It feels like the slope for victory is getting steeper and steeper.
We are a scattered people. It’s a choice to come together or not.
Does persecution have to happen before Christians come together? It might. Because maybe there’s a lot of pithy things that divide us or hold us back.
The Church is made up of leaders and followers. But we have one Shepherd who guides us. We have a Savior who set the ultimate example in His bravery, going to the cross.
We are a brave people. And we must be a brave people.
If you have warriors beside you, then you’re probably confident that they would stand with you in battle. And the battles are going to be real. But there are great warriors out there.
We might be scattered, but we are here. And I think great things can be done in the name of Christ and His kingdom.
So let’s stand together.
-CH
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