Today I went to see the avengers. I now understand the hype. I thought it was an incredible movie! Great action and great dialogue. If you haven’t seen it you definitely need to see it. In the theater. It’s one of the few movies I recommend paying $10 for.
As I was watching I began to think of some of the overtones to the movie. In the movie the antagonist Loki explains how all humans are meant to be ruled and bow before a God/King. He also says our freedom is fake since it leads to everyone wanting power for themselves.
“Loki: [to crowd] Kneel before me. I said… KNEEL! Is not this simpler? Is this not your natural state? It’s the unspoken truth of humanity that you crave subjugation. The bright lure of freedom diminishes your life’s joy in a mad scramble for power. For identity. You were made to be ruled. In the end, you will always kneel.”
Now at first, being the average American that I am, was offended at this horrible attack on freedom. Then it hit me.
Loki is totally right.
It is our natural state. We crave subjugation. We were made to be ruled. And in the end we will always kneel.
For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11)
But… (there’s always a but)
As Loki is addressing the crowd an old German man stands up and replies “Not to men like you.”
Earlier in the Philippians passage it shows us why we will bow to the Name that is above all other names.
Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:5-8)
Just as that wise old German man said. We will not bow to a man like Loki. Or anyone like him. We will bow to the perfect King who humbly took our place on a wooden cross. And for that I will gladly bow for all of eternity.