The Gospel According to Iron Man

In an era when science sometimes melds with science fiction, our readers might appreicate this recent reminiscence from Christian journalist Al Doshna.

By Al Doshna

The author in Iron Man garb. See YouTube video tribute to Iron Man by the author below.

When I was 9 years old, my (single) mom had to undergo a serious operation at St. Joseph's Hospital in Syracuse, New York. However, I couldn't go upstairs to visit her, as I was too young, so I had to wait in the lobby. My brother Don gave me money to buy something to read, in the gift shop, so I bought two comic books, both of which had Iron Man stories in them. In one of them, some circus animals had broken loose, and Tony put his armor on to help restore order. However, to his shock and amazement, some children nearby became more afraid of him, in his original grey armor, than the animals running free!

Stark's grey metal armor, forged in the war-torn jungles of southeast Asia, was unsuitable to the new life he was called to, which, in spite of his best efforts, only served to heighten his isolation. Iron Man's awareness of his sudden isolation reminded me of my own at that time, and, although I drifted away from any real interest in the character, I did feel a special bond to him. (The song "Solitary Man" by Neil Diamond on the radio seemed to reinforce that.)

The Ordinary Superguy

Then came 2008 and the mega-movie hit Iron Man, based on the popular high tech, armor-clad Marvel Comics super hero, was one of the top grossing films of that year. Now we have the sequel – Iron Man 2.

In the first origin story on film, industrialist and military contractor Tony Stark, while on an inspection of one of his installations in Asia, is chased by enemy forces through the jungle and is taken captive after being near-fatally injured by a detonated land mine.

With the help of a scientist who is a prisoner, they construct not only a metal chestplate to treat the injuries sustained by Tony to his heart from the blast but a n uber-high-tech suit of armor that enables him to escape captivity.

In their book The Comic Book Heroes From the Silver Age to the Present, authors Will Jacobs and Gerard Jones write: "...Iron Man was thus another (Marvel) hero both blessed and cursed by his powers. (Co-creator Stan) Lee (with Jack Kirby) found a new twist on the theme with this new hero who was actually physically far weaker and more vulnerable than a normal man, and who became a hero only through the use of a device."

Hmm, I thought, back in 2008. That reminds me of some Bible parallels.

Like the Apostle Paul, after being struck down on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:3-20), through the land mine blast, Tony ultimately finds his greatest strength, in a physical sense, by first being made weak (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Out of Weakness, Strength

Paul often used the analogy of clothing to illustrate spiritual maturity. He tells the church in Colosse to "Put on the new nature, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator (Colossians 3:10), symbolizing God working in and through us. Cut off from God, we can come to feel like a turtle without a shell, having to face up to the dark spiritual forces of this world with our own limited physical strength (Ephesians 4:12-13).

The Bible uses the human heart as a symbol of the source of human behavior (Matthew 12:34). In his early stories, Tony needed to "recharge" his magnetic chest plate to strengthen his weakened heart, or else he would lose his ability to function, and come close to dying. So too, do Christians need renewal (Ephesians 4:23-24) and strengthening (Philippians 4:13) through our relationship with God and Jesus Christ, revivified through prayer and Bible study.

Enemies Galore

One Iron Man storyline that seemed to recur from time to time was when a criminal would break into Tony's laboratory and steal one of his older suits of armor. This led to a seeming confrontation between the "old" and the "new" Iron Man. As Christians, we are constantly having to resist and fight our "old man" or "old nature" (Ephesians 4:22-24). The challenge is to become a "new creature in Christ" (2 Corinthians 5:17).

On the other hand, sometimes an enemy would make off with the "new" suit of armor, forcing Tony to don one of the older suits, and to draw creatively upon his native resourcefulness to defeat the superior technology. So too, sometimes we Christians can become "puffed up" with pride, thinking of ourselves more highly than we should due to our own works or "special knowledge" and must then return to the humility of our first calling (1 Corinthians 5:6, 10:12).

Satan is described as a "roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour" in 1 Peter 5:8 and may catch us when we least expect it. Significantly, in one episode, just as Iron Man became distracted a leopard nearby began to crouch down, preparing to attack a member of his demonstration audience running for safety. Snapping back into full focus, Iron Man quickly moved between them and caught the leopard in mid-air, hurling it over to an area where it would not be able to do any harm.

From Here to There

Over the years in his Marvel Comics career, Iron Man has upgraded his armor numerous times including special designs enabling him to travel in outer space and beneath the sea. His heavy duty "War Machine" armor once enabled him to fight the Incredible Hulk! So we Christians are able to do above all that we can ask or imagine when we are clothed with the armor of God (Ephesians 3:20).

Supeheroes such as Iron Man are a source of fascination to me as a Christian and obviously to millions and millions of other people. Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman – they offer a kind of "bridge" between "normal" and superhuman abilities. They show us as we would often like to be – escaping once in a while our mortal, fallible limitations. I view that as a foretaste of the fullness of our salvation with Christ in eternity. Or so I like to think when I read Paul's call to "Put on the Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 13:14).

What do you think?

Special thanks to Gary L. Shay and the William Adrian Model Agency.