Image Credit: Marvel Studios/Sony

Spoiler Alert: This article directly discusses the themes of Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Should you desire to review this article upon seeing the film, please stop here. 

Many reviews on Rotten Tomatoes discussing the most recent Spider-Man film note the successful portrayal of vulnerability in Spider-Man and Jean Grey, despite their superhuman powers. This level of inner psychological discussion and the development of moral beliefs is evident in our society. Like most positive traits humans have articulated, these ideas have come from the Being who made us in His image.  

These deistic-friendly psychological perspectives may have been a subliminal message from the film’s director, Destin Daniel Cretton, who graduated from Point Loma Nazarene University in 2001 and participated in the Christian-based L.A. Film Studies Center internship curriculum.  

Two specific encounters during the movie led me to believe there are Christian moral principles to be considered: 

“I Choose Both”  

 First, Spider-Man was in a position where he was challenged in combat by Grey’s telepathy and was asked to either “be Spider-Man or Peter Parker.” He replied, “I chose both.” There is an argument that Spider-Man desires to be an impostor, or to have all the desires of the world by living two lives. However, that is not my takeaway of that specific scene.  

Followers of Jesus are called not only to be in community with those who understand the nuances of Jesus Christ, but we are called to commune with the culture that may not yet understand the nature of Christ’s Lordship and power. Spider-Man’s desire to live life as simply Peter Parker shows a level of empathy to connect with the culture of New York City and be friends with those who are not able, or are not privy to understand, the powers and duties that come as Spider-Man, can yet be shown the desires of moral good that Peter Parker tends to impress on his fellow humans.  

In fact, that connection can bring a new perspective of knowledge that can further amplify our faith or understanding of how we are to live. Parker had a discussion with MJ about how she blanked out while being the victim of telepathy, which led Parker to realize that Bill Metzger and the US Department of Damage Control were not allies of greater justice, as Spider-Man had believed, or at least not in the eyes of the superheroes, and therefore led Spider-Man on a mission to rescue the younger Grey from Metzger. The knowledge believers can gain by immersing themselves in culture can lead to a stronger understanding of how Jesus would interact with the nuances of different cultures. However, this needs a major caveat: culture must be examined through a biblical understanding of how we are to be in culture, not of it (John 17:14-15). But if our perspectives can further inform our interpretation of how to live our faith, then believers are to live such experiences.  

“We Can’t Do This On Our Own”  

Secondly, Jean Grey and Spider-Man have a discussion near the conclusion of the movie, leading to the realization that “we can’t do this on our own,” implying that their “given” powers are not meant to simply control outcomes of specific occurrences, but rather to use their special powers to enhance the greater good, and this greater good can be accomplished through community.  

The Bible would go one step further and say that communion needs to begin with the Lord first and foremost (Proverbs 16-3). But the plans for using our gifts are meant to be used in a selfless manner rather than for selfish ambitions. Our society leans into the algorithms that allow us to have the illusion of power by accomplishing tasks more efficiently and arguably, at a larger scale, but we must realize that with these tools at our disposal, we cannot complete life-altering tasks on our own without turning to the Lord, who will help guide our steps, and do so with the ideas of others to benefit others. Once we join our Savior, our earthly possessions will vanish, so we might as well seek the help of the Lord and others to complete the plans that the Lord has for us in this life. This way, by surrendering our control to Christ, our influence can truly bless others. 

This challenge is not easy, and I struggle with it daily, but I pray that we can use Cretton’s storytelling as a reminder to continue to develop our ability to interact with others, regardless of the social implications, while also seeking to do the Lord’s work with others in the humblest way.