Monologue

I just finished re-reading the graphic novel Kingdom Come by Mark Waid and illustrated by Alex Ross. (The artwork is utterly amazing. It's done in gouache, giving it a nostalgic feel. I think Alex Ross is my new favorite comic book artist.) The story revolves around the Justice League of America (JLA) twenty-some years from now, where the superheroes we're familiar with today are retired and hiding, and the new generation of superheroes storm about with a fraction of the ideals and responsibilities of their predecessors. In the future superheroes are justified in killing bad guys; in the future collateral damage is inevitable for securing "peace" and "justice." Society gave up on superhero ideologies and embraced the ideology of results, thus blurring the lines of good and evil.

I don't want to spoil the story, but the ending is epic and every page is a visual treat. If you have a chance pick up a copy, even if it's 14.99USD. It's something you can return to every year, or if you don't have the luxury of time you can tear out its pages and plaster them to your colorless walls. It'll give your room personality, and it'll make geeks fall in love with you.

One of my favorite things about Superman is how straight he is. So much so that it becomes one of his faults. Batman, on the other hand, is willing to cut corners if it's for the ultimate good (and without breaking any of his golden rules). So I was thinking, is God super straight or does he cheat a little bit for the greater good? Or is there even that distinction? In the past I've seen God use terrible situations to get someone's attention, or to get someone to repentance, but doesn't that seem like cheating? God once tried to exterminate evil by flooding the earth, wiping out most of creation. Was man so entirely and inheritantly (<--- not a word) evil that it was okay to destroy them? Am I asking dumb questions? I feel guilty for brining this up, because I'm hinting that God isn't entirely good (He is good.) I'm just wondering where you draw the line, or if a line should be drawn at all.

I'm guessing that someone's going to rebuttal by saying that Jesus changed all of that. His death and resurrection nullified evil's significance so that Christians now have no record of evil. And it's our duty to spread the gospel so that everyone can have that same luxury, that same gift of grace. I have a feeling that someone will say we shouldn't judge others, because we never know who will change their mind about God and His son. Instead we should give everyone a chance.

Did I just answer my own question?