Reblogged from Amanda’s blog

My 4-year-old son, Collin, gets really into movies…  He peeks between his fingers or gets up and hides around the corner during scary parts.   He kicks and karate chops alongside the hero, during spectacular fight scenes. And he furrows his eyebrows in genuine concern when it looks like all hope is lost.  (That is, until he reminds himself what his daddy and I have said many times: “The good guys always win…eventually. Just be patient.”)

We introduced our three “big kids” to the movie Matilda the other day.  Our newborn wasn’t very impressed. But Collin and 7-year-old Cami were deeply impacted by the story of adults treating a little girl so badly.  I mean, really, the entire movie is one shocking display of child abuse after another…until Matilda discovers her powers.

Hopefully, I’m not spoiling it for anyone, but by the end of the movie, Matilda has figured out how to undo many of the wrongs that were committed–including returning a doll and chocolates that had been stolen from her beloved teacher.  The climax of the story happens in a moment of poetic justice, when the principal known for throwing children out the window gets tossed out the window herself!

Today I read an opinion piece by Daniel Darling, which was brought to my attention by Peter Heck. Both men write to remind Christians that their job on earth isn’t to pound God’s enemies into sand.

I think all serious apologists need to examine their hearts from time to time and make sure their priorities are in order.  As Heck writes:

“…our efforts must be focused around and pointed towards building the Kingdom through the proclamation of truth, not building our own following through the humiliation of another person.”

He’ll get no argument from me on that point.

It’s about God–not about us.

But what concerns me is whether Christians have begun feeling shame over their natural love of justice. 

Are we losing touch with our childlike desire to see the Good Guys win? Is it a problem to enjoy the simple pleasure of watching the Truth make a Truth-denier look like an idiot?

See, my goal isn’t to tear down people.   But, when a person stupidly, voluntarily aligns himself with the Father of Lies, then he’s in a position to go down the with ship.

I would love the chance to snatch an enemy from the wreckage before the big explosion and the rolling credits.  If there are any former Bad Guys who are ready to switch allegiance and join the Good Guys, they will be welcomed with tears of joy! (Think of Scrooge or The Grinch.)

But, if an Atheist insists on being Miss Trunchbull, abusing children of God, then Miss Trunchbull is going to get tossed out a window.

…and I’m going to love it.

Can I help loving when the Bad Guys lose?   More importantly:  should I curb that response?

A few years ago, after Osama Bin Laden was found and killed, many American Christians tried to talk their brothers and sisters out of the celebration.  (I wrote “Don’t Stop my Party” in response.)   Essentially, I concluded that it’s very good to feel satisfaction in seeing justice done.

It’s good to be drawn to battles where Truth goes against Falsehood–and to feel that surge of relief and pleasure when Truth (inevitibly) dominates in a total knockout.

Sure, mere humans need to be careful not to take credit for their amazing powers. We didn’t event Truth, so it’s a mistake to feed our egos as if WE are the superheroes…

But we are in a war here.

There are serious injustices and abuses going on.

If you walk into the average church and asked a random attendee to defend a basic belief, he or she probably won’t have an answer ready.  Christians largely are fearful and uncertain, and, what’s more, there are non-believers willingly doing the work of evil who are tossing these fearful children out windows.

It’s looking pretty hopeless in those corners!

That’s why our spirits rise and we want to cheer, when a competent Culture Warrior shows up, clothed in Christ, and absolutely smashes the foolishness.

It reminds us that we have chosen Power and Light and Truth over the poor alternative.

It encourages us to keep fighting the good fight–because truth and justice will prevail, when we’re patient.

I don’t think Darling and Heck would disagree with any of the things I’m saying here. But I’m open to some balance on my persepctive, if anyone wants to debate me.  (And get OWNED!!!)

(Ha. Just kidding.)

Seriously, whenever I read quotes or watch debates involving great theologians, I want to jump up on the back of my couch, pump a fist in the air, and shout “YEAH!!!!”

Is that so wrong?