Are Our Children Being Desensitized to the Wonders of Jesus Christ by Our Superhero Culture?

While studying the biblical subject of lust for our recent podcast episode, I revisited the subject of desensitization - the process of reducing sensitivity. The issue has been on my mind for weeks. Studies from both Christian and secular sources have shown the horrific societal damage that pornography has caused. One disturbing fact is that repeated exposure to pornography and various other sexual sins has a desensitizing effect on the user's mind. Because the addict does not feel the same thrill as they once did, after repeated exposure, they find themselves delving into more depraved forms of sexual content to experience excitement. The infamous serial killer Ted Bundy describing his porn addiction once commented,

"Like most other kinds of addiction, I would keep looking for more potent, more explicit, more graphic kinds of material. Like an addiction, you keep craving something which is harder, harder, something which gives you a greater sense of excitement. Until you reach the point that pornography only goes so far…" [Interview with Dr. James Dobson the night before Bundy's execution]

We see a form of this in Romans 1:28 when those given over to a debased mind go deeper and deeper into sexual, violent, and deceptive sins. This verse reminds us that desensitization isn't just a sexual sin problem. Though it has been a topic of debate since the Columbine shootings, many studies show that emotional desensitization to violence through repeated exposure to violence in youth contributes to adolescents' violent behavior in the future. Essentially, exposure to violence emotionally distances you from violence and makes you more prone to violence.

If you have been in church for any length, you have probably heard various renditions of the "calloused hands" illustration. It goes something like this: a new iron worker goes to work on the first day and experiences unimaginably painful burns and pain until his hands become so accustomed to the heat that he no longer feels the pain of grabbing hot metal. The things that stung him on his first day don't even phase him in his twentieth year on the job. This illustration is then usually linked with the hardening of the heart due to repeated exposure to sin.

Desensitization should not only be attributed to sinful situations. We experience diminishing satisfaction with many good things, too. Have you ever stood amazed at the beauty of a beach at the beginning of your vacation and seen it slowly lose its majesty over the next few days? You planned a trip to the giant mouse park with your family; the first day was magic. You happily stood under the beating sun, a turkey leg in one hand and a pair of $30 foam mouse ears on your head. But as the days roll on, sweaty tourists and three-hour lines to ride flying elephants begin to kill your resolve and your lower back. After a few days, there is one place you want to be – home. Imagine eating your favorite meal every day; how long until it loses its specialness? You get my point.

Many Christian parents choose not to play along with the idea of Santa Claus, The Tooth Fairy, The Easter Bunny, etc. I've heard a combination of reasons for this. First, many Christian parents rightfully don't want to lie to their kids, telling them that something is real when it isn't. Second, we don't want our kids showing gratitude and affection toward these imagined characters with knockoff attributes of the True and Living God (consider Santa's omniscience, the Tooth Fairy's omnipresence, or the Easter Bunny's ability to produce colored eggs stuffed with salmonella Ex Nihilo). We recognize that these mystical beings display cheap imitations of God's attributes and are not worthy of our time or affection.

Instead, we talk about Christ at Christmas, Christ at Easter, Christ and the Reformation on October 31st, Christ and the Puritans on Thanksgiving, Christ on the Lord's Day, etc. We do this because He is genuine, living, and worthy. Please excuse me if you are Truly Reformed TM and do not recognize manufactured holidays or are reading this in your Santa cosplay as you pray for Thanksgiving to hurry up and get over with.

What's the point?

Enter the Superhero.

Are our children being desensitized by society's insatiable appetite for Superhuman entertainment? The amount of money made by the Marvel films alone is staggering ( https://tinyurl.com/mpdkh7eb ). In addition, the shows, comic books, toys, clothing, and thousands of other products reinforce what we already know – Superheroes are super popular.

Legends and mystical beings are not new inventions in our place and time. Countless other cultures have told stories, myths, and legends for thousands of years. Each culture has its superstitions, stories, and traditions. Interestingly, many of these superstitions and cultural tales prove to be a barrier that has to be overcome by the Gospel in new missionary works.

I write this as more of a thinking point than a hill I am ready to die on. Does a person's obsession with powerful humans, aliens, etc, diminish their wonderment of Jesus Christ? I seriously doubt that early Christians, even knowing that Greek/Roman heroes were not real, entertained their children with these tales of false gods and superhumans.

You may say, "Well, Jesus is real, and these other things are just pretend." I know that. You know that. But we have to ask if it is blurring lines for our kids. We understand that even things consumed solely for entertainment can desensitize and dull us. I am not saying that love for Superman is the same as a porn addiction or exposure to violence. Still, I wonder if Christ walking on water seems dull to a kid who has just finished his 57th viewing of Avengers End Game. It's not that Jesus is more boring, but it is a matter of how the child perceives him.

Sure, you could try and TGC the situation and convince yourself that there are "10 Reasons Jesus is like Tony Stark," but that is neither true nor helpful. We are stewards of our children's hearts and minds; that shows up in many different ways and has innumerable applications. This is just one area of a much larger picture. It's a matter of good things versus best things. It may be a situation where, though they crave candy, we give them the veggies because it is good for them.

If you think people are not foolish enough to go off the rails into fantasy land, consider the fact that a U.K. University just announced that it will confer a new degree next year - A Master's Degree in the Occult. All the advertising I have personally seen for this degree leans heavily into Harry Potter. Seriously. Maybe those "crazy" 90's Christian moms were right.

What is the solution? I have a few ideas.

Superhero culture is going to be around if there are billions of dollars to be made. And again, superheroes aren't necessarily evil. But maybe we can be diligent about shifting our children's attention toward "… whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." (Phil 4:8)

Some Thoughts:

·   Replace false wonders with true wonders – God has done amazing things in creation. Look at God's handiwork with a chicken egg, earthworm, flower, or thunderstorm. Examine God's faithfulness to His people throughout History. Find things that are entertaining for your children and have a direct link to God's work for our good. Grow a garden, catch a fish, fly a kite, collect bugs, color, create, grow, write, play, sing -so many good things are waiting.

·   Replace superheroes with real Heros – Talk of the Apostles, the great missionaries, a faithful parent or grandparent. Let them see what the power of God working through humans looks like. Grandpa may not have had heat vision, but he prayed like no man I've known, and God answered in incredible ways.

·   Speak highly of Christ to your children – your enthusiasm and relationship with the One True God is infectious. Kids, particularly young kids, learn to love what their parents love.

·   Not being so quick to shove off the impact of entertainment in our lives or our kids' lives.

Brothers and Sisters, I pray that even if you don't entirely agree, you will have at least come away with thoughts of Christ, stewardship of our children, and what is wholesome and good.