Don't dress as Batman

In Australia, it’s apparently illegal to dress up as Batman (or Robin).

I’m sure this law has its reasoning and rationale but for the most part it’s absurd. And, yes, there’re many more odd laws like it around the world!

Unfortunately, absurd laws don’t inspire us to trust the powers that be, because it means aligning to their agenda, without a sense of trust.

We don’t like people to have power over us - especially ones that we are suspicious of. I know that, for me, it confirms the shocking truth: I am not the most powerful person in the world, and, if others knew, they may purport and manipulate this fact to bring harm.

Do I sound paranoid? Maybe. What can I say, I’m an Australian Gen Y, and as such, I’m suspicious of both politics and power.

It’s because it means giving up the right to self-rule.

To show allegiance to Christ is the ultimate giving up of self-rule. Instead we are ruled, and called upon to not be selfishly ambitious, but instead to look to the interests of others, not just our own. If God as the all-powerful could, in Christ, give up his power for us, what choice do we have but to show our allegiance to him and give up our limited power?

This is a God who went to the enth degree to prove his trustworthiness.

Surely, Jesus sets the highest example of what it is to live, and if we call ourselves ‘little Christ’ as the term Christian denotes, we must follow in his footsteps, and take the way of the cross, the way of self-giving sacrifice.

Our attitude should be that of Jesus. He who, as God, gave up the power of equality with God, to be one of us, and less than one of us – to be our servant, in our skin. As a man, already totally humbled, he humbled himself further and experienced the humiliation of the cross – for us. (Phil 2)

What could be more politically controversial than to say ’yes I will serve and love you, come what may’? And what could show greater power than to give up all of our power to harm others and to hold them under our control?

Instead we choose to be human, to serve, and be humble – because we first were shown true humanity, service and humility.

I always liked Wonderwoman better than Batman anyway,

Caryn Rogers

 New Times February 2010 (5.44 MB)