Who Do You Identify With: Batman, Spider-Man or Jesus?
Monday, April 27, 2026
“The degree of the depth and width of your identification with Christ's cross is the degree of God’s glory and joy you will experience.” – Os Hillman
I have never been to a Comic-Con and quite frankly, I have no desire to attend one either. In case you aren’t familiar with the term, Comic-Con is a gathering (AKA a convention) where attendees dress up as their favorite comic book character. Supposedly, the most popular cosplay characters include Harley Quinn, Spider-Man, Joker, and Batman.
Comic-cons are held across the country with the ones in New York and Orlando attracting more than 200,000 fans each year. San Diego hosts the longest-running convention in the U.S. whereas Toronto boasts the largest one in Canada. However, they are all dwarfed by Comiket in Tokyo, which draws more than 750,000 people annually.
Personally, I think it’s weird for adults to dress up like comic book characters and even more so when they openly identify with them. Go to a Star Trek convention and see how many Trekkies self-identify with Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock, Dr. “Bones” McCoy and the rest of the Starship Enterprise crew. It borders on the bizarre.
And yet, in spiritual terms, how many Christians are willing to openly identify with Jesus? I’m not talking about walking around in a robe and sandals, but rather following in His footsteps and boldly proclaiming His gospel? And yes, not compromising with the world and its unbiblical standards?
As Os Hillman says, “very few of God’s sons and daughters are willing to embrace this level of the cross. They choose the world's anesthesia of the heart, keeping them in the outer court of His presence.”
My friend, I challenge you – and me – to stop lingering in the outer court. Let’s boldly enter not only the inner court, but also the Holy of Holies today, experiencing the very presence of our High Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ.
“I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to Him in His death…” Philippians 3:10 (BSB)
“For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers.” Romans 8:29 (BSB)
- Rev. Dale M. Glading, President
