The Gospel of the Thunderbolts*
A (spoiler free!) blog by Next Gen Pastor, Rebecca DeLucia
On Sunday, I (Rebecca) was reminded of the powerful role that film and television can play in our conversations around important issues and the way our faith ought to impact them. Thanks to the dreariness on Sunday afternoon, we were faced with an empty day ahead of us – a rare occurrence in our household. We decided to uphold the classic rainy-day activity and go see the new Thunderbolts* movie.
Without giving any spoilers, the movie follows a ragtag group of flawed (some might say broken) individuals—antiheroes, who are far from perfect—thrown together to confront battles bigger than themselves. In fact, many of these characters are wrestling with invisible battles—guilt, trauma, anxiety, grief, and loneliness. It was a poignant reminder that beneath the surface, many people we know—maybe even ourselves—are fighting similar battles. This movie points to the mental health issues (depression, anxiety, loneliness, PTSD, etc.) that plague our nation. (If you love a statistic, like I do, just Google mental health and loneliness statistics.) Ultimately, by coming together as The Thunderbolts, they experience things like hope, purpose, and community.
Our conversation walking home consisted of three main components: how cold the rain was, the implications for the MCU, and how we as individuals can help friends who are dealing with mental health issues. Jacob (12) remarked that
“I just need to be there for people, not have the answers.”
It’s an idea we might have but one that was new to him, and let’s be honest, one that is easier said than done. He talked about one specific scene in the movie that made him think of this idea.
This comment was then connected to the story of when Jesus touches the leper; a moment of radical compassion that goes beyond healing to restoring someone to community. Jesus didn’t just make the man clean; He made him seen, known, and welcomed.
That’s the Gospel in action.
That’s the Kingdom Jesus came to build: a place where broken people are not only allowed in but are invited to be part of something beautiful.
In many ways The Thunderbolts* painted the picture Jesus exhibits for us over and over again in the gospels: seeking out the marginalized, sitting with the wounded, calling the lonely and overlooked into belonging. It is in the Kingdom community that Jesus builds that everyone can find their place, find hope, and find purpose.
We as individuals, as Central Baptist Church, and as the Church, ought to be people who acknowledge brokenness and make space for healing.
We don’t need to have all the answers.
We just need to show up.
To listen.
To love.
To remind them that in the Kingdom of God, there is a seat at the table for everyone—including the anxious, the weary, the lonely, and the unsure. Because in the end, we’re all a little bit like the Thunderbolts—