Suffocating dread defines the start of Marvel’s long-awaited Infinity War. The film opens with Thanos’ spaceship, the Sanctuary II, annihilating a smaller vessel—soon revealed to be filled with the dead and dying.
“Hear me, and rejoice,” croons Ebony Maw, one of Thanos’ “children,” as he walks among the victims. “You have had the privilege of being saved by the great Titan. You may think this is suffering. No: it is salvation.”
“Smile,” he adds. “For even in death, you have become children of Thanos.”
The Mad Titan himself appears, uttering words of supposed empathy. Then, he declares: “Dread it. Run from it. Destiny arrives all the same. And now, it’s here.
“Or should I say: ‘I am.’ ”
So entered the “big bad” of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (at that point in its timeline, anyway).
Sanctuary, children, salvation, “I am”—is it all a coincidence, these parallels to the Bible story? Doubtful.
(Not seeing the connections? Read Exodus 3—where God refers to Himself as “I AM” before sending Moses to save the children of Israel from their enslavers.)
Every movie teaches. Every on-screen story presents a worldview. This is especially true of franchises like Marvel, which captivate millions with powerful narratives of transformation, supernatural powers, and cosmic battles. But beneath the surface, many of these stories blend truth with deception, portraying occult powers as heroic, presenting divine truth as outdated, and distorting the image of God.
How can you know what’s true? How can you stop yourself—and others—from being deceived?
Here are some steps you can take:
To discover more of the polluted parallels Marvel draws between its stories and Scripture, watch our most popular video: “Satan’s Endgame: Dark Secrets of Marvel Exposed”
What’s Going On: A Subtle Slide Into Spiritual Confusion
By assigning God’s words to villains and painting selfish humans as saviors, Marvel and other superhero franchises are playing into the devil’s oldest trick: misrepresenting God’s character. Take Thanos, widely considered the greatest MCU villain. If Thanos is like the God of the Bible, why should anyone worship, obey, or love the latter? (People really are making this point.)
The cherry on top? Modern superhero films are rarely just about good guys and bad guys anymore. Characters like Doctor Strange, Wanda Maximoff, and Loki aren’t just battling evil; they’re wielding magic, casting spells, bending time, and communing with unseen forces. Yet these same characters are framed as heroes, visionaries, and misunderstood liberators.
So what happens when audience members begin to empathize with darkness? They become desensitized. They minimize the real dangers of aligning with unseen forces. They start to celebrate what Scripture clearly warns against.
“Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness . . . ” (Isaiah 5:20)
This isn’t about paranoia. Fear is not the answer (2 Timothy 1:7). It’s about perception—seeing with spiritual clarity. In Acts 13:3–12, the apostle Paul confronts a sorcerer and accuses him of “perverting the straight paths of the Lord” (v. 10).
Satan rarely comes with horns. He comes with charm, beauty, depth, and emotional resonance. He does not direct your eyes to the darkness; he perverts your perception of the light. He comes disguised as goodness.
And one of his most effective tools? A good story.
A Call for Discernment in Entertainment
So what is discernment? Many mistake it for legalism, but it’s not about writing a list of approved or banned movies. It’s a lifestyle of spiritual awareness. It means asking: What is this story teaching me about truth? About power? About the supernatural?
Discernment invites you to be awake. Not anxious. Not fearful. Awake. Aware that media doesn’t simply reflect culture—it shapes it. Aware that Hollywood is creative, persuasive, and powerful. Aware that (let’s be honest) on-screen stories are more adept at touching your heart than classroom lectures or sermons.
So how can you stay awake, thoughtful, and discerning? Ask questions, and open the Word of God—again, and again, and again.
“Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105)
Raising a Spiritually Aware Generation
Parents, teachers, and mentors must become media literate. Not to wage war on pop culture, but to shepherd hearts within it. We must teach the younger generation how to:
A Better Story
Marvel isn’t slowing down—with SpiderMan: Brand New Day, Avengers: Doomsday, and Avengers: Secret Wars in line to dominate screens and sweep several off their feet with dazzling special effects and epic battles.
Many will be lulled into believing that these stories are harmless. Entertainment, we’re told, is merely an escape. But the truth is, these movies educate—and too often, they are spiritual allegories wrapped in blockbuster packaging.
The good news? The truth is infinitely more fascinating than any superhero film.
The Bible is neither dull nor shallow. The story of redemption is not outdated. It is the truest, most powerful, most heroic story ever told. And the ultimate victory doesn’t belong to Marvel, or Disney, or any fictional universe.
It belongs to Christ.
You can reclaim media’s role in shaping your worldview—not by retreating from the world, but by walking through it with the lamp of truth in your hands and the God of love by your side.
“And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:5)
Reflection Questions:
Want to Go Deeper?
If this article stirred something in you—whether it be scorn, defensiveness, realization, or curiosity—we invite you to dig deeper:
🎥 Watch Our Videos!
Many are waking up to the influence of entertainment on their worldview, their faith, and their families. That’s why we created the Superhero Exposé series. In it, we break down the hidden messages behind today’s most popular characters and films.
Come with your Bible. Bring your questions. And prepare to see your favorite heroes in a whole new light.
Watch now at LittleLightStudios.tv or on our YouTube channel.
📖 Open the Word
“But . . . isn’t Thanos kind of like the Christian God? What’s the difference? And why should I trust the Bible anyway?”
We get it. You have questions, and this article didn’t answer them all. To learn more about God, Scripture, and the true cosmic battle going on right now, visit lls.tv/bibleschool.
For further reading on deception, discernment, and other topics we covered here, check out:
🙏 Pray
“Heavenly Father,
Open my eyes to see with spiritual clarity in a world filled with subtle deception. Help me cling to Your truth, discern what is good, and recognize the stories that distort Your character. Strengthen me to guide others to walk in light.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.”
