Recently I saw an ad for “Avengers: Infinity War.”

It’s the typical blockbuster movie with lots of special effects, big time actors, big budget, and sure to draw big crowds.

And I can’t help but think that it is so perfectly named – “Infinity War.”  Is this what our existence has devolved to?  A constant state of war.  Is this what is most important to us – killing and destruction.

The movie isn’t the cause of course.  Movies like this are merely symptoms of where we see ourselves.  They are expressions of our belief about the world.  This is no different than the dystopian books and movies that have popularity over the years.

Even our politics has taken on a similar tone.  And in some religious circles, the battle for what is right has taken a prominent position.

But for what purpose?  To what end?  When does the killing and destruction stop?  Would there be anything worth having if there is so much killing, death, and destruction.   Seems to be a picture of hell.

All too often these stories offer plenty of hopelessness.   While some might get excited at the prospect of an infinity war – a war that never ends, I am not one of those people.  A war without end is rather bleak…and rather boring frankly.

Something that sounds much more hopeful is the image of the lion and lamb coming together.  Does this mean that the church should be without conflict.  No, that’s impossible, and frankly not healthy either.