Hi everyone, and welcome to another edition of 'The Nightcrawler Experience'!
For this, I will be pursuing an idea that I've had for a long time now: A three- part look at some secular movies and shows that actually deal directly with the subject of religious faith, and my thoughts on them. The funny thing is, each of the movies and shows I will be looking at were ones that I first saw years before I actually accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior at the age of seventeen, yet the quite insightful points they each made had an impact on me, helped contribute to my being saved through Christ, and I now as a more seasoned believer know that they contain Biblical truths. So, I think it's time to share those truths with all of you, my loyal readers.
I'll start things off on a really strong note by taking a look at an episode of the classic animated show 'X- Men: The Animated Series,' specifically one dealing with the hero that this blog is named after!
Having a couple years ago finished rewatching the entire series, I can say that 'X- Men: The Animated Series' was an amazingly intelligent, well- written, often- thrilling (Though admittedly a bit on the cheesy side at times) series that ran on Fox in the 90's. It deals with the team of mutant superheroes known as 'The X- Men,' headed by the incredibly powerful mutant telepath Professor Charles Xavier. Mutants are a feared and hated minority in the world this story takes place in, often viewed with suspicion, fear, and at times even violence. Nevertheless, Professor Xavier believes that the day can come when humans and mutants alike can live in harmony, and teaches the X- Men to advance this philosophy by doing good in the world. In the process, they often have to face off against all manner of threats, be they evil mutants such as Magneto, Mr. Sinister, or Apocalypse, the mutant- hunting robots known as the Sentinels, or bigoted humans such as Graydon Creed and the so- called Friends of Humanity, among others.
This show was written brilliantly, filled with not only action, heart, and the occasional bit of humor, but also incredibly well- done social commentary. For a show aimed at kids, it's quite impressive how well it tackled issues such as tolerance, guilt, grief, coming to grips with one's past, and as seen in the episode we're about to look at, faith.
The episode I will be focusing on is the Season 4 premiere, "Nightcrawler."
In this episode, team members Wolverine, Gambit (My favorite regular character on the show and one of my favorite superheroes in general, though he comes across as kind of a jerk in this episode), and Rogue are going on a skiing vacation in I believe the Swiss Alps, and Wolverine is feeling a bit restless. So, when he hears some tourists discussing a local rumor of a "Demon" supposedly residing not far from there, his interest is piqued. He, Rogue, and Gambit set out in the direction of a town where the sightings occurred, but along the way get involved in an avalanche, and the three of them are buried.
They eventually awaken in a chapel. It is a part of a monastery not far from where the avalanche happened, and it often serves as a sanctuary for lost or wounded travelers. While one of the monks living there, Brother Reinhardt, seems distrustful of allowing strangers into the monastery, the others all welcome the heroes in with hospitality.
Later that night, someone in a hooded monk's robe is seen attempting to poison Gambit, but flees when Rogue arrives. While attempting to chase this intruder, she and Wolverine come across someone with a blue, freakish- looking appearance. Wolverine assumes this is the "Demon" they heard tell about, and briefly tries to attack him, before another monk breaks it up and reveals that this is in fact Nightcrawler, a member of the monks' order whose unusual appearance (Not to mention his power of teleportation) comes from him being a mutant like the X- Men are.
(Meet Nightcrawler. This image comes from the user Guillearza on the Marvel Animated Universe wiki at https://marvelanimated.fandom.com/wiki/Nightcrawler?file=Nightcrawler.jpg)
We see (Rather unsurprisingly) that Brother Reinhardt was the one who tried to kill Gambit, and he goes to the nearby village and tells the people there that the "Demon" they are looking for is in the monastery, leading to them quickly forming an angry, violent mob and preparing to lay siege to the monastery.
Back in the monastery, as the X- Men learn of Nightcrawler's sad past yet also of his faith as a Christian that helps him deal with it, Gambit appears cynically aloof to the concept of faith and Wolverine is openly hostile to it. The latter of the two has some spirited discussions with Nightcrawler, including pointing out the horrific things done to him by the Weapon X program (The experimental program that gave him his metal skeleton and claws), and asking what kind of God would allow people to do something like that to him. Nevertheless, Nightcrawler starts to get through to Wolverine a little, only to be interrupted by the arrival of the mob of villagers, headed by Brother Reinhardt.
It all leads to a tense clash between the mutants and the panicked villagers, and everyone learning a little more about what true faith looks like.
'Nightcrawler' remains easily one of my favorite episodes of the series to this day. It has loads of action between the avalanche scene, chasing Gambit's would- be poisoner, and especially the climactic siege of the monastery. There are some funny moments (i.e. When Nightcrawler finishes telling his story including his persecution for his appearance, Gambit's response of "Guess there no peace for the wicked- lookin'" never fails to get a chuckle from me), and as you shall soon see, some great moments of drama and character development, including loads of discussions about faith.
The voice actors are all in top form (With the slight exception of Brother Reinhardt's voice actor, who at times is a little over- the- top). Nightcrawler's voice actor in this, Adrian Hough, gives an honestly magnificent performance. He conveys so much passion, sincerity and heart through the character's gentle German accent.
In fact, this episode helped MAJORLY in paving the way for my eventually accepting Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior.
As a young boy about ten years old when this episode first premiered, I thought very little of God or faith. My family and I went to church pretty regularly, but I didn't connect to it much at all (A fact I partially attribute to the fact that back then, my mother made me go to church wearing the stiffest, tightest, most uncomfortable dress- shoes known to man). However, I WAS a fan of the X- Men, and I can recall when I first saw this episode, the discussions Nightcrawler had with the other characters really opened my eyes, my mind and my heart, causing me to see the Christian faith in a whole new way that made a lot of sense. It helped me see things that at the time I couldn't see in church, and strange though it may sound, I earnestly believe it was God's hand that led me to watch that episode, which in turn would eventually lead to me finding personal salvation through accepting Jesus as my Savior AND discovering my gift for finding Scriptural themes and concepts in pop culture. This is the whole reason why I call this blog The Nightcrawler Experience!
The theological points made in 'Nightcrawler' are many. One of the first involves keeping faith even in the midst of suffering.
When Nightcrawler is wrapping up telling the X- Men his backstory and all the persecution and mistrust he went through because of how he looked, when this dialogue exchange happens:
Wolverine: "Don't it make you crazy?"
Nightcrawler: "It did, once, but then I found peace by devoting my life to God. He directed me to this place, where they value the character of my heart, not my appearance."
Wolverine: "What are you talkin' about? We're mutants; God gave up on us a long time ago!"
Nightcrawler: "No, my friend; God does not give up on His children, human OR mutant! He is there for us in our times of joy, and to help us when we are in pain, if we let Him."
Wolverine is visibly upset and leaves the room, but he and Nightcrawler resume their discussion shortly afterwards in the monastery's chapel. When Wolverine brings up the dilemma of how a loving God could allow such awful things to be done to him in the Weapon X program, Nightcrawler responds, "Our ability to understand God's purpose is limited, but we take comfort from the fact that His love is limitless!"
This ties in with 2 Corinthians 4:17-18, which says "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
Both help us as believers to see that, while we may at times face suffering and hardship, and at times not understand its purpose, it all can be used to help with building the great plans God has for us, and to remember that our earthly trials are temporary (Which admittedly can be hard to keep in mind when we're right in the middle of them), but that what God has in store for us is eternal. Through our faith in the Lord's purpose for us, driven by His incomparable love for us, we can get through any trial.
Another Scriptural message in this episode involves showing kindness and mercy even to those who do not deserve it, as seen in the magnificent climax of the episode. While Rogue, Gambit, and especially Wolverine are trying to hold back the furious villagers without harming them (After all, as Rogue points out, the villagers aren't bad people, they're just scared and don't know about mutants due to the fact that they come from a very isolated village), Brother Reinhardt steals a laser rifle from a local constable and attacks Nightcrawler with it in the monastery's library. A stray shot from Reinhardt hits the dry paper of the books and quickly causes the entire library to catch fire. Reinhardt then loses his balance and falls off the library balcony while the villagers look on, but Nightcrawler catches his hand before he can fall to his death. Reinhardt says, "Go ahead, demon; Do your worst!(When Nightcrawler then continues holding onto him without letting go) Why do you pause? I have betrayed you!" However, rather than dropping Reinhardt to what would have been certain death, Nightcrawler pulls him back up onto the balcony, telling him, "It is not for me to judge you, Brother Reinhardt. The question is, how will God judge you? Look around you; (Indicating the burning library, with the flames quickly spreading to the rest of the monastery) This is the fruit of YOUR labors, not mine!" At this, Brother Reinhardt realizes he was wrong, and that he has sinned against God by allowing his anger and fear to override his compassion. Nightcrawler teleports him to safety while the library and much of the rest of the monastery burns down. This is a perfect depiction of Jesus's beatitude in Matthew 5:7 that "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy." In addition, Nightcrawler's remark to Brother Reinhardt that what's important is how God views his actions calls to mind Romans 12:19, which says "Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather, give place to wrath; for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay,' says the Lord."
We may never face someone who has tried to kill us, but I think each of us knows what it is like to be hurt or betrayed by someone else. We, as followers of Jesus, are to follow that beatitude by showing mercy and forgiveness to those who have wronged us. It can be hard, but since God has forgiven us and shown mercy to us for our own sins, which hurt Him and are betrayals against Him, then we need to do the same to others.
A final, very important Scriptural lesson to be taken from "Nightcrawler" lies in generally gaining a new, faith- based perspective of things. This comes in a few forms. First, during Wolverine and Nightcrawler's continued discussion in the chapel and Wolverine doubting that he could believe in God after everything he's seen and been through, Nightcrawler tells him, "Open your heart, Herr Logan; Would it hurt so much to see the world through different eyes?"
Just then, one of the other monks comes into the chapel and tells Nightcrawler that the mob of villagers has arrived at the monastery, undoubtedly out to kill him, and Wolverine sarcastically asks him, "What's God's purpose in that?" Nightcrawler responds by pointing out that the village is isolated, and its people have no knowledge of mutants, and so he elaborates, "Perhaps I am here to help open their hearts." I love that, it showed Nightcrawler was able to practice what he preaches, even during a situation when he knows his life is in danger.
Then, near the end of the episode, as everyone is looking on the burning wreckage of the monastery and the fire department trying to put it out, the X- Men believe that they have failed, and cannot understand why Nightcrawler refers to their coming to him as "A great blessing." However, he then explains that they all DO have much to be thankful for as a result of the X- Men's arrival: Nobody died in the struggle, Brother Reinhardt saw the error of his ways and sincerely repented, and the villagers realized that Nightcrawler isn't someone they need to be afraid of, as his saving Brother Reinhardt's life right in front of them proved he meant no harm. He also points out that while the destruction of the monastery was a tragedy, "it was only stone and mortar; The foundation God built in our hearts can NEVER be destroyed!" Nightcrawler then hands Wolverine a Bible, telling him, "I've highlighted a few passages you may find rewarding; Remember, Herr Logan, 'Different eyes.'"
(Nighcrawler giving Wolverine a copy of God's Word, AND a new point of view. This image was uploaded by Brandonbaker01 on the Spider- Man animated wikia at https://spiderman-animated.fandom.com/wiki/Nightcrawler_(Episode)?file=IMG_0718.JPG)
The episode's final scene, which to this day never fails to leave me openly in tears, wraps this point up gloriously and shows that some of them have indeed come to see things in new ways. The three X- Men are in Paris, with Gambit (The only one of them who is largely unchanged by what he experienced) happy about the change of scenery, but Rogue being less sure as the two of them dine at a cafe, with her saying that "Those quiet little monks were startin' to grow on me." Gambit dismisses this and claims that the monks are deluding themselves and we're all alone in the world, leading to a now- offended Rogue storming off. Walking down a road, she stops by a cathedral, and hears a familiar voice coming from inside. Looking in, she sees Wolverine praying and reciting a paraphrase of Isaiah 12:1-2 ( "And thou shalt say in that day: I will give thanks to thee, O Lord, for thou wast angry with me: thy wrath is turned away, and thou hast comforted me. Behold, God is my savior, I will deal confidently, and will not fear: O because the Lord is my strength, and my praise, and he is become my salvation."). Rogue smiles, wipes away a tear, and leaves as the episode ends.
The Bible has many verses instructing believers on the importance of developing new, God- centered mindsets about the world around us. One of my favorite Bible verses, Romans 12:2, says "Do not conform to the ways of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." Colossians 3:2 says "Set your mind on things above, not on things on on the earth." What's more, 2 Corinthians 5:17 says "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ Jesus, he is a new creation; Old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." Coming to know Jesus as our Savior will indeed give us new, healthier perspectives on the world around us, causing us to see things the way the Lord sees them. It is a perspective that can bring happiness and peace to all who follow it.So, that sums up "Nightcrawler." A wonderful episode of a classic show that teaches timeless lessons on faith amid struggles, mercy, and seeing the world through "Different eyes." Check it out (The whole series, including this episode, is on Disney Plus, and it can also be found on Dailymotion), you'll never forget it.
With that, I bring this particular entry of the Nightcrawler Experience to a close. I'll hopefully have the next entry in this series up next week. Until then, stay safe and healthy, and may God bless you all!
