What Batman Taught Me About Spiritual Authority

Hey everyone! Welcome back to The Hunger!

November is my birthday month, and I’m reflecting on what God has taught me this year.

Now, something you all may not know about me is that my parents are evangelists.

Yes, I’ve inherited all this fire in my bones from them.

Growing up and hearing “Holy Ghost fire!” and “Come out in Jesus Name!” was not new for me.

Although I was born in this culture, I carried a deep, dark secret in me as a little girl: I was afraid of the dark.

Eventually, I grew up as a young, angsty teenager, and that fear turned into “I’m afraid of what others think of me.”

Having read the title, you’re probably wondering ‘What in the world does this all have to do with Batman?’

You see, I wasn’t allowed to watch Batman or any Disney movie like The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, or Sleeping Beauty.

My parents’ defense? Batman looked like a demon and had a monkey spirit, and the rest had magic and witchcraft, which was a BIG NO-NO in a Fivefold ministry home.

But kids being kids, my crafty siblings and I found a way to watch these forbidden movies and TV shows.

I remember my mother having a small Cricket Wireless phone, similar to a TracFone, bought at most Dollar General stores (wait, do they still sell those? I have no clue!).

Anyways…

I would pretty much steal it, hehe, and would watch my secret cartoons on YouTube. (In my defense, she upgraded from it and really didn’t care about it anymore.) ;)

That’s how I came to watch shows such as Hercules: The Animated Series (1998), and most importantly, Batman: The Animated Series (1992).

Oh, I was completely enamored with Batman growing up. The bold shadows, the brooding music, and that 1950s cartoon-esque character design — everything about it just clicked for me. It wasn’t just a show; it was a mood.

Now, as I’m almost ready to leave college and become an actual adult *sigh*, I got the chance to rewatch Batman: The Animated Series, and I once again became that little girl with a Cricket Wireless phone in her hand, under the covers, from sunset to the dark of night, watching Batman all over again.

There was one particular episode that struck me: Nothing to Fear (S1, E3)

Quick summary:

The Scarecrow, one of Batman’s enemies, uses his fear toxin on Batman, forcing him to relive his deepest insecurities. Under the gas’s influence, Batman sees a vision of his father, Thomas Wayne, shaming him — telling him he’s a disgrace to the Wayne name.

But in a powerful moment of clarity, Batman fights back against the illusion, declaring,

“No. You are not my father. I am not a disgrace.”

It’s a turning point — he refuses to let fear define him or accept lies about his identity. Once he breaks free, he regains his focus, defeats Scarecrow, and stands stronger than before.

When I heard that quote, I was completely astounded. I mean, wow!

That quote isn’t just about heroism — it’s about identity. Batman had to reject the lie before he could walk in his true authority. And as believers, we face the same battle in a different form. The enemy whispers shame, fear, and unworthiness — but like Batman, we have to respond with truth: “No. That’s not who I am.”

Because when you know who your Father really is, you can’t be shaken.

Thinking about all the fears I’ve faced: the dark, people, bugs, etc. (Bugs are valid, y’all)

As I’ve grown closer to Christ, I’ve begun to recognize his tactics more clearly. He tried to break me down through depression, bullying, rejection — anything that would make me question who I am and what God says about me.

But through all of it, God was revealing a mystery to me — one that changed everything:

Luke 10:19 (NIV)
“I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.”

That verse opened my eyes. Authority in Christ means I don’t have to be afraid — not of fear, not of the lies, not even of the shadows that try to intimidate me.

Just like Batman stood up and said, “No. You are not my father. I am not a disgrace,” I’ve learned to stand up and say, “No. You are not my God. I am not defeated.”

When I asked the Lord that big question — “Why did You allow all these things to happen to me if You love me?” — I wasn’t asking out of rebellion. I was asking out of exhaustion. I wanted to understand why He didn’t stop the pain, the bullying, the lonely nights, or the times I felt invisible.

And He answered me gently through 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV):

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

That revelation was powerful!
It’s as if He said, “I didn’t let those things happen to break you — I used them to build something unshakable in you.”

I realized His grace wasn’t just rescue; it was revelation. Every time I felt powerless, He was teaching me what real power looks like — the kind that doesn’t shout, but stands.

That’s when I began to understand what it means to have authority in Christ. It’s not about being fearless — it’s about being anchored.

Just like Batman, but especially like Jesus.

Batman faced the illusion of his father’s disappointment and spoke truth to it. Jesus faced the enemy’s accusations and answered with Scripture. Both stood their ground—but only one carried divine authority that He later handed to us.

Jesus didn’t just defeat fear—He disarmed it.
He didn’t just survive lies—He exposed them.

And because of Him, I can do the same. We can do the same.

Authority in Christ isn’t about puffing your chest up; it’s about standing tall when everything tries to shrink you. It’s knowing that when fear says, “You’re not enough,” you can respond with, “No—He is.”

So now, when the enemy tries to whisper the same old lies, I don’t argue.
I remember:

No, Devil. You are not my Father. I am not a disgrace.

Because my Father is good. My Father is faithful.
And my Father calls me chosen, not condemned.

That’s authority.

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