By Pastor James Harleman

Pop culture rarely yields a motherlode when it comes to biblical manhood, but occasionally you strike a narrative vein or sift metaphorical gold dust from the manly examples in media. Just as Paul stripped a few lines from Athenian poetry that were applicable to the true, triune God, we should keep eyes peeled for examples of true men, from good Samaritans to pursuant bridegrooms. 2010 has its share, from cineplex to Xbox and even the bookshelf. As you’re engaging your entertainment this year, keep discerning eyes peeled for edifying examples like these:

Who is my neighbor? Dave Lizewski

While Dave’s comic-book character in Mark MIllar’s Kick-Ass has a lot to learn about being a godly man, he says and does something poignant when he finds three men beating up a helpless individual while others stare, text and tweet about it.

Thug #1: "The $!#@ is wrong with you, man? You’d rather die for some piece of $%! that you don't even #%ing know?
Dave: The three (of you) laying into one guy while everybody else watches? And you wanna know what’s wrong with ME? Yeah, I’d rather die…

The vulgar thugs can’t fathom why Dave bothers to help, risking harm and death to serve a stranger. Jesus would have a lot to say about the sin in Dave’s life, but would point out how this images the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37.

Superheroic Savior: Roy Miller

Although James Mangold’s film is sloppy, Tom Cruise in Knight and Day offers up a masculine savior who selects, protects, pursues, and sacrifices himself for his intended. Cameron Diaz meets his character, Roy, slandered by those in authority and targeted by all sides when he’s truly the singular person in-the-know, striving to do what’s right, and guarding a woman who falls in love with what all that represents.

Relentless pursuit of his bride: Alan Wake

I played this XBox360 game after Roger Ebert said video games couldn’t be art. As a writer, racing through a forest to rescue his kidnapped bride, often equipped with nothing more than a hand-held light to fight back the darkness, Alan’s imagery is clear. Some mysterious help from above, plus the need to literally “walk in the light” to be whole and healed, makes the metaphor unmistakable. I even hope some men playing it will think of their spouse or future spouse and seek to protect her physically, emotionally, and spiritually (even if that means putting the controller down a bit more often).

Walking by faith: Eli

Nothing trumps screenwriter Gary Whitta’s Book of Eli , Denzel Washington’s portrayal of a man devoted to the Word of God. The story makes it clear Eli is not just protecting a religious book, but that he has a relationship with the God of the Bible, prays constantly, and proclaims God is good “all the time” even in the face of his mission’s ruination. He turns down offers of illicit sex and seeks to be a peacemaker. He also has more scripture memorized than most pastors I know.

Eli: Dear Lord… Thank you for guiding me straight and true through the many obstacles in my path. And for keeping me resolute when all around seemed lost. I fought the good fight, I finished the race, I kept the faith.

While none of these men is perfect by any means, we should have our eyes on culture, not just for consumption, but to highlight the tidbits where modern manhood depictions intersect with biblical calling. With reality TV boasting hot-tubbing, partying/puking man-boys as the average male, we should highlight the biblical alternatives that don’t have to remain fiction.

Pastor James, Mars Hill’s resident film and culture critic, is a regional executive pastor out of the Shoreline campus. Read more of his film commentary on his blog, cinemagogue.