Before I digress too far: Hancock is not one of Smith's' best films, but it will no doubt entertain audiences with its big action, humor, and heart—three common ingredients to a Will Smith blockbuster.

The always-charismatic Smith plays Hancock with a permanent gruffy grimace, being at once repulsive and endearing. He chugs cheap wine and tosses around people, cars, and whales like rag dolls. We get that he tries to help people, but he doesn't take the time to think or care about how he does it, thereby causing people to resent his "help."

As I'm sure we all know, it's not enough to do the right thing; it's also important how you do it. For example, it may be a good idea to wash your car, but probably best not to wash it with a Brillo pad. And so it is with Hancock's methods. He may stop some bad guys from shooting up the streets of L.A., but in the process he destroys roads, cars, homes, and city property. Rather than thanking Hancock, the city would prefer to sue him for the mayhem he caused while trying to save the day. But because he's not thinking about the destruction that ensues when he carelessly saves the day, he ends up offending and hurting those around him. This almost completely negates the good he was trying to do.

Hancock seems to know he has a higher calling than waking up to super-hangovers and causing problems, which is why he continues to try to help rather than using his powers for his own selfish gain. Something about his identity, his nature, compels him to protect and defend. Going back to the ekklesia thought, Hancock must realize that in spite of the personal inconvenience, he has a special calling, and that he can help change the world for the better with his powers.

And that even when helping someone, it should be done the right way, with love. You may move mountains, but if you don't have love, it means nothing. And then you have people resenting you, speaking evil of the good you do when your actions are not genuinely selfless and agenda-less.

Denial of self might be a strange idea for a MySpace generation, but when you use your "powers" (talents, gifts) to put others first, God has a funny way of bringing you true fulfillment as a 'called-out one.

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