We don't need another hero.....

Every story needs a hero, that one person who is at the centre of the narrative and is in some way the catalyst or activator of the resolution of the challenge that provides the climactic events in the story. Heroes can be represented in many different ways, even to the extent of the 'anti-hero' who is heroically un-heroic (becomes the hero despite a lack of heroic qualities). When we are encouraging people in their Christian walk and calling for greater commitment to or engagement in Christian activities - particularly for teens and young adults - we challenge them to live heroic lives, to be the hero God is looking for, to emulate the heroes of the faith in Hebrews 11 or of church history or of our contemporary world.


It occurs to me, though, that we are actually missing the point. It may be good motivational technique to issue the call for heroes, and it certainly fires the imagination and precipitates response, but it is unbiblical. You see, we have a hero, his name is Jesus, and whether we are referring to your life story, or mine, or God's great story (which is the only one the really matters), whatever the story Jesus is the hero. I am not the hero of my story - Jesus is.


If I can get this it doesn't demean or diminish me as a person, it actually lifts me and gives me great value. God's love for me as demonstrated in his Son who heroically and sacrificially brings resolution to the conflict and alienation I experience in my humanity means that I am valued, cherished and known by my Creator. If I am the hero of my story I'm not too confident of a happy ending; but if Jesus is, then the ending isn't just happy, but inexpressively ecstatic!


Interestingly, the New Testament doesn't call on us to be heroic. 1 Timothy 2:2 tells us to pray, '...that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way,' and in Romans 12:18 we read, 'If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.' This doesn't sound particularly heroic, and when Paul adds in 1 Timothy 6:6, 'Now there is great gain with godliness in contentment,' it really doesn't seem very inspiring or exciting. The problem with our call to heroism is that it's really about me. We can try to re-package it as 'a hero for Jesus' but the reality is that a heroic call appeals to my ego and focuses the story on me, my actions, and my achievements. When that happens, I fail to be the hero and become the antagonist, the villain, the one who frustrates the intent of God for my life: that I might become less, he might become more, and the image of Jesus might be formed in me.


What Paul suggests to Timothy and the Romans carries great power and possibility with the energising presence of the Holy Spirit. To live a 'heroic' life just means to follow Jesus as Messiah and Lord, and by living in obedience to his Lordship our lives will be so demonstrative of his Kingdom and this new way of being human that we will appear heroic - or irritating - to our world and community.


So, don't be a hero, we don't need another hero, just be a disciple, a biblically engaged, Spirit led follower of Jesus - the world needs more of those....