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Heroic, Not Perfect

Weekly Thought – May 4, 2021

Fred regarded heroes as one of the key elements in a healthy network. He emphasized the importance of being certain to choose heroic qualities. He also thought realistically about the nature of man, including heroes. He avoided putting individuals on pillars. He particularly studied those he admired, looking for “clay and iron,” as he put it.

Please pray for Christian higher education. They strive for excellence and hold the course against social, legal, and economic pressures.

Heroic, Not Perfect

Heroes are who we can become if we diligently pursue our ideals in the furnace of our opportunities.

We are unrealistic to expect perfection from our heroes. If we do, we may see the inevitable discovery of their weaknesses which causes great disappointment. Does it really matter that our heroes are less than perfect? Should their true greatness be diminished?

When we ask for perfection in heroes, we become vulnerable to those determined to expose the weaknesses, destroying their value. Heroes personify the human ability and capability of reaching nobility, not perfection.

Humankind is incapable of achieving perfection, so we must not be disillusioned, giving up our heroes simply due to imperfection. To look for perfection is to build on a false philosophical and theological base.

The Bible recognizes the imperfection. Ironically, one of the supports for the inspiration of scripture is in the inclusion of the flaws of those God chose to use. If this were just human-generated these stories would have been sanitized. The Bible uses these lives to demonstrate God’s faithfulness and the power of transformation.

On the other hand, the media and social exposure has done a great disservice by replacing the lasting inspiration of the true hero for the momentary excitement of the celebrity. Our son started me thinking about this when he observed, “The heroes of the early church were martyrs and ours are celebrities.” Too many today confuse the two creating spiritual crossovers who live flashy lives, emulating celebrity status. Herein may lie a great deal of the modern church’s weakness.

We know persecution has historically been the greatest purifying agent of the church. This isn’t a popular view of the western church. Too much talk about giving all for Jesus belies the behavior of seeking social popularity and acceptance. Celebrities rise on the wave of applause and break the rocks of inattention. They are fantasy waiting to be exposed.

This week think about: 1) How do I integrate my heroes into my daily living? 2) What criteria do I use for assigning “hero” to a person? 3) Why do I search for heroic qualities in others?

Words of Wisdom: “To look for perfection (in our heroes) is to build on a false philosophical and theological base.”

Wisdom from the Word “But he said to me, ‘My grace is enough for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ So then, I will boast most gladly about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may reside in me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9 NET Bible)

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