Vol. 5, No. 3 Jan. 15, 2006

Do We Need Heroes Today?

Written By Christopher Mentzer

Our gospel meeting this week focuses on The Heroes of Faith as listed in Hebrews 11. Both Old and New Testament features many individuals that are considered heroes. However, none of them listed as such would probably admit to being a hero. So the question is do we need heroes today?

The definition of a hero is “2. A person noted for feats of courage or nobility of purpose, especially one who has risked or sacrificed his or her life 3. A person noted for special achievement in a particular field” (American Heritage Dictionary). The definition of Faith comes from Heb. 11: 1, “Now faith is assurance of `things' hoped for, a conviction of things not seen.”

I don’t believe we need heroes today because we have all the examples we need in the scriptures from Noah and Abraham to the prophets of old to John the Baptist and to Stephen and beyond. Our examples are found within the pages of scripture. And furthermore, the scripture do not call us to be heroes.

Here’s what the Bible calls us to be:

1. Guardians—“For which cause I suffer also these things: yet I am not ashamed; for I know him whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to guard that which I have committed unto him against that day. 13. Hold the pattern of sound words which thou hast heard from me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. 14. That good thing which was committed unto `thee' guard through the Holy Spirit which dwelleth in us.” (2 Tim. 1: 12-14)

2. Ambassadors—“20.We are ambassadors therefore on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us: we beseech `you' on behalf of Christ, be ye reconciled to God. 21. Him who knew no sin he made `to be' sin on our behalf; that we might become the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Cor. 5: 20-21)

3. Disciples— “…If ye abide in my word, `then' are ye truly my disciples” (Jn. 8: 31) “and when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that even for a whole year they were gathered together with the church, and taught much people, and that the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.” (Acts 11: 26)

4. Saints—“unto the church of God which is at Corinth, `even' them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called `to be' saints, with all that call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place, their `Lord' and ours” (1 Cor. 1: 2)

5. Different—“Wherefore Come ye out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, And touch no unclean thing; And I will receive you.” (2 Cor. 6: 17)

6. Believers—“…but with precious blood, as of a lamb without spot, `even the blood' of Christ: 20. who was foreknown indeed before the foundation of the world, but was manifested at the end of times for your sake, 21. who through him are believers in God, that raised him from the dead, and gave him glory; so that your faith and hope might be in God.” (1 Peter 1: 19-21)

These are just a few examples and there are many others but nothing that tells us to be heroes.