Heroes

John Piper is a pastor up in Minnesota. He has presented several very good biographies about missionaries and pastors and other gospel-centered world changers throughout the history of the church.

Some are well known names. Most are not. But I’ve never listened to any of the biographies that didn’t stir something in me.

Anyway, at the beginning of a biography for a guy named John Owen, Piper said:
“One of the reasons I linger over these tributes so long is that I want you to feel drawn not just to Owen, but to the value of having some great heroes in the ministry. There are not many around today. And God wills that we have heroes. Hebrews 13:7 (says):

Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith.

It seems to me that the Christian leaders today that come closest to being heroes are the ones who had great heroes. I hope you have one or two, living or dead.”

I agree with Piper completely, there. You and I should have heroes. Now, don’t hear me saying that you should just pick anyone.

Back in the day there was a basketball player named Charles Barkley who got in some trouble on the court. He didn’t always have the best sportsmanship and one day a commercial comes out and he’s just staring at the screen and he’s telling the parents,

“I'm not a role model... Just because I dunk a basketball doesn't mean I should raise your kids.”


I’m not saying pick captains of industry, or athletes, or famous musicians. And I’m not even saying you should look to your parents or teachers as heroes — if they are not believers.

What I am saying is there should be some people who have walked in their faith to Jesus in such a way as to inspire you to do the same. There should be people who stir the passion and the endurance to run your race well.

Their faith to Jesus and devotion to Jesus and dependence on Jesus is key here. Our heroes need to be people who point us to the savior. Our heroes need to be people who deflect all of the praise to God. They should not soak it in for them selves.

And this is key. Piper is not saying that we should WORSHIP people. God says not to worship any created thing – that includes people.

So a Hero is NOT AN IDOL.

Don’t take a good thing (a Hero) and try to make it an ultimate thing (an Idol).

But do find some heroes!

Another pastor says that the best heroes are dead ones. Once they stop breathing they stop being able to fail morally.

So looking back through history, both in the Bible and in the lives of the early church fathers and in the lives of the Reformers and in the lives of the Christ-centered civil rights fighters…We can look for heroes there.

The question is, do you have heroes who point you to Jesus?

Paul points to two great examples of heros in Philippians 2:19-30.