Collideoscope

Posted by: Josh

What is a hero? Someone we admire? Someone worth emulating? Someone worthy of our respect? A fictional or mythological figure that teaches us how we should live? Any of these could be acceptable definitions of what a hero is, but how have they played out recently?

American heroes (not the sandwiches) can usually be identified by their popularity in pop culture. Who are the current heroes? Lindsay Lohan, Brittany Spears, and Paris Hilton may have been heroes for young ladies at one time. But lately… not so much. A decade ago, popular sports stars like Barry Bonds or Michael Vick might be considered heroic material, but today they’re more of a letdown. Don’t look to contemporary fictional characters for lessons on how to live either. Many of them are no longer “good,” but only slightly better than the characters around them (think Captain Jack Sparrow or Detective John McClane). And I won’t even get started on the lack of heroism in the actors portraying these heroes.

Assuming that we all need heroes to look up to—a valid, if arguable, assumption—where are we to look to find such heroes? Most Christians go immediately to the Bible as a source for heroes, and this is good as long as we acknowledge that they are fallen humans as much as they are heroes. Solving problems with violence, displaying blatant racism, and sleeping with anyone who is available are certainly not characteristics we want to be emulating. Of course this acknowledgement should apply to anyone we set up as a hero. Even the best of heroes are flawed. But the Bible is an excellent source of heroes for a culture with very little heroism in the mainstream.

My Heroes?
In the way of continuing my self-introduction to the readers of Colideoscope, allow me to relate some of my own personal heroes outside the Bible. Most of my heroes are historical figures. Though I don’t agree with all of his theology, I do admire Martin Luther for the way he stood against the Church to do what was right. John Brown is an oft-forgotten hero of American history. In an era when abolitionism was in vogue, he took it one step farther with his belief in racial equality. He actually fought for the freedom of the slaves years before the Civil War. Martin Luther King Jr. preached to a bitter America a gospel of love, even in the face of fire bombs and death threats. These (along with the heroic Kent Curry) are men that I want to emulate. I would like to be able to say that I always stood up for what was right in the face of impossible opposition.

For those of you wondering if I have any fictional heroes I’ll throw out two. Peter Parker/Spiderman is one of the few contemporary fictional heroes that I can really identify with. Knowing what is right and deciding to do what is right are two very different things, and this struggle is what gives each of us the opportunity to be heroes. Additionally, I really admire the character Malcom Reynolds, captain of the Serenity (from the movie Serenity and the cancelled TV show Firefly). As the captain of a crew of smugglers and sometime thieves, he finds a way to carefully navigate the most moral choices in situations that seem to leave none. He is also constantly fighting “the system” which is probably another reason I like him.

So there you have it, a peek inside the thoughts of Josh. I feel very vulnerable having shared my heroes and the kind of man I would like to be, but I guess that is the nature of blogging. It would probably make me feel a little less vulnerable if some of you commented with some of your heroes as well.

Labels: heroes