Guest Post: Redefining Heroism

By Madeline Heigley

In today’s society, professional athletes, the President, celebrities, artists, and actors are all over-glorified and even deemed as heroic. The meaning behind a hero is lost when the world associates heroism with fame, money, or power. As a result, it has become a major cliché. Our culture needs to redefine a “hero,” by Biblical standards, as an individual whose selfless actions are for the betterment of others. Heroes take on many forms, but there are ultimately three defining aspects that make them unique from the rest of society: having courage in times of fear, sacrificing for others, and saving something or someone.

Stuff of Legend

Firstly, courage is a key quality of a hero. In contrast to bravery, courage is when an individual confronts their fears and puts others before themselves. Courage is told thru the actions of Odysseus, the king of Ithaca who is a classic military hero. After the victory at Troy on their journey home, Odysseus and his men reach the land of the Cyclops. Upon exploring the island, Odysseus and twelve soldiers become trapped in the cave of the cyclops, Polyphemus. After the giant began to feast on his men, Odysseus knew if they didn’t escape, the same fate would come upon them. “But I kept thinking how to win the game: death sat there huge; how could we slip away? I drew on all my wits, and ran through tactics, reasoning as a man will for dear life, until a trick came-and it pleased me well.”

 Odysseus was not focusing on just himself, but also his fellow shipmates. Instead of panicking, Odysseus remained calm and devised a plan which allowed him and the rest of his men to successfully escape Polyphemus’ cave unharmed.

Queenly Material

Like Odysseus, Queen Esther had courage in a dangerous situation. During this time period, Persia was a monarchy ruled by King Ahasuerus. Esther 4:11 states “All the king’s servants, and the people of the king’s provinces, do know, that whatsoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law of his to put him to death, except such to him whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days.” However, there was a decree made by Haman the Agagite, a high official of the king, that would kill all the Jews. Esther 8:3 says “And Esther spake yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and besought him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he has devised against the Jews.”

Esther put herself at the mercy of King Ahasuerus in two different instances. First, she confronted the king without being summoned. Unfortunately, it was insignificant that she was his wife. She also confessed that she was a Jew, which took courage. Although she knew the law, her concern for her people was greater than her fear. When speaking to her cousin Mordecai, she said “and if I perish, I perish.” (Esther 4:16) Yet, the Bible says that the king held out his golden sceptre to raise her from her position of begging. The king found favor in her and gave in to her request. By facing the consequence of death, Esther managed to save all her people from the wicked decree of Haman the Agagite.

Sacrificial of the Fittest

Despite fear, a hero proceeds on no matter the sacrifice. Some may sacrifice little, while others sacrifice as much as their own lives. The best example of sacrifice is displayed when Jesus Christ lays down his own life. He came to pay the punishment for our sins and to be a Savior to the fallen world. However, John 1:11 says “He came unto his own, and his own received him not.” Instead, God’s people, the Israelites, wanted to crucify Jesus. The Roman crucifixion was one of the most torturous forms of execution possible during the times of Jesus Christ. It was reserved for the most severe criminals. Matthew 27:29-31 records that they scourged him, stripped him, put him in a scarlet robe, put a crown of thorns on his head, mocked him, spit on him, smote him, and then they lead him away to be crucified. In Matthew 26:39, before he was chained and led away, Jesus even asks his Father if there was any other way. Although he could have easily escaped the circumstance, he chose to suffer through. As a result of his suffering, Christ made a way for all believers. Anyone can become the “children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:26) Without Jesus, we have no hope.

Today, police officers, firefighters, and soldiers in the military are all examples of those willing to sacrifice. Every day, they put on their uniforms to ensure the safety of those around them.

A Cause Worth Fighting For

Finally, a hero applies courage and self-sacrifice to save something or someone. In the Bible, Boaz saved Ruth and Naomi by becoming their kinsman redeemer. Ruth and Naomi had suffered through much hardship after the loss of their husbands, children, and land. They had no other option than to desperately beg for the food of their next meal. After Naomi discovered that Boaz was a close relative, she took extreme measures by sending Ruth to him for redemption. In Ruth 3:13, Boaz responded to Ruth’s plead by promising to introduce her to an other even closer “kinsman” than him. He ensured her that if this other”kinsman” denied this responsibility, then he himself would redeem her. Boaz was a hero through his compassion and commitment to doing what was right.

Today, an individual can become a hero through an organ donation. According to the U.S. Government Information on Organ Donation and Transplantation (2020) a lung, one kidney, or portions of the pancreas, intestine, or liver can all be donated by living organ donors. It takes much courage and sacrifice to undergo a surgery for the removal of an organ. Nevertheless, it can save or enhance the life of someone else. Organ donation not only directly impacts the recipient, but it also affects the lives of their families and friends.

The Extra Mark of True Heroism

In conclusion, courage in times of fear, sacrificing for others, and saving something or someone are ultimately the three defining aspects of a hero. Unlike worldly heroes, Biblical heroes also possess humility. Philippians 2:8 states that “and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” No one has ever humbled themselves more than Jesus Christ. He was simultaneously fully man and fully God. Jesus Christ came to earth to save as well as to set an example for believers. In fact, Ephesians 5: 1-2 commands believers to “be ye followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, an hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.” As Christians, we need to follow the example of our ultimate hero, Jesus Christ.

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