You Are Not The Hero?

    All of my life I attended Christian grade schools and high schools. At my last high school there was an event every year called Vision for Life. It was a program where students lived out their faith as men and women. One day the girls would stay back at school and listen to speakers while the guys went out into the community and did service projects. The next day they would switch, and the guys would listen to speakers while the girls went out and worked. It was a great couple of days, and most everyone looked forward to it.

    
    Vision for Life my senior year, a pastor who had led chapels at our school before came and spoke. I’d always loved listening to him talk. He was very energetic and although he was no comedian, he had his funny moments as well. That day was different. He was preaching on the gifts of the Holy Spirit. 

    He talked about how the reason people think their prayers are not fulfilled isn’t because God decided not to give, but it’s because they don’t know how to ask. I thought, ok, that’s a little weird. This is starting to sound like Prosperity Gospel to me. God doesn’t just give everything we ask for if we ask the right way. It wasn’t sitting right with me, but I listened anyway.
    
    He went on in this fashion for some time, and all the while I became more and more uncomfortable. Then he went and said something else that really hit me: “You are not a hero. You are cannot be the hero, you cannot be a hero. There is only one hero!” And he pointed upwards.
    
    This probably would not have stuck out for me had I not already been dissecting everything he had been saying. All my life I've heard things like, “You can’t do good works on your own. Only Jesus can help you do good things.”, and, “Always give glory to God, because he is the one that gave you those talents.” 

    Technically , this is true. In John 15:5, Jesus says, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
    
    Wait, so if Jesus is the one true hero, then we should not give anyone credit for what they do, no matter how awesomely heroic they truly are? Maybe I’m reading into what he said too much, but if you take that statement to it’s logical conclusion, then you have a very thankless and gratificationless (I’m making that a word) world. Why not acknowledge people when they do heroic things?
    
    This reminds me of a post I saw somewhere in the bowels of the internet. It was a picture of Jesus guiding a doctors hand during a surgery. It was captioned, “If he succeeds, Jesus gets all the credit. If he fails, he’s to blame.” Seriously? I think Jesus would want us to give credit where credit is due. 

    I firmly believe that God guides us through our lives, and helps us in time of need, but we still make the decisions. God isn't a grand puppet master  making some people hero’s and others not. That time you went and broke up a fight? God may be prompting you to do so, but he didn't make you do it. That was a heroic thing you did there.
    
    In conclusion, Christians should realize that although we believe in a higher power, He doesn't force heroism on anyone. YOU choose to be the hero when you step up, take responsibility of a situation, and then do what needs to be done. Especially when no one else can. A wise man once said, “With great power comes great responsibility.” We have been given the power of the Holy Spirit, however that manifests itself in you. So don’t waste it.

Be the hero God intends you to be