Randy Green's Blog - Posts Tagged "heroes"
My Hero – Part 1
“I myself (i.e., John the Baptist) have seen, and have testified that this (i.e., Jesus) is the Son of God.” [John 1:34]
Now when John (i.e., the Baptist), while imprisoned, heard of the works of Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to Him, “Are You the Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?” [Matthew 11:2-3]
Hero worship is about the most commonplace practice in the world today. Everyone is looking for a hero…including Bonnie Tyler. Yes, you and I are included in “everyone”. Don’t believe me? When you watch the football game, you have your heroes and your goats. When you want to buy a product, you have your heroes and your goats. When you want to go to a restaurant, you have your… Well, you get the point. We all have our heroes.
This extends to the church too. Some folks worship Luther, some Calvin, and some John Knox. Some prefer labels like Calvinism, others Arminianism, and still others Lutheranism. There are the Pentecostals, the Baptists, the Episcopalians, and the Catholics. You name it, there’s an “ism” for it. We all have our heroes.
In the Corinthian Church of the Apostle Paul’s day, they had there heroes. Listen to Paul portray the quarrelsome bunch:
Each one of you is saying, “I am of Paul,” and “I of Apollos,” and “I of Cephas,” and “I of Christ.” [1 Corinthians 1:12]
You see, heroes occur in the church too. Paul was a good steward of Christ. Apollos was a good steward of Christ. Cephas was a good steward of Christ. And Christ…well, He is Christ! Nothing was wrong with admiring such godly men for their service to our Lord. But the Corinthians took it a step further and turned them into heroes, to the extent they were on a level above men.
In many high church denominations you can take a gander at statues of the Apostles. These godly men are put on a pedestal and worshiped. Oh, I know, folks in those denominations deny that is what they are doing, but in actual practice that is what is done. Some even go so far as to pray to these super-heroes, stealing God’s prerogatives and giving them to mere men.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not here to bash specific denominations. I here to shine light on darkness and get to the truth of the Bible. In one way or another hero worship is a product of today’s world, whether it be in sports or TV or movies or music. The church should is to be salt and light in the world to lead unbelievers out of hero worship to God worship. Sadly, but we’re sometimes saltless and dark and participate in hero worship right along with them. Lord, forgive us.
Allow me to cite one example of how Christians have confronted me with hero worship. John the Baptist was one of the most godly men of his time, and of all time too. Still, he was a man, a sinner who needed a Savior to provide him with righteousness and eternal life. He wasn’t perfect, or all-powerful, or all-knowing. He had flaws and fell short of the glory of God, just as every other son of Adam has always done and will always do this side of eternity.
This being the case, we should not feel the need to justify John Baptist’s flaws or weaknesses when they appear in Scripture. But some Christians do just that, should John Baptist (or any other godly man in the Bible) have his warts exposed. Not that you or I are to expose anyone’s failings, mind you. The Bible does a good job of that all on its own! My job as a teacher is to teach the Bible, and I haven’t the luxury of leaving some of it out because some Christians need to have perfect heroes to worship.
Oh, it’s time to stop again. We will continue this topic in our next study. In the interim spend some time in prayer about this matter. Who are your heroes? How high are you exalting them? Do you look to them instead of to the Lord Jesus Christ?
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Deuteronomy: Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Now when John (i.e., the Baptist), while imprisoned, heard of the works of Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to Him, “Are You the Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?” [Matthew 11:2-3]
Hero worship is about the most commonplace practice in the world today. Everyone is looking for a hero…including Bonnie Tyler. Yes, you and I are included in “everyone”. Don’t believe me? When you watch the football game, you have your heroes and your goats. When you want to buy a product, you have your heroes and your goats. When you want to go to a restaurant, you have your… Well, you get the point. We all have our heroes.
This extends to the church too. Some folks worship Luther, some Calvin, and some John Knox. Some prefer labels like Calvinism, others Arminianism, and still others Lutheranism. There are the Pentecostals, the Baptists, the Episcopalians, and the Catholics. You name it, there’s an “ism” for it. We all have our heroes.
In the Corinthian Church of the Apostle Paul’s day, they had there heroes. Listen to Paul portray the quarrelsome bunch:
Each one of you is saying, “I am of Paul,” and “I of Apollos,” and “I of Cephas,” and “I of Christ.” [1 Corinthians 1:12]
You see, heroes occur in the church too. Paul was a good steward of Christ. Apollos was a good steward of Christ. Cephas was a good steward of Christ. And Christ…well, He is Christ! Nothing was wrong with admiring such godly men for their service to our Lord. But the Corinthians took it a step further and turned them into heroes, to the extent they were on a level above men.
In many high church denominations you can take a gander at statues of the Apostles. These godly men are put on a pedestal and worshiped. Oh, I know, folks in those denominations deny that is what they are doing, but in actual practice that is what is done. Some even go so far as to pray to these super-heroes, stealing God’s prerogatives and giving them to mere men.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not here to bash specific denominations. I here to shine light on darkness and get to the truth of the Bible. In one way or another hero worship is a product of today’s world, whether it be in sports or TV or movies or music. The church should is to be salt and light in the world to lead unbelievers out of hero worship to God worship. Sadly, but we’re sometimes saltless and dark and participate in hero worship right along with them. Lord, forgive us.
Allow me to cite one example of how Christians have confronted me with hero worship. John the Baptist was one of the most godly men of his time, and of all time too. Still, he was a man, a sinner who needed a Savior to provide him with righteousness and eternal life. He wasn’t perfect, or all-powerful, or all-knowing. He had flaws and fell short of the glory of God, just as every other son of Adam has always done and will always do this side of eternity.
This being the case, we should not feel the need to justify John Baptist’s flaws or weaknesses when they appear in Scripture. But some Christians do just that, should John Baptist (or any other godly man in the Bible) have his warts exposed. Not that you or I are to expose anyone’s failings, mind you. The Bible does a good job of that all on its own! My job as a teacher is to teach the Bible, and I haven’t the luxury of leaving some of it out because some Christians need to have perfect heroes to worship.
Oh, it’s time to stop again. We will continue this topic in our next study. In the interim spend some time in prayer about this matter. Who are your heroes? How high are you exalting them? Do you look to them instead of to the Lord Jesus Christ?
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Deuteronomy: Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
My Hero – Part 2
“I myself (i.e., John the Baptist) have seen, and have testified that this (i.e., Jesus) is the Son of God.” [John 1:34]
Now when John (i.e., the Baptist), while imprisoned, heard of the works of Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to Him, “Are You the Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?” [Matthew 11:2-3]
In our last study we expatiated on the hazards of hero worship in the church. Permit me now to interpret the Bible verses quoted at the initiation of this study. In them we encounter what appears to be a contradiction, but there is no contradiction. Every man of God is susceptible to doubts and fears at times. It is a part of life. It is a part of our sinful human nature. Our job as men and women of God is to grow from these failings by learning to trust the Lord better, not cover them up as if we are too perfect to fail.
Let’s get to the Bible verses with which we began this study. Jesus began His ministry at about 30 years of age. He was baptized by John the Baptist, who recognized Jesus as the Son of God. Read John 1:29-36 and get the full extent of John Baptist’s recognition of Jesus’ true identity.
Some time later John Baptist was arrested by that no-account Herod for preaching the Law of Moses to him. So Herod tossed John Baptist into prison. After considerable time as John rotted in prison, he heard about the ministry Jesus was conducting. Jesus healed the sick, raised the dead, gave sight to the blind and hearing to the deaf. He fed multitudes of people by multiplying scanty amounts of food. He freed the prisoners too…but not John the Baptist.
The prevailing belief amongst the Jews back in the day was that the Messiah was soon to appear. John Baptist recognized Jesus as the Messiah. It was also the prevailing belief that the Messiah would be a mighty warrior, a military conqueror who whupped the Gentiles and restored Israel as God’s ruling world power. It is no stretch to see John Baptist as holding to that belief. Jesus’ own disciples did!
So there was John Baptist rotting in prison, and awaiting Messiah Jesus to overthrow Herod, re-establish the Kingdom of God on earth, and free Prisoner John. But the reports he heard about Jesus’ ministry showed a humble and gentle Shepherd of the sheep, not a mighty warrior. Jesus didn’t raise an army. He didn’t even raise His voice much.
This didn’t jell with John Baptist. He was utterly taken aback by Jesus’ behavior. So John sent some of his disciples to Jesus to ask, “What gives? You’re supposed to be the Messiah. So stop doing this touchy-feely stuff and start messiah-ing already! Lead an army to conquer the Gentiles and overthrow Herod.”
Some Christians hold John the Baptist as a hero to worship. There were times when I taught this truth out of the Bible, and they charged at me with bayonets attached to cut me down to size. You see, they are hero worshipers, and heroes don’t make mistakes or fall short. I offended their sense of propriety when it comes to addressing heroes.
The Lord Jesus Christ is my Hero. Our heavenly Father is my Hero. The Holy Spirit is my Hero. Everyone else is somewhere far below them. Some of us are much better than others, but none of us deserves to be the Christian’s hero. When we fix our eyes on men like that, we wind up following men instead of the Lord Jesus. Let’s be in prayer about this and rectify hero worship in the Church.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Deuteronomy: Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Now when John (i.e., the Baptist), while imprisoned, heard of the works of Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to Him, “Are You the Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?” [Matthew 11:2-3]
In our last study we expatiated on the hazards of hero worship in the church. Permit me now to interpret the Bible verses quoted at the initiation of this study. In them we encounter what appears to be a contradiction, but there is no contradiction. Every man of God is susceptible to doubts and fears at times. It is a part of life. It is a part of our sinful human nature. Our job as men and women of God is to grow from these failings by learning to trust the Lord better, not cover them up as if we are too perfect to fail.
Let’s get to the Bible verses with which we began this study. Jesus began His ministry at about 30 years of age. He was baptized by John the Baptist, who recognized Jesus as the Son of God. Read John 1:29-36 and get the full extent of John Baptist’s recognition of Jesus’ true identity.
Some time later John Baptist was arrested by that no-account Herod for preaching the Law of Moses to him. So Herod tossed John Baptist into prison. After considerable time as John rotted in prison, he heard about the ministry Jesus was conducting. Jesus healed the sick, raised the dead, gave sight to the blind and hearing to the deaf. He fed multitudes of people by multiplying scanty amounts of food. He freed the prisoners too…but not John the Baptist.
The prevailing belief amongst the Jews back in the day was that the Messiah was soon to appear. John Baptist recognized Jesus as the Messiah. It was also the prevailing belief that the Messiah would be a mighty warrior, a military conqueror who whupped the Gentiles and restored Israel as God’s ruling world power. It is no stretch to see John Baptist as holding to that belief. Jesus’ own disciples did!
So there was John Baptist rotting in prison, and awaiting Messiah Jesus to overthrow Herod, re-establish the Kingdom of God on earth, and free Prisoner John. But the reports he heard about Jesus’ ministry showed a humble and gentle Shepherd of the sheep, not a mighty warrior. Jesus didn’t raise an army. He didn’t even raise His voice much.
This didn’t jell with John Baptist. He was utterly taken aback by Jesus’ behavior. So John sent some of his disciples to Jesus to ask, “What gives? You’re supposed to be the Messiah. So stop doing this touchy-feely stuff and start messiah-ing already! Lead an army to conquer the Gentiles and overthrow Herod.”
Some Christians hold John the Baptist as a hero to worship. There were times when I taught this truth out of the Bible, and they charged at me with bayonets attached to cut me down to size. You see, they are hero worshipers, and heroes don’t make mistakes or fall short. I offended their sense of propriety when it comes to addressing heroes.
The Lord Jesus Christ is my Hero. Our heavenly Father is my Hero. The Holy Spirit is my Hero. Everyone else is somewhere far below them. Some of us are much better than others, but none of us deserves to be the Christian’s hero. When we fix our eyes on men like that, we wind up following men instead of the Lord Jesus. Let’s be in prayer about this and rectify hero worship in the Church.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Deuteronomy: Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
My Hero – Part 1
“I myself (i.e., John the Baptist) have seen, and have testified that this (i.e., Jesus) is the Son of God.” [John 1:34]
Now when John (i.e., the Baptist), while imprisoned, heard of the works of Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to Him, “Are You the Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?” [Matthew 11:2-3]
Hero worship is about the most commonplace practice in the world today. Everyone is looking for a hero…including Bonnie Tyler. Yes, you and I are included in “everyone”. Don’t believe me? When you watch the football game, you have your heroes and your goats. When you want to buy a product, you have your heroes and your goats. When you want to go to a restaurant, you have your… Well, you get the point. We all have our heroes.
This extends to the church too. Some folks worship Luther, some Calvin, and some John Knox. Some prefer labels like Calvinism, others Arminianism, and still others Lutheranism. There are the Pentecostals, the Baptists, the Episcopalians, and the Catholics. You name it, there’s an “ism” for it. We all have our heroes.
In the Corinthian Church of the Apostle Paul’s day, they had their heroes. Listen to Paul portray the quarrelsome bunch:
Each one of you is saying, “I am of Paul,” and “I of Apollos,” and “I of Cephas,” and “I of Christ.” [1 Corinthians 1:12]
You see, heroes occur in the church too. Paul was a good steward of Christ. Apollos was a good steward of Christ. Cephas was a good steward of Christ. And Christ…well, He is Christ! Nothing was wrong with admiring such godly men for their service to our Lord. But the Corinthians took it a step further and turned them into heroes, to the extent they were on a level above men.
In many high church denominations you can take a gander at statues of the Apostles. These godly men are put on a pedestal and worshiped. Oh, I know, folks in those denominations deny that is what they are doing, but in actual practice that is what is done. Some even go so far as to pray to these super-heroes, stealing God’s prerogatives and giving them to mere men.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not here to bash specific denominations. I here to shine light on darkness and get to the truth of the Bible. In one way or another hero worship is a product of today’s world, whether it be in sports or TV or movies or music. The church should is to be salt and light in the world to lead unbelievers out of hero worship to God worship. Sadly, but we’re sometimes saltless and dark and participate in hero worship right along with them. Lord, forgive us.
Allow me to cite one example of how Christians have confronted me with hero worship. John the Baptist was one of the most godly men of his time, and of all time too. Still, he was a man, a sinner who needed a Savior to provide him with righteousness and eternal life. He wasn’t perfect, or all-powerful, or all-knowing. He had flaws and fell short of the glory of God, just as every other son of Adam has always done and will always do this side of eternity.
This being the case, we should not feel the need to justify John Baptist’s flaws or weaknesses when they appear in Scripture. But some Christians do just that, should John Baptist (or any other godly man in the Bible) have his warts exposed. Not that you or I are to expose anyone’s failings, mind you. The Bible does a good job of that all on its own! My job as a teacher is to teach the Bible, and I haven’t the luxury of leaving some of it out because some Christians need to have perfect heroes to worship.
Oh, it’s time to stop again. We will continue this topic in our next study. In the interim spend some time in prayer about this matter. Who are your heroes? How high are you exalting them? Do you look to them instead of to the Lord Jesus Christ?
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Deuteronomy: Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
Now when John (i.e., the Baptist), while imprisoned, heard of the works of Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to Him, “Are You the Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?” [Matthew 11:2-3]
Hero worship is about the most commonplace practice in the world today. Everyone is looking for a hero…including Bonnie Tyler. Yes, you and I are included in “everyone”. Don’t believe me? When you watch the football game, you have your heroes and your goats. When you want to buy a product, you have your heroes and your goats. When you want to go to a restaurant, you have your… Well, you get the point. We all have our heroes.
This extends to the church too. Some folks worship Luther, some Calvin, and some John Knox. Some prefer labels like Calvinism, others Arminianism, and still others Lutheranism. There are the Pentecostals, the Baptists, the Episcopalians, and the Catholics. You name it, there’s an “ism” for it. We all have our heroes.
In the Corinthian Church of the Apostle Paul’s day, they had their heroes. Listen to Paul portray the quarrelsome bunch:
Each one of you is saying, “I am of Paul,” and “I of Apollos,” and “I of Cephas,” and “I of Christ.” [1 Corinthians 1:12]
You see, heroes occur in the church too. Paul was a good steward of Christ. Apollos was a good steward of Christ. Cephas was a good steward of Christ. And Christ…well, He is Christ! Nothing was wrong with admiring such godly men for their service to our Lord. But the Corinthians took it a step further and turned them into heroes, to the extent they were on a level above men.
In many high church denominations you can take a gander at statues of the Apostles. These godly men are put on a pedestal and worshiped. Oh, I know, folks in those denominations deny that is what they are doing, but in actual practice that is what is done. Some even go so far as to pray to these super-heroes, stealing God’s prerogatives and giving them to mere men.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not here to bash specific denominations. I here to shine light on darkness and get to the truth of the Bible. In one way or another hero worship is a product of today’s world, whether it be in sports or TV or movies or music. The church should is to be salt and light in the world to lead unbelievers out of hero worship to God worship. Sadly, but we’re sometimes saltless and dark and participate in hero worship right along with them. Lord, forgive us.
Allow me to cite one example of how Christians have confronted me with hero worship. John the Baptist was one of the most godly men of his time, and of all time too. Still, he was a man, a sinner who needed a Savior to provide him with righteousness and eternal life. He wasn’t perfect, or all-powerful, or all-knowing. He had flaws and fell short of the glory of God, just as every other son of Adam has always done and will always do this side of eternity.
This being the case, we should not feel the need to justify John Baptist’s flaws or weaknesses when they appear in Scripture. But some Christians do just that, should John Baptist (or any other godly man in the Bible) have his warts exposed. Not that you or I are to expose anyone’s failings, mind you. The Bible does a good job of that all on its own! My job as a teacher is to teach the Bible, and I haven’t the luxury of leaving some of it out because some Christians need to have perfect heroes to worship.
Oh, it’s time to stop again. We will continue this topic in our next study. In the interim spend some time in prayer about this matter. Who are your heroes? How high are you exalting them? Do you look to them instead of to the Lord Jesus Christ?
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Deuteronomy: Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
My Hero – Part 2
“I myself (i.e., John the Baptist) have seen, and have testified that this (i.e., Jesus) is the Son of God.” [John 1:34]
Now when John (i.e., the Baptist), while imprisoned, heard of the works of Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to Him, “Are You the Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?” [Matthew 11:2-3]
In our last study we expatiated on the hazards of hero worship in the church. Permit me now to interpret the Bible verses quoted at the initiation of this study. In them we encounter what appears to be a contradiction, but there is no contradiction. Every man of God is susceptible to doubts and fears at times. It is a part of life. It is a part of our sinful human nature. Our job as men and women of God is to grow from these failings by learning to trust the Lord better, not cover them up as if we are too perfect to fail.
Let’s get to the Bible verses with which we began this study. Jesus began His ministry at about 30 years of age. He was baptized by John the Baptist, who recognized Jesus as the Son of God. Read John 1:29-36 and get the full extent of John Baptist’s recognition of Jesus’ true identity.
Sometime later John Baptist was arrested by that no-account Herod for preaching the Law of Moses to him. So Herod tossed John Baptist into prison. After considerable time as John rotted in prison, he heard about the ministry Jesus was conducting. Jesus healed the sick, raised the dead, gave sight to the blind and hearing to the deaf. He fed multitudes of people by multiplying scanty amounts of food. He freed the prisoners too…but not John the Baptist.
The prevailing belief amongst the Jews back in the day was that the Messiah was soon to appear. John Baptist recognized Jesus as the Messiah. It was also the prevailing belief that the Messiah would be a mighty warrior, a military conqueror who whupped the Gentiles and restored Israel as God’s ruling world power. It is no stretch to see John Baptist as holding to that belief. Jesus’ own disciples did!
So there was John Baptist rotting in prison, and awaiting Messiah Jesus to overthrow Herod, re-establish the Kingdom of God on earth, and free Prisoner John. But the reports he heard about Jesus’ ministry showed a humble and gentle Shepherd of the sheep, not a mighty warrior. Jesus didn’t raise an army. He didn’t even raise His voice much.
This didn’t jell with John Baptist. He was utterly taken aback by Jesus’ behavior. So John sent some of his disciples to Jesus to ask, “What gives? You’re supposed to be the Messiah. So stop doing this touchy-feely stuff and start messiah-ing already! Lead an army to conquer the Gentiles and overthrow Herod.”
Some Christians hold John the Baptist as a hero to worship. There were times when I taught this truth out of the Bible, and they charged at me with bayonets attached to cut me down to size. You see, they are hero worshipers, and heroes don’t make mistakes or fall short. I offended their sense of propriety when it comes to addressing heroes.
The Lord Jesus Christ is my Hero. Our heavenly Father is my Hero. The Holy Spirit is my Hero. Everyone else is somewhere far below them. Some of us are much better than others, but none of us deserves to be the Christian’s hero. When we fix our eyes on men like that, we wind up following men instead of the Lord Jesus. Let’s be in prayer about this and rectify hero worship in the Church.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Deuteronomy: Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
Now when John (i.e., the Baptist), while imprisoned, heard of the works of Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to Him, “Are You the Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?” [Matthew 11:2-3]
In our last study we expatiated on the hazards of hero worship in the church. Permit me now to interpret the Bible verses quoted at the initiation of this study. In them we encounter what appears to be a contradiction, but there is no contradiction. Every man of God is susceptible to doubts and fears at times. It is a part of life. It is a part of our sinful human nature. Our job as men and women of God is to grow from these failings by learning to trust the Lord better, not cover them up as if we are too perfect to fail.
Let’s get to the Bible verses with which we began this study. Jesus began His ministry at about 30 years of age. He was baptized by John the Baptist, who recognized Jesus as the Son of God. Read John 1:29-36 and get the full extent of John Baptist’s recognition of Jesus’ true identity.
Sometime later John Baptist was arrested by that no-account Herod for preaching the Law of Moses to him. So Herod tossed John Baptist into prison. After considerable time as John rotted in prison, he heard about the ministry Jesus was conducting. Jesus healed the sick, raised the dead, gave sight to the blind and hearing to the deaf. He fed multitudes of people by multiplying scanty amounts of food. He freed the prisoners too…but not John the Baptist.
The prevailing belief amongst the Jews back in the day was that the Messiah was soon to appear. John Baptist recognized Jesus as the Messiah. It was also the prevailing belief that the Messiah would be a mighty warrior, a military conqueror who whupped the Gentiles and restored Israel as God’s ruling world power. It is no stretch to see John Baptist as holding to that belief. Jesus’ own disciples did!
So there was John Baptist rotting in prison, and awaiting Messiah Jesus to overthrow Herod, re-establish the Kingdom of God on earth, and free Prisoner John. But the reports he heard about Jesus’ ministry showed a humble and gentle Shepherd of the sheep, not a mighty warrior. Jesus didn’t raise an army. He didn’t even raise His voice much.
This didn’t jell with John Baptist. He was utterly taken aback by Jesus’ behavior. So John sent some of his disciples to Jesus to ask, “What gives? You’re supposed to be the Messiah. So stop doing this touchy-feely stuff and start messiah-ing already! Lead an army to conquer the Gentiles and overthrow Herod.”
Some Christians hold John the Baptist as a hero to worship. There were times when I taught this truth out of the Bible, and they charged at me with bayonets attached to cut me down to size. You see, they are hero worshipers, and heroes don’t make mistakes or fall short. I offended their sense of propriety when it comes to addressing heroes.
The Lord Jesus Christ is my Hero. Our heavenly Father is my Hero. The Holy Spirit is my Hero. Everyone else is somewhere far below them. Some of us are much better than others, but none of us deserves to be the Christian’s hero. When we fix our eyes on men like that, we wind up following men instead of the Lord Jesus. Let’s be in prayer about this and rectify hero worship in the Church.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Deuteronomy: Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
My Hero – Part 1
“I myself (i.e., John the Baptist) have seen, and have testified that this (i.e., Jesus) is the Son of God.” [John 1:34]
Now when John (i.e., the Baptist), while imprisoned, heard of the works of Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to Him, “Are You the Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?” [Matthew 11:2-3]
Hero worship is about the most commonplace practice in the world today. Everyone is looking for a hero…including Bonnie Tyler. Yes, you and I are included in “everyone”. Don’t believe me? When you watch the football game, you have your heroes and your goats. When you want to buy a product, you have your heroes and your goats. When you want to go to a restaurant, you have your… Well, you get the point. We all have our heroes.
This extends to the church too. Some folks worship Luther, some Calvin, and some John Knox. Some prefer labels like Calvinism, others Arminianism, and still others Lutheranism. There are the Pentecostals, the Baptists, the Episcopalians, and the Catholics. You name it, there’s an “ism” for it. We all have our heroes.
In the Corinthian Church of the Apostle Paul’s day, they had their heroes. Listen to Paul portray the quarrelsome bunch:
Each one of you is saying, “I am of Paul,” and “I of Apollos,” and “I of Cephas,” and “I of Christ.” [1 Corinthians 1:12]
You see, heroes occur in the church too. Paul was a good steward of Christ. Apollos was a good steward of Christ. Cephas was a good steward of Christ. And Christ…well, He is Christ! Nothing was wrong with admiring such godly men for their service to our Lord. But the Corinthians took it a step further and turned them into heroes, to the extent they were on a level above men.
In many high church denominations you can take a gander at statues of the Apostles. Those godly men are put on a pedestal and worshiped. Oh, I know, folks in those denominations deny that is what they are doing, but in actual practice that is what is done. Some even go so far as to pray to those super-heroes, stealing God’s prerogatives and giving them to mere men.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not here to bash specific denominations. I am here to shine light on darkness and get to the truth of the Bible. In one way or another hero worship is a product of today’s world, whether it be in sports or TV or movies or music. The church should be salt and light in the world to lead unbelievers out of hero worship to God worship. Sadly, but we’re sometimes saltless and dark and participate in hero worship right along with them. Lord, forgive us.
Allow me to cite one example of how Christians have confronted me with hero worship. John the Baptist was one of the most godly men of his time, and of all time too. Still, he was a man, a sinner who needed a Savior to provide him with righteousness and eternal life. He wasn’t perfect, or all-powerful, or all-knowing. He had flaws and fell short of the glory of God, just as every other son of Adam the First has always done and will always do this side of eternity.
That being the case, we should not feel the need to justify John Baptist’s flaws or weaknesses when they appear in Scripture. But some Christians do just that, should John Baptist (or any other godly man in the Bible) have his warts exposed. Not that you or I are to expose anyone’s failings, mind you. The Bible does a good job of that all on its own! My job as a teacher is to teach the Bible, and I haven’t the luxury of leaving some of it out because some Christians need to have perfect heroes to worship.
Oh, it’s time to stop again. We will continue this topic in our next study. In the interim spend some time in prayer about this matter. Who are your heroes? How high are you exalting them? Do you look to them instead of to the Lord Jesus Christ?
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Deuteronomy: Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
Now when John (i.e., the Baptist), while imprisoned, heard of the works of Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to Him, “Are You the Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?” [Matthew 11:2-3]
Hero worship is about the most commonplace practice in the world today. Everyone is looking for a hero…including Bonnie Tyler. Yes, you and I are included in “everyone”. Don’t believe me? When you watch the football game, you have your heroes and your goats. When you want to buy a product, you have your heroes and your goats. When you want to go to a restaurant, you have your… Well, you get the point. We all have our heroes.
This extends to the church too. Some folks worship Luther, some Calvin, and some John Knox. Some prefer labels like Calvinism, others Arminianism, and still others Lutheranism. There are the Pentecostals, the Baptists, the Episcopalians, and the Catholics. You name it, there’s an “ism” for it. We all have our heroes.
In the Corinthian Church of the Apostle Paul’s day, they had their heroes. Listen to Paul portray the quarrelsome bunch:
Each one of you is saying, “I am of Paul,” and “I of Apollos,” and “I of Cephas,” and “I of Christ.” [1 Corinthians 1:12]
You see, heroes occur in the church too. Paul was a good steward of Christ. Apollos was a good steward of Christ. Cephas was a good steward of Christ. And Christ…well, He is Christ! Nothing was wrong with admiring such godly men for their service to our Lord. But the Corinthians took it a step further and turned them into heroes, to the extent they were on a level above men.
In many high church denominations you can take a gander at statues of the Apostles. Those godly men are put on a pedestal and worshiped. Oh, I know, folks in those denominations deny that is what they are doing, but in actual practice that is what is done. Some even go so far as to pray to those super-heroes, stealing God’s prerogatives and giving them to mere men.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not here to bash specific denominations. I am here to shine light on darkness and get to the truth of the Bible. In one way or another hero worship is a product of today’s world, whether it be in sports or TV or movies or music. The church should be salt and light in the world to lead unbelievers out of hero worship to God worship. Sadly, but we’re sometimes saltless and dark and participate in hero worship right along with them. Lord, forgive us.
Allow me to cite one example of how Christians have confronted me with hero worship. John the Baptist was one of the most godly men of his time, and of all time too. Still, he was a man, a sinner who needed a Savior to provide him with righteousness and eternal life. He wasn’t perfect, or all-powerful, or all-knowing. He had flaws and fell short of the glory of God, just as every other son of Adam the First has always done and will always do this side of eternity.
That being the case, we should not feel the need to justify John Baptist’s flaws or weaknesses when they appear in Scripture. But some Christians do just that, should John Baptist (or any other godly man in the Bible) have his warts exposed. Not that you or I are to expose anyone’s failings, mind you. The Bible does a good job of that all on its own! My job as a teacher is to teach the Bible, and I haven’t the luxury of leaving some of it out because some Christians need to have perfect heroes to worship.
Oh, it’s time to stop again. We will continue this topic in our next study. In the interim spend some time in prayer about this matter. Who are your heroes? How high are you exalting them? Do you look to them instead of to the Lord Jesus Christ?
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Deuteronomy: Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
My Hero – Part 2
“I myself (i.e., John the Baptist) have seen, and have testified that this (i.e., Jesus) is the Son of God.” [John 1:34]
Now when John (i.e., the Baptist), while imprisoned, heard of the works of Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to Him, “Are You the Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?” [Matthew 11:2-3]
In our last study we expatiated on the hazards of hero worship in the church. Permit me now to interpret the Bible verses quoted at the initiation of this study. In them we encounter what appears to be a contradiction, but there is no contradiction. Every man of God is susceptible to doubts and fears at times. It is a part of life. It is a part of our sinful human nature. Our job as men and women of God is to grow from these failings by learning to trust the Lord better, not cover them up as if we are too perfect to fail.
Let’s get to the Bible verses with which we began this study. Jesus began His ministry at about 30 years of age. He was baptized by John the Baptist, who recognized Jesus as the Son of God. Read John 1:29-36 and get the full extent of John Baptist’s recognition of Jesus’ true identity.
Sometime later John Baptist was arrested by that no-account Herod for preaching the Law of Moses to him. So Herod tossed John Baptist into prison. After considerable time as John rotted in prison, he heard about the ministry Jesus was conducting. Jesus healed the sick, raised the dead, gave sight to the blind and hearing to the deaf. He fed multitudes of people by multiplying scanty amounts of food. He freed the prisoners too…but not John the Baptist.
The prevailing belief amongst the Jews back in the day was that the Messiah was soon to appear. John Baptist recognized Jesus as the Messiah. It was also the prevailing belief that the Messiah would be a mighty warrior, a military conqueror who whupped the Gentiles and restored Israel as God’s ruling world power. It is no stretch to see John Baptist as holding to that belief. Jesus’ own disciples did!
So there was John Baptist rotting in prison, and awaiting Messiah Jesus to overthrow Herod, re-establish the Kingdom of God on earth, and free Prisoner John. But the reports he heard about Jesus’ ministry showed a humble and gentle Shepherd of the sheep, not a mighty warrior. Jesus didn’t raise an army. He didn’t even raise His voice much.
This didn’t gel with John Baptist. He was utterly taken aback by Jesus’ behavior. So John sent some of his disciples to Jesus to ask,
What gives? You’re supposed to be the Messiah. So stop doing this touchy-feely stuff and start messiah-ing already! Lead an army to conquer the Gentiles and overthrow Herod.
Some Christians hold John the Baptist as a hero to worship. There were times when I taught today's truth from the Bible, and they charged at me with bayonets attached, to cut me down to size. You see, they are hero worshipers, and heroes don’t make mistakes or fall short. I offended their sense of propriety when it comes to addressing heroes.
The Lord Jesus Christ is my Hero. Our heavenly Father is my Hero. The Holy Spirit is my Hero. Everyone else is somewhere far below them. Some of us are much better than others, but none of us deserves to be the Christian’s hero. When we fix our eyes on men like that, we wind up following men instead of the Lord Jesus. Let’s be in prayer about this and rectify hero worship in the Church.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Deuteronomy: Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
Now when John (i.e., the Baptist), while imprisoned, heard of the works of Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to Him, “Are You the Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?” [Matthew 11:2-3]
In our last study we expatiated on the hazards of hero worship in the church. Permit me now to interpret the Bible verses quoted at the initiation of this study. In them we encounter what appears to be a contradiction, but there is no contradiction. Every man of God is susceptible to doubts and fears at times. It is a part of life. It is a part of our sinful human nature. Our job as men and women of God is to grow from these failings by learning to trust the Lord better, not cover them up as if we are too perfect to fail.
Let’s get to the Bible verses with which we began this study. Jesus began His ministry at about 30 years of age. He was baptized by John the Baptist, who recognized Jesus as the Son of God. Read John 1:29-36 and get the full extent of John Baptist’s recognition of Jesus’ true identity.
Sometime later John Baptist was arrested by that no-account Herod for preaching the Law of Moses to him. So Herod tossed John Baptist into prison. After considerable time as John rotted in prison, he heard about the ministry Jesus was conducting. Jesus healed the sick, raised the dead, gave sight to the blind and hearing to the deaf. He fed multitudes of people by multiplying scanty amounts of food. He freed the prisoners too…but not John the Baptist.
The prevailing belief amongst the Jews back in the day was that the Messiah was soon to appear. John Baptist recognized Jesus as the Messiah. It was also the prevailing belief that the Messiah would be a mighty warrior, a military conqueror who whupped the Gentiles and restored Israel as God’s ruling world power. It is no stretch to see John Baptist as holding to that belief. Jesus’ own disciples did!
So there was John Baptist rotting in prison, and awaiting Messiah Jesus to overthrow Herod, re-establish the Kingdom of God on earth, and free Prisoner John. But the reports he heard about Jesus’ ministry showed a humble and gentle Shepherd of the sheep, not a mighty warrior. Jesus didn’t raise an army. He didn’t even raise His voice much.
This didn’t gel with John Baptist. He was utterly taken aback by Jesus’ behavior. So John sent some of his disciples to Jesus to ask,
What gives? You’re supposed to be the Messiah. So stop doing this touchy-feely stuff and start messiah-ing already! Lead an army to conquer the Gentiles and overthrow Herod.
Some Christians hold John the Baptist as a hero to worship. There were times when I taught today's truth from the Bible, and they charged at me with bayonets attached, to cut me down to size. You see, they are hero worshipers, and heroes don’t make mistakes or fall short. I offended their sense of propriety when it comes to addressing heroes.
The Lord Jesus Christ is my Hero. Our heavenly Father is my Hero. The Holy Spirit is my Hero. Everyone else is somewhere far below them. Some of us are much better than others, but none of us deserves to be the Christian’s hero. When we fix our eyes on men like that, we wind up following men instead of the Lord Jesus. Let’s be in prayer about this and rectify hero worship in the Church.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Deuteronomy: Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
