by: Jonathan Painter
I am not a huge major league baseball fan, but I do know enough about the sport and the league to know that many young players once looked up to Alex Rodriguez as a player that they would like to be like someday. In many young men’s minds he was an icon, but now he is facing charges from the Major League Baseball Association and is being accused of cheating. Some say that Alex Rodriguez will never play again, so what are all the onlookers to do? What will happen to all those who wanted to be just like him? Will they quit playing baseball since their hero has fallen? I dare say not, they will continue to swing the bat and field the ball. They must simply move on.
Undoubtedly you have, or have had people in your life who you would consider to be a hero in your world. Is it okay to have such people in our lives? Many Christians would call this “idol-worship” to have a hero; however, if your hero, or role model, is held in proper perspective, then I feel there is no problem with having one.
The first thing to keep in mind is that your hero is human. Humans make mistakes. Oftentimes a young man feels that God has called him to preach, when this happens he will generally begin to look-up to a more experienced and seasoned preacher. This preacher becomes his hero. Unfortunately, if his hero falls by the wayside, what will the young man do? If he idolizes the preacher, then he too will fall away, but if he is secure enough in his own call and beliefs, then he will continue down the path God has set for him. DO NOT IDOLIZE YOUR HEROES! Focus on their strengths, but realize they do have weaknesses. Do not assume that everything they do is one hundred percent the way it must be done. If your hero falls down, you must keep on going.
When you have a role-model or a hero, focus on their strengths and begin to develop those strengths in your own life. For example, one of my heroes is Dr. Hyles. One thing that was a great strength of Dr. Hyles was discipline. As I try to mold my own character as a young man, I have tried to add a great deal of discipline to my life. Where did I get the desire to have great discipline? I got the desire to have discipline by watching the affect it had on Dr. Hyles’ life.
Never forget, that it is a good thing to have heroes; yet, pick heroes whose strength is found in loving God, His Book and His Son. Realize that they too are human and that they will make mistakes. While observing your heroes in action, focus on their strengths and do not adopt their weaknesses in your own life. A hero is a good thing, when held in proper perspective. So, you must face the question, “Who is your Hero?”
Jonathan Painter
Youth Pastor
Lincoln Baptist Church
Lincoln, NE