Heroes

(I Could Use a Savior)

Alden Swan
January 3, 2005

I don't really know why - perhaps it was seeing Shrek 2 - I have been thinking about the concept of heroes and their place in our worldview. The recent Bering Strait tune, I Could Use A Hero, is a perfect "soundtrack" for my thinking, especially the opening lines:

Who will rescue my heart?
Who will save my soul?
Who will give me strength?
Fill my cup with hope?

It is certainly understandable that children are attracted to the notion of heroes as they seek out role models; but what surprised me was when I realized that this need seems to continue into adulthood, and that hero-need seems to be something more than just a weekend diversion at the movies.

I think our choice of entertainment does reveal this hero-need. Just look at the top-grossing films of the last couple of decades: Star Wars, The Matrix, Lord of the Rings, Spiderman, etc., not to mention all of the action and sports movies. Adults are undoubtedly just as attracted to hero tales. (Aunt May's talk to Peter about the need for heroes in Spiderman 2 is especially interesting).

We might wonder at what is wrong with our current culture, that there is such a need. However, this is not something new; it seems that people have always looked for a hero. Just look at Homer - his writing is consumed with both the hero and the superhero. From Europe we get tales of King Arthur and Robin Hood, and even in more modern times various historical figures quickly took on a mythical heroic aspect.

So what is it with humans? Why do we have this need for heroes?

I propose that we don't need heroes at all; I think the notion that humans need heroes is itself a myth, intended to hide the obvious truth that what we really need is a savior. I am no expert, but I have a hunch that if we looked at the whole of literature from any culture, we will see perhaps three major themes: the need for love, the need for purpose, and the need for a savior. (I will also venture to say that I don't think it is a coincidence that all of these can be found in Jesus.)

However, using the word "savior" puts people in the awkward position of having to actually face the fact that they are truly in a crisis situation that requires the actual intervention of someone else who is real. Keeping things in the mythical "hero" context keeps things, well, mythical. We can keep heroes and hero situations in a make-believe place that allows us to feel somewhat comforted while at the same time insulating our real selves from any exposure to reality. We remain in control (so no need for a savior).

Fear of reality might really be the issue. For whatever reason, living in reality often seems rather humdrum for some of us, and downright frightening or painful for others. There are many reasons to opt out of reality from time to time, but we all do it. Sometimes working with fantasy is healthy; myth allows us to work out many issues in a safe environment - similar to a child's play or running computer simulations. You get to see how things might turn out if we make various choices, in essence, looking before we leap.

However, actually believing the hero-myth - failing to bring things back to reality - always has downsides. For example, consider the tendency to make heroes out of sports figures. It is okay to be inspired by various individuals, but there is also the tendency to live vicariously through our heroes - and no good comes of that. I've seen people whose emotional state varies depending upon the success of their favorite sports figure or team. No matter how well the hero does, there is no potential that the hero can provide what the person actually needs. There is only the potential for failure.

Christians, too, have a tendency to create heroes and live vicariously through them. We have are own "christianized" versions of the world's heroes in the "public" Christians: the athletes, actors and musicians who show the world that Christians can also succeed by the world's standards.

The lives of most Christians (at least in America) are fairly hum-drum. We have our jobs, our families, our bills, our pets, and our little (or not so little) churches. We have problems being "victorious" Christians with our neighbors, or at school, or at work. Then we see some prize-winning sports star or entertainer boldly proclaiming his or her Christianity, and what happens? Christians all over the country start witnessing vicariously; that is, out of a lack of their own confidence, they start sharing this hero's faith in place of their own. As long as this person is a success, we feel that we are a success, and that our faith (or at least our hero's faith) is worth sharing.

However, all people fail, and people in high visibility fail more visibly. They admit to affairs, to drug use, or whatever. Perhaps they get ticketed for drunk driving, or perhaps just do or say something that falls outside of whatever legalistic system we live in. All of a sudden, the basis for our testimony (and sometimes for our faith) is challenged. Furthermore, besides being a problem for us, it is also terribly unfair to the people being "hero-ized," as there is really no way they can live up to the standards we hold them to.

What has happened is that we have placed our faith, or at least a portion of it, in our hero instead of in God. We have actually held up the life of our hero as the Christian ideal, when in fact the only ideal is the life of Christ. Our own lives are not even the ideal - our testimony is only what Christ has done for us. If we understood that, we probably wouldn't have to lean on the apparent success of others.

Only Jesus' Performance Matters

The whole concept of hero worship (it is worship, after all, as heroes always take the place of a savior) is based on a belief that performance matters. We believe that we have to perform in order to succeed, but we're not good enough. Then, when we see someone else performing to the standards we have set, they become our heroes, and that is truly idolatry. Performance is important; however, Jesus' performance is absolutely the only performance that matters.

You see, we don't need to be inspired to perform; Jesus has already performed enough for all of us. We simply need to be inspired by what Jesus has performed in others, so our faith - in Jesus, not in anyone else - can be increased.

So, cheer for Aragorn, or Neo, or Spiderman. Sing "I Could Use a Hero" at the top of your lungs (providing you can carry a tune). Just remember, there are no real heroes, and we really don't need one; what we really need is a Savior, and He is very, very real and willing to save.