This week a Founders Day celebration was held at a nearby institution that is friendly with Redeemer. One of our members attended the pricy event.
The emphasis of the night was “honoring heroes.” A slate of a dozen or so people influential in the institution’s difficult past was called forward. Friends and supporters applauded enthusiastically as each name was read and each honoree accepted a plaque and a handshake. It was a love fest with words of encouragement:
“Without you . . . . (followed by a long list of potential disasters that would surely have occurred if someone hadn’t done something).”
More striking was the behind the scenes banter. Among themselves, the celebrated heroes talked about the lack of the support, the drain on their energy and personal funds, and just how difficult their work on behalf of the institution they loved had been. There was a sense that any one of them would have traded the honor for a few more willing hands when the going had been tough. But still, they emerged before the assembly, proudly accepting the accolades of the less committed.
Hero worship is an interesting ritual. It’s a way of passing the buck. Let someone else take the risks; award them if they happen to succeed and if they fail we can say with our clean hands comfortably tucked in our pockets, “We told you so!”
And it’s also a chance to raise some money!
It’s easy for us in the Church to rely on the sacrifices of others. It’s the foundation of our whole religion! We expect sacrifices from the most faithful.
With plentiful biblical example of widows giving their last and martyrs standing up as stones are hurled—and let’s not forget—crucifixion, we encourage the faithful to give and sacrifice for their churches. Like the rest of society, we assuage potential guilt for our own lack of perseverence by bestowing honors on those foolish enough to really lay things on the line. We justify our own inaction with a few Bible verses about trust.
How much healthier would the Church be if there were no heroes (sometimes we call them saints)—if everyone got his or her hands a little dirty!
The next time we attend a ceremony to honor local “heroes,” we should think about what we might have done to have made their lives less trying.
Christ died so that we can!