When Our Heroes Behave Badly

Jameis Winston just can’t seem to keep himself out of the negative spotlight. The accusations of rape, the reality of sexual misconduct at the minimum, stealing crab legs, and now inappropriate comments yelled from a table near the HCB building. We couldn’t ask for a much clearer picture of the need of some compass alignment on the campus of FSU, on the campuses throughout the United States, and in the United States in general. 

When our heroes begin to behave badly, we begin to wonder about ourselves. If these people are our heroes, then who are we? Our heroes are supposed to be better than us, aren’t they? Isn’t that why they are our heroes? 

The sad reality that the Scriptures show us is that our heroes are not better than us. Abraham, David, Elijah, Peter, Paul – they all sinned and fell short of the glory of God. If heroes are perfect, then only One Human ever could be a hero to us. We certainly couldn’t fit the bill.

I think many of us fall prey to this thinking. We believe our heroes to be truly better people than we are, and because of that, we disqualify ourselves from having the capacity to be heroic. This is not God’s perspective.

God’s perspective is that we have ALL sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. And because of that, we ALL have the capacity for heroism. We have the capacity to stand up against the abuse and objectification of women and men. We have the capacity to use our money, use it wisely, and not see ourselves as entitled. We have the capacity to act and behave with decorum and dignity…Even when our quarterback doesn’t.

You can be a sinner and a hero. Be a hero today. Give the glory to God who saved sinners like you, heroes and villains alike, out of His great and perfect heroism. 

In Christ, Pastor Jay