If real heroes are rare today, the answer is not to falsely confer hero status recklessly upon those we want to exalt.

In earlier times, many of us heard it said, “There are no heroes anymore.”  If it was true then, we have the opposite fault now.  We live in an age of vanity, self-aggrandizement and self-deception where virtually everyone and anyone is someone’s hero.  Our cultural fascination with so-called, super-heroes seems to indicate that we have an innate desire to recognize nobility wherever it can be found even if it’s fictional.

One of the most destructive devices of the secular world is the habitual distortion of common words and ideas for purposes of deception and manipulation.  This can occur in one of two ways.  Either a noble ideal is dragged down into the muck and mire of profanity, or depraved desire and behavior are exalted to princely acclaim.  It has become a widespread practice in our time to label people as heroes who clearly are not. 

Today, hospitals elevate cardiac patients as “heart-heroes,” a notable non-profit medical center declares that pediatric cancer patients are heroes, and an animal rights organization encourages its donors to wear shirts that identify them as “humane heroes.”  Political parties, Hollywood and news media celebrate their members as heroic warriors who break new ground. 

While endurance of suffering, diligence to a accomplish a difficult task and exhibiting courage in the face of danger are certainly honorable actions, these alone do confer heroism.  Some may consider it unkind or mean-spirited to deny the illegitimate accolades lavished upon the undeserving, but we do injustice by abusing ideals recklessly in the name of compassion.

If a genuine hero is someone who selflessly risks his or her own welfare for the benefit of another, then children, hospital patients and those who donate their time or money to worthy causes do not fit the mold.  There’s an important principle here that must not be overlooked.  Counterfeiting anything of value, whether monetary currency or an ideal such as heroism, love or peace, raises the inversely proportionate effect of damaging the worth of the genuine article.

Real heroism is too rare, precious and vital an attribute to fake or demean through overuse or redefinition.  As with humility, real heroism is a most elusive quality.  The moment one claims the title for himself, he proves the contrary.  Those who deserve to be recognized for heroism are the last people to see themselves as unique or special in any way.  It’s the surest signal to distinguish the real from the phony. 

Political leaders rarely become heroes, but there have been a few exceptions.  In our politically-divided nation, universal agreement about any of these figures is nearly impossible.  But there is One who exemplifies heroism in all of its glory. 

Unequivocally, the greatest hero in the history of the world is Christ the Lord.  He is the hero of the ages because He gave everything He had and everything He is for those of us who are least deserving of forgiveness, grace, kindness and eternal life.  And He continues to give all to everyone who will humbly come to Him and simply ask.  Christians celebrate Christ this month and every month.  Ironically, even those who deny Him publicly at other times, are compelled to acknowledge Him now.

The surest sign that American culture is depraved and hopelessly wicked is the openly vicious hostility directed toward God and those who are his.  Some of these privately consider themselves to be good people and even relish being called heroic.