I’ve been preaching about heroes. The Bible is full of them, and we’ve never needed heroes more than we do today. What are some of the issues confronting the people of God today, and what Biblical heroes can we emulate while trying to address them?
I’ve been reading biographies — some focusing on spiritual activity, some not. One of the most satisfying things about the experience is finding a way to connect with individuals from the past and learn from their experiences. The trouble is, I sometimes think I’m just reinforcing the ideas I have already embraced. Is there a way to actually learn from history?
I’ve been playing Santa Maria, a game that derives its name from the flagship of Christopher Columbus. Players do not experience the spread of measles or smallpox, there is no coerced conversion to Catholicism, no one is kidnapped and forced into slavery. And that’s a good thing. I oppose the extermination of indigenous peoples, and beyond that I don’t think it makes for a very interesting format for a board game. Certainly Columbus is a flawed hero. But does that mean he can’t be a hero at all? And for us as Christians, how do we handle flawed heroes, both from the Bible and from our own lives, without glorifying or excusing sin?