C 11 - Heroism

HEROISM

11. In the same line the ministry has the attraction of heroism. Men crave the adventurous, they hunger for the heroic. A life of undisturbed security and ease and pleasure soon loses its relish and then palls upon and satiates all the senses. An American millionaire, recently deceased, once made a pathetic plaint. He was never destined to be quite happy, he said, because his inherited wealth destroyed the necessity for and incentive to action and killed ambition. From such a life men will break away and answer the call of the wild that they may rough it in the forest or wilderness or on the sea, or that they may climb the most dangerous mountain tops or conquer the icy caps of the globe.

Men cannot stand it to be coddled in comfort they instinctively and imperiously crave ad venture and danger, fortitude and valor. One of the attractions of war is the very relief from the security and comforts of peace which it brings and the tremendous hazards and splendid heroism with which it abounds. The ministry, far from being immune from hardship and swathed in comfort, as some people may think it is and as some ministers may even try to make it, is really a heroic calling. It ordinarily has enough physical trials to call for some grit as well as grace.

It demands great patience and courage in dealing with many of its problems, especially as they are rendered complicated and vexatious by the irritation and opposition of petty-minded and unreasonable people that so pestered Paul and have not yet learned to leave the preacher alone. The minister’s very program calls for heroism. It is often an arduous and adventurous one as he tries to build up a divided, visionless church into unity and service, or tries to reform and transform a backward community or city. His program looks impossible when he puts it up against the terribly disjointed, sin stricken world. But the impossible is our challenge and opportunity, an occasion to measure ourselves with splendid insolence and defiant audacity against every opposing force. It may inspire us with such faith and bravery and resolution as are the highest heroism. Jesus Christ was the most superbly heroic figure of all the ages, as he faced soldiers at the Garden gate so calmly and majestically that they went backward and fell upon the ground, and then with equal calm ness and courage went to his cross and then dared to close and crown all his teaching with the sublime declaration: “All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth.

Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to do all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you al ways, even unto the end of the world.”

Paul followed in the same path of heroism when he stepped from Asia to Europe and dared to preach the gospel of the resurrection in skeptical Athens, and then was not ashamed to preach it in Rome also, for it was everywhere the power of God unto salvation.

Martyrs caught up the same torch of the light of the world and carried it forward.

“A noble army, men and boys, The matron and the maid, Around the Saviour’s throne rejoice, In robes of light arrayed, They climbed the steep ascent of heaven Through peril, toil, and pain, God, to us may grace be given To follow in their train.”

Seizing the same banner of the gospel, the minister dares to set his feet undaunted in the same perilous path, follow the same impossible program and go with Christ toward the same vision and victory that overcometh the world. Jesus came to bring, not peace, but a sword, and wherever he has gone there has been a fight; a fight against slavery, against the degradation of woman, against the liquor traffic, against all the hosts of wickedness, and the Christian ministry will be a war to the end. In such a campaign the minister will never have reason to complain that he lacks the incentive of adventure and heroic bravery, for he will ever be called upon to fight the good fight of faith and carry the cross while he wins the crown.