A hero is a person, real or imaginary, noted for feats of courage or nobility of purpose—especially one who has risked or sacrificed his or her life.
Our need for a hero is so strong that in the absence of a real person we will invent fictional characters to satisfy our need to be rescued. Sometimes we will elevate a gifted athlete, actor or other famous personality to hero status irrespective of any actual heroic sacrifice, simply because we need a hero.
More often than not, after a famous personality is bestowed the illustrious title of hero, we are let down. Once the spotlight of public scrutiny is shined upon them, inevitably we are disappointed by some act we disapprove.
This is especially true in our modern age of social media, driven by nearly everyone carrying a mobile phone with built-in camera at the ready. So we invent fictional heroes to satisfy our need for a perfect hero.
Hero worship is a natural part of the human psyche. Since life can be overwhelming, we need an escape. So as not to be let down we invent fictional literary super characters with godlike abilities.
Superheroes are not just an invention of Marvel or DC comics. Truth be told, many of the modern “Avengers” characters have been borrowed or repurposed from ancient literature. Even the great Superman is a composite of several Greek mythological characters.
Hero worship is practiced by all humans, it is not abated by age, social class or education level. The desire to be saved by a hero is built into every one of us by our creator. This inherent need manifests itself in our hero worship, and this is okay, as it points us to the true hero, Jesus Christ. Nearly two thousand years ago in the Greek city of Athens, Paul the Apostle encountered hero worship. Here is what he told those Greeks:
Acts 17:22-34 KJV
[22] Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.
[23] For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.
[24] God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
[25] Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
[26] And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
[27] That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:
[28] For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
[29] Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.
[30] And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
[31] Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
Just as Paul declared Jesus the only true hero to the people of Athens then, Him I declare to you now.
We need a hero!