What comes to mind when you think of “heroes”? Do you think of Congressional Medal of Honor winners? Do you imagine historical figures like George Washington or Harriet Tubman? Perhaps your mind goes to the soldiers that stormed the beach on D-Day or the first responders to the 9/11 attack. Why do you think your mind jumps to these kinds of examples? What makes heroes heroic?
I suggest heroism is about a willingness to sacrifice oneself for the benefit of others. In each of the examples above, individuals exposed themselves to great personal risk for another. There are many “everyday heroes” that have not made it into history books but have had life-altering impact on another at their own expense. Do you count yourself among them? Could you be described as a hero?
You are probably reluctant to call yourself one and may have even repeated the phrase, “I’m no hero.” I have news for you. God calls you to a kind of heroism. In fact, He is specific about the heroism He is looking for from you. It is for a particular people regarding a particular issue. The people are your brothers and sisters in Christ and the issue is intervening when you see them headed toward sin.
My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. (Jam. 5:19–20)
A Christian that “brings back” another believer from wandering into sin will “save his soul from death.” That is hero language! For many good reasons members of the Secret Service are considered heroes. However, in over 150 years of existence there have been only two agents that have taken fire for the president. How much greater is the consequence of a believer diving in front of another that is walking toward sin? You could be saving the soul of another from death and covering a multitude of sins!
Bear in mind, you are only able to help if you’re involved in the lives of other Christians. The only way you can know if someone is wandering away from the truth is if you are close enough to see it. You are also best suited to intervene when you have a relationship with them.
I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another. (Rom. 15:14)
Here is how to address the member of the body that you care about and are able to instruct.
Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. (Gal. 6:1)
If you see a Christian caught in sin, help to restore him with gentleness. Look him in the eye and use the words of Scripture to usher him back to safety. Use wisdom to help your friend find restoration with God. Additionally, Hebrews 3:12 tells you to “exhort one another every day.” That means that you should encourage others regularly to keep them from falling away from God. There is a two-fold technique to becoming a hero. Gently reroute the wandering believer back to safety and positively encourage others in a way that prevents them from wandering into sin.
An example is found in 1 Samuel 25. After Abigail heard the evil that her husband perpetrated against David, she “made haste” and took bread, wine, sheep, grain, raisins and fig cakes as a gift to David and his men. When they met, she humbly entreated him to stop his march toward violence, then exhorted him to focus on honoring God. Abigail used wisdom and gentleness to stop David from wandering into sin and then encouraged him to honor God. What an example!
Remember that the one that said, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” had recently murdered his brother. It is easy to look away when a brother or sister is wandering toward sin, but God has called you to heroic action—one that may save your brother’s soul from death.
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. (Gal. 6:9–10)