#057

TEARING  DOWN
GOD’S
HEROES
 (Is not a Way to Double our Faith)

            I’ve noticed a trend lately of some preachers and teachers tearing down the Heroes of the Bible.  Heroes of Faith.  Examples our Lord has given us. 
          In our quest for loyalty to our Lord, to keep Him first place in our life…have we torn down the heroes of Faith that He gave us in His Word?

LOSHON  HORA
(Evil Talk)

          Loshon hora refers to speech prohibited (forbidden) by the Torah.  Specifically, it refers to speech which is derogatory or harmful in nature.
          Surely the word “death” can only pertain to the temporary life we spend on earth.  In Heaven there is no such thing as death…only life…eternal.
          So, are Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rehab, Paul and David alive today; only in a better place?  I believe so.  (Hebrews 11).
          I’ve wondered about the traditional words that have been passed to us from our ancestors.  The words that say we must not speak evil (loshon hora) of the dead.
          Lama?  (Why?) I never asked why before.  I guess it was obvious that they could no longer defend themselves or change their ways.  So, why do we respect the dead (to this world) more than the living?

HONOR  OUR  HEROES

          David is one of my heroes.  He’s not my God.  We serve the same Lord.  I’m certain that David desired to be well thought of, to accomplish great acts of Faith while on earth.  And he did.
          At a time like today, when we need to DOUBLE our FAITH, it is not a time to be tearing down our heroes.
          When we point out another person’s weaknesses and failures, it is usually to make us look better and feel better about our own weaknesses.  Listening to a preacher tearing apart my friend David…dwelling on his weaknesses…instead of his strengths…only weakened my Faith.
          In the long run…it made me feel weaker.  So, I feel that speaking Loshon Hora (evil talk) even of our ancestors in the Bible is not productive speech.

WE  HAVE  TWO  CHOICES

          We can either speak of the evil…or we can speak of the Good…of our brothers, sisters, pastors, teachers, and even heroes of the Bible.  Each day of our lives there is TIME ALLOTTED for speech.  Will we fill those spaces with good or evil?  Will we fill them with Faith or Fear?  Will we dwell on whatsoever is good about our friends and family on earth…and even our family in Heaven?
          I believe this is one way to DOUBLE our FAITH.  Yes, we know the people who lived during the times of Abraham, Moses, and David…were not perfect, but there is something good to say about each of them.  And, if we pull our heroes (not idols) down…are we not weakening our own opportunity to follow the Faith they had?

YOU  ARE  SOMEONE’S  HERO
  

          Let’s face it.  You are someone’s hero.  God has placed you as surely as He placed David, Paul, Abraham, Joseph, Mary…in someone’s life.  Therefore, I pray that others will see the victories of Faith in your life…more than they see failures.  I pray that they will be inspired by the good they see.  And I pray that you will also practice “Shmiras Haloshon” (guarding of the tongue)…even as you speak of yourself.

TEAR DOWN IDOLS
NOT
HEROES
        

          Heroes are not to be worshipped.  They are to be appreciated and admired as inspiration to increase our Faith.  They are gifts from God.  God said to tear down any idols in our lives…not our heroes.  There is a big difference.
          When we tear down our heroes, we are tearing down ourselves and our Faith at a time when we need to:

DOUBLE  OUR  FAITH

          As we walk in the shoes of a hero, we will not only see Faith doubled, but also multiplied.

WHAT IS A HERO?

The dictionary says:
l.   Someone endowed with great strength and ability
2.  An illustrious warrior (notably or brilliantly outstanding because of
          dignity or achievements or actions)
3.  A person admired for their achievements and qualities
4.  One that shows great courage

WORDS  HAVE  POWER
For
Good or Evil

          Just reading these definitions stirs our spirits and we hear our own hearts saying, “Oh, yes.  I want to be a hero.”  Simply hearing these words increases our Faith.  “Faith comes by hearing….” And we know what God says about this in Romans 10:17.

Ha-yom
Today
היום
      
        Today is a good day to honor the many heroes in our life.  Why don’t we let them know that they are our heroes!  I’m sure we have more than one.
          I can hardly tell you what it meant to me when my son Brent wrote in the front of the Angel Food Book:

“Thanks Mom – You are my Hero.”

      
And of course…He is mine, too.

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