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superman ain't no hero*

"faster then a speeding bullet, more powerful then a locomotive.  able to leap tall buildings in a single bound - look, up in the sky, it's a bird, it's a plain - no it's superman - a strange visitor from another planet who came to earth with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men..." and for some, you could continue.  I remember as a kid sitting in front of the "babysitter" (the tv) mesmerized by the cartoons for spiderman and batman - but superman never impressed me.  no matter how hard I tried, I just could not get into superman.

when we were kids, I found playing superman stupid - after all, nothing could kill him or harm in in any way (except kryptonite, but that was in such small supply it had no matter).....every time we played, and someone got to be superman - they would never die, or give in - they were superman.  so, let's look at superman as a "hero."

wester's defines a hero as "one that displays great courage."  keeping that in mind, superman can never "display great courage;" and the reason is simple - he can't die!

if running into a building that is engulfed in flames can not harm him, what courage has he displayed?  if standing in front of a hail of bullets can not harm him, what courage has he displayed?  knowing, nothing can harm him - how much courage does it take?  he is, in all intents and purposes - perfect.  he is the perfect "person" - no personality faults, no "personal baggage," no dysfunctional family gatherings, no job pressures, no relationship issues.  he does not have to worry about body fat, or spend hours in the gym - and "he don't need no stinkin' ragaine." - he is what most moderns want in a pastor.

now, for the perfect "hero" I turn to wolverine - a super-human who is flawed beyond belief - he has temper issues, family issues, relationship issues and best of all - he ain't perfect.  that's what we are looking for in a pastor - no perfection, but one dealing with issues and striving to see how it all comes together.

the perfect pastor

for a modern generation:

• perfect in appearance.  the pastor needs to be a handsome guy, with chiseled features.

• perfect in life - no mistakes at all - must have lead the perfect life.

• perfect in personality - superman was a great guy, and everyone loves him.

• perfect in deeds - to have lived a virtuous life with no mistakes and no problems.

a friend of mine was pastoring a small church in a small town in upstate new york.  the average age of the church was about 65 and the people liked him - he fit all the criteria for a "super pastor."  all but one that is.  you see, some years back he had a divorce - and it was messy.  he had an affair and his wife found out and the ending was not pretty - but it was over 10 years ago.  he was young and stupid and allowed his hormones to take hold, not a wise thing to do.

soon after he starting pastoring the church his ex-wife found out, and called the "board" to let them know he had a divorce - his down fall was quick and painful.  the response of the board was like this - "while we understand divorce (some of us are divorced), we do not want our pastor to be divorced - we expect better of our pastor."

for a postmodern generation:

• looking like a normal person.  postmodern pastors are not a pretty lot - we look like the people we serve.

• we have life issues - we all make mistakes, the secret is can we all learn from those mistakes?

• not the best - I know of one postmodern pastor who is very shy - very shy, and dealing with it everyday.

• lived life - people live in pain, and they are looking for people who understand that pain, and know of ways through the pain.

a good example of this can be found in a friend who pastors a postmodern church and deals with depression.  when he made it known to the people that he was on meds for depression, the people gathered around him and prayed for him.  others who were dealing with the same issue came forward and felt relieved knowing he understood them.  people in the community saw that his heart was for Christ, even though he was not perfect.

to see the humanity in a pastor is the greatest gift of all.  no pastor should claim perfection, or living a perfect life.  all we should claim is that we are striving to live a gospel life, and live that life in community.  I am not perfect, but what I am is transparent.

I deal with the same issues all males deal with, and any male who claims he does not deal with those issues is not being truthful.  to either themselves or to others.  paul, in his letter to the corinthians, tells of his faults - and that impresses me greatly.  paul could share his heart, tell his faults and then let them see how God is working in paul's life to help him on his way.  the best thing a pastor can be is honest - and let the community help.

I remember when the issue of "the death of superman" came out - I got email from friends who were "upset," to say the least.  To see their "hero" fall caused great pain; they were crushed.  this is what happens when you place a pastor on the same level as a superman - when they fall - people lose faith, because they put that faith in the wrong person - not in the person of the pastor, but in the person of Jesus Christ.

for a postmodern generation superman makes a bad pastoral image - let me be a wolverine - imperfect, and driven to make myself better.

blessings

pastor john

John O’Keefe is the founder of www.ginkworld.net.  John sees a desperate need for the church as a whole to change and reach a new people for Christ.  He is straightforward, honest and calls it the way it he sees it.  John is a graduate of Drew and has been a Senior Pastor and Church Planter