Alongside examining what is sacred in our society and social circles, we must also reflect on who we elevate as our saviors—or, as we often soften the reality: our heroes, role-models, stars, icons, idols.
These saviors we turn to come in all forms: respected historical figures, talented pop artists, savvy politicians, fair arbiters of justice, engaging evangelists…even spouses, kids, and colleagues. Indeed, there are many people that can become the sun in our personal and societal solar systems.
Most Christians will quickly say that there is only one true, everlasting Savior, Jesus Christ. This is right and good and not to be ignored. However, this is only “step one” when it comes to assessing who are our saviors. Just because we know the right/good answer to who is our central Savior, does not mean that we naturally stop looking towards other sources for salvation.
Here is where things become more complex (as things often do, when we fall deeper in love with Jesus and strive to follow Him more fully). The Christian faith clearly exalts Jesus as the Almighty Savior. And, at the same time, it elevates everyday people as mini-christs, or mini-saviors.
In the Gospel of John, these two realities are mentioned within just a few sentences of one another. Jesus says (in John 14:6) “no one comes to the Father except through me”; and then (in verse 12) says “whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do…” In fact, in this biblical dichotomy it almost sounds like we are on the same level as Jesus Christ—is this possible?
Let’s not let our hubris here get the better of us. None of us will die for the sins of all humanity and then rise from the dead, as Jesus did, to prove ultimate divinity. What Jesus is saying to us though is that we will work to bring about peace, welcome the stranger, heal the sick, bring people together, and expand His Eternal Kingdom today. He will remain the Eternal Savior—yesterday, today, and forever.
So, what does this mean for how we elevate, or don’t elevate, other people? And what does it mean as part of this blog series, where we are exploring the intersection of faith and politics? A few key lessons and reminders stick out to me:
First, any other savior will pale in comparison to the Eternal Savior, Jesus Christ. All other saviors will fail us at some point; and not just fail us individually, but also fail our society, failing to bring forth the Kingdom of God. We set ourselves up for disappointment when we put too much hope in saviors of our time instead of the Savior of All Time.
Secondly, mini-saviors are found in those with Christ-like character. They are not often the loud, proud, boisterous type, looking to increase their own fame and stature. Instead, they are often those who stand alongside those who are oppressed, ignored, rejected, sick. Sometimes they are the people quietly working towards justice in the background, or one of many voices in a coming tidal-wave of reform.
Now, the challenge for us on the political and societal front is to really, truly scrutinize who we put on a pedestal—literally, figuratively, as a society, and individually. Those on a pedestal may be shiny, bright, and appealing but they can not outshine the Son of God. And instead, what we often find is that those on a pedestal actually leave us in the shadows, hiding us from seeing our Savior more clearly and loving Him more dearly.
Relevant Reformation 