Great Man Myth
Apr 26th, 2010 by ljkim
I feel like this is the one thing that makes me see the world differently from most people: I don’t believe in great people. So when I say, yes so-and-so is “great!” What I mean is “I love this person…sins and all!” So think of all the “great” people in your world…given the right circumstances, I think they can act pretty much the same way as not-so-great people. Idealistic people can be shallow (and often are in everyday life). Spiritual people can be seduced by pride and lust and power, and often are. Not to cut anyone’s credibility, but if you’re part of a Christian community and look up to a particular pastor – email me (or don’t) and I can give you the names of people who work with them to tell you what they’re really like. This doesn’t mean the good stuff they do isn’t good – just that they’re not the “great men and women” that we want to create in our minds…
“Isn’t your view of people too cynical? Isn’t it better to believe the best about a person?” I think the great man myth hurts a lot of people… Just the way your worldview would be screwed up if you actually believed in Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny – believing in the great man can skew your understanding of reality. It makes you proud when God uses you to do something great (because you start to think you might be one of these “great ones”), and it makes you depressed when you see your own sinfulness (because you know you’re not)…
Here’s the thing: I believe in a great God who uses sinful people. The Christian view of people is that disciples are like spiritual amphibians…we are sinful, at home in sin (often quick to sin when given the opportunity), and yet perfectly righteous in Christ. So God can use us to do great things, not because we’re great, but because He is…
Believing this actually keeps me from ever becoming proud: because it’s God who’s great, and does the great things through me… But also keeps me from getting too down on myself or other people when we sin or fail – because that’s what we are…sinners… what did you expect? And yet sinners whom God is transforming into His children.
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