Of Fatherhood and Heroes, Part III: A true hero is marked by Gospel-infused humility

Don’t call Albert Pujols “The Man.” The St. Louis Cardinals’ star first baseman is the best baseball player to grace the Major Leagues in a generation for his combination of power, batting average and personal integrity. But he wants that designation left for Stan “The Man” Musial, the Cards’ original. Why? Pujols recently told Sports Illustrated that he basically thinks Musial is the greatest player in Cardinals history and, though he is hands down the best player in baseball today, Pujols doesn’t see himself of worthy of Musial’s legendary moniker.

 Albert Pujols is also a devout evangelical Christian, one whose humility speaks with equal force as his Louisville Slugger. Thus, the Gospel and His standing with Christ by grace alone is the taproot of Pujols’ humility. In interview after interview, Pujols offers a living illustration of Philippians 2:3: “Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” And it is his humility that marks out Pujols as one of a select few (Tim Tebow is another) among modern-day professional athletes who possesses the third attribute of a genuine hero: he or she must be marked by Gospel-infused humility.

 My childhood heroes have been replaced by men who possess this quality. One of my adulthood heroes is my Ph.D. supervisor Tom Nettles, who is in a very real sense serves as my father in the faith, a man to whom I relate as Timothy did to Paul. Dr. Nettles is one of the world’s leading church historians. Another of my other heroes is my pastor, Tom Schreiner, one of evangelicalism’s leading New Testament scholars. Between them, the two Toms have written a truckload of important books on history, theology and exegesis. They have spoken in important meetings. But these factors are not the primary magnets which draw my deep admiration. After all, many men have written books. No, what draws me to them is the profound humility that oozes from every pore of their lives like a never-ceasing fountain. The aroma of the Gospel saturates their lives and relationships. I want to be like them because they are like Christ. Previous heroes exhibited immeasurable hubris and pointed me to the possibilities found in hard work and self-belief; by contrast, my newer heroes point me to the possibilities that mere clay pots find at the foot of a blood-stained cross and in an empty grave.

The apostle Paul commended Christ and admitted that his might and vigor were found, not in oratory ability or theological acumen, but in his own weakness that relies utterly on the strength of Christ. God gave Paul a thorn to remind him of human weakness and divine sufficiency and for this, the great apostle rejoiced: “But (the Lord) said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”  (2 Cor 12:9-10) A true hero knows that he is fallen, depraved and weak; he knows that genuine strength, genuine wisdom and giftedness comes from the One who created them all.

Robert Reid Kalley (1809-1888), whom Iain Murray profiles in his book Heroes, certainly fits this bill. A Scottish Presbyterian medical doctor and adventurer, who learned Portuguese during a period of medical work on the island of Madeira, off the coast of Morocco, founded the first evangelical churches in Brazil and was the first Protestant to evangelize Brazilians in Portuguese. Kalley knew from whence all his resources arose: “Lord, thou knowest all my weakness, my folly, my sin, my utter insufficiency. But here I am. Oh, do thou take me, make me what thou wilt, send me where thou pleasest, do with me what thou seest fit, only let me feel thou art with me.”

Do your heroes live to exalt the risen Lord? Would they say with the great Baptist, “He must increase, while I must decrease?” If not, then are your heroes really worthy of your admiration?

 Note: This occasional (meaning it will not run on consecutive days or in consecutive posts) five-part series will be published sporadically over the next couple of weeks. The remaining parts include: 

 Part IV: A hero is marked by God-glorifying selflessness and courage

 Part V: A hero is marked by an unflinching commitment to God's Word.

Also, our good friend and Gender Blog contributor Kim Davidson has blogged this week about heroines. These may be accessed on her blog at