Heroes Worth Having- Part One

Britney Spears. Lindsay Lohan. Fifty-Cent. Michael Vick. No doubt, it's scary to think about the kind of people our generation of youngsters are looking up to. Like it or not, our kids have heroes---just like we did when we were growing up.

The good news is that we know "hero worship" is bound to happen with our kids, so as a parent I'm not shocked or surprised when my son wants to grow his hair to look like Zac Efron from 'High School Musical 2'. (As a youth pastor for five years I've seen some crazy hairstyles, so I'm just thankful he doesn't like Carrot Top or Troy Polamulu) As the old saying goes, "Forewarned is forearmed"--- so we can be on the lookout for who are kids are drawn to.

The bad news is that many Christian parents have bought into the notion that just because their children are being raised in a "Christian home" that their kids are automatically being influenced for godliness, and that their heroes are ones which Dad and Mom would surely approve. This, I say, is a foolish notion that has ultimately driven many Christian parents to tears.

Knowing this, I have been trying to expose my own boys to some heroes of our faith--men who were mighty warriors for God; Christian soldiers who fought spiritual battles and whose lives counted for Christ and eternity. To my knowledge none of them were ever millionaires in this material world; but they did know by experience how to live on the inexhaustible spiritual riches we have in Christ (Eph. 1:3).

So as part of our vacation two weeks ago, I decided to take our family on a day-trip to see the grave sites of some of these Christian heroes. Are they buried in Washington, DC? Perhaps Gettysburg? No. Actually, you'll find some of the greatest heroes of our Christian faith buried in Princeton, New Jersey of all places. The Princeton Cemetery is affectionately known as the 'Westminster Abbey of the United States', and stepping on the grounds you would never think that three of America's greatest theologians are buried here.

On the day of our visit, I was surprised (but secretly delighted) that no one else was there visiting. I really wanted this to be special. Princeton is not an extremely large cemetery, so we parked our car by the flagpole and after explaining to our boys proper "cemetery etiquette" we started around on foot. After briefly consulting the free map, it was time to make our first grave site visit. From the moment we left home, one man's name was at the top of my list, and for good reason. He was arguably America's greatest theologian. His name: Jonathan Edwards.

Edwards is buried in the special section of the cemetery for past presidents of Princeton (It was formerly known as the College of New Jersey). Historians tell us that Jonathan Edwards accepted the invitation to Princeton after his long tenure at the church in Northampton, Massachusetts and then a shorter one at Stockbridge where he was part of an outreach to Native Americans.

Almost immediately after arriving in Princeton (his family hadn't made the journey just yet)--Edwards received a small pox inoculation in hopes of preventing the disease which was taking its toll on the surrounding region. Sadly, this inoculation failed---and Edwards contracted the very disease he was hoping to avoid. Ultimately, he died in at Princeton on March 22, 1758.

While his tenure at Princeton was short-lived (only five weeks), Edwards spiritual legacy is truly awe-inspiring. Other theologians have been long forgotten, but Edwards' remarkable life and writings live on, as publishers like Banner of Truth continue to reprint his works and men like Dr. John Piper re-introduce Edwards---his theology---and his God--- to the next generation of believers. Because of Edwards, many pastors and lay-people alike have discovered an all-encompassing vision for the beauty of Jesus Christ and the glory of Almighty God. Seeing Edwards' grave reminded me that life is short---but we can make a difference for eternity if our hearts are captivated by Christ and our lives are lived wholly for God's glory.

I know my boys will grow up having heroes just like I did. I'm just hopeful that our visit to this quiet cemetery will be instrumental in adding Jonathan Edwards and other godly men to their list.