Today is Abraham Lincoln’s 200th birthday. He is a hero.
I want to rebuke any mothers who were upset that Michael Phelps was smoking hash because he was a role model for their children (I don’t know any such moms, I doubt any such moms read my blog, but nonetheless…). I too watched the greatness that is Phelps sweep up multiple medals with ease. I admired him in a way. But as far as a moral role model – why would I ever want to encourage my children to pattern their behavior after him? If my child’s lighting up a doobie is contingent upon Michael Phelps I have parenting issues. Point them to a real hero. Be one yourself and point them towards someone like Lincoln.
President Lincoln is a hero, but his greatness is mixed with sin. His glory was the cause he pushed, his shame that he didn’t push it far enough. As John Piper wrote in a post which inspired this bit, his feet are clay. Perhaps my favorite Latin phrase of Luther’s is “simil justus et peccator.”
simil = (think simultaneous) at the same time
justus = just
et = and
peccator = sinner
All of my heroes are “simil justus et peccator.” This is encouraging, not disheartening. And it is God glorifying. The greatest of my heroes only stands just before God because of the alien righteousness of Jesus Christ. The things that are truly admirable about my heroes are reflections of Christ, and all their grave sins serve to point me beyond them to the greatness of Christ as well.
Jesus is the curve breaker; all other heroes are graded in relation to Him.
No Other Boast 
What a great post Josh. Sometimes I read something that makes me want to learn latin – certainly that quote qualifies.
The last sentence of your post has the makings of a good book title. You should write it.
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Latin is great. Don’t let anybody tell you it’s a dead language.
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I steal all of my good stuff. I thought the “curve breaker” came from my own head but while re-reading R.C. Sproul’s The Holiness of God I came across this:
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That’s OK Josh. Barbara Grizzuti Harrison ( I have no idea who she is ) said, “There are no original ideas. There are only original people. ”
It’s still a cool book title, and you can always give Sproul credit in the prologue.
Here’s another good quote from the not-so-famous, psudeo intellectual, Dbro:
“It’s not who comes up with an original idea…. it’s who calls ‘Dibs!’ first.”
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Josh, I agree with your comment, I steal a lot of my good stuff, as well.
Let me rephrase: if it’s exegeting Scripture and it’s among my best stuff, it’s definitely stolen.
If it’s among my best illustrations… it’s a toss-up. I steal many, but God leads me to create many new ones.
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