Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Sarah Thebarge

Home
Progressive Christian
The World Needs Heroes, Not Celebrities

The World Needs Heroes, Not Celebrities

Last updated on: March 28, 2018 at 7:25 pm by Sarah Thebarge

The World Needs Heroes, Not Celebrities 2018-03-28T19:25:30+00:00 Sarah Thebarge

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

His name was Arnaud Beltrame. He was 44 years old. He was the first officer on the scene of a supermarket in southern France, where a gunman had taken hostages.

Beltrame asked the gunman to let them go. And the gunman did — except for the woman he was using as a human shield. Beltrame negotiated with the gunman to let the woman go, and offered himself in exchange. He willingly entered the supermarket, willingly gave himself for a stranger, willingly put his life on the line.

He put his live cell phone on a nearby table so his colleagues who surrounded the supermarket would know when to raid the store. After a three-hour standoff, the terrorist stabbed Beltrame and shot him in the neck. When the police heard the gunshot, they raided the store, killed the terrorist, and rushed Beltrame to a nearby hospital, where doctors furiously worked to save his life.

As the doctors worked to save him, Beltrame was conscious. He was talking. He was praying.

He had married his partner Marielle in a civil ceremony in 2016, and they were planning a church wedding in June 2018. From his hospital bed, Beltrame summoned a Catholic priest, who performed the religious marriage of Beltrame and Marielle. Once the priest had administered the sacrament of marriage, he then delivered Beltrame’s last rites.

Beltrame died of his injuries the following morning.

Today, the whole country of France is celebrating this fallen hero. Three former French presidents, as well as the current president, are attending his funeral. President Macron delivered the eulogy and bestowed on Beltrame France’s highest honor: the Legion of Honor award.

Before Arnaud Beltrame offered to take the place of a hostage on Friday, March 23rd, 2018, he was an unknown police officer living in a small town in France. Humbly fulfilling his duty to protect French citizens, faithfully loving his wife.

And now the world knows his name.

Arnaud Beltrame is not a celebrity. He didn’t become world-famous for his Instagram feed or his gym mirror selfies or heated Twitter feuds or porn star scandals or controversial comments.

No, Arnaud Beltrame is not a celebrity.

He’s a hero.

He didn’t talk a big game; he lived one.

He didn’t act in his own best interest; he acted in others’.

He didn’t call attention to himself; he studied and trained and fought to be able to protect his fellow citizens.

He didn’t run from danger; he ran into it.

He chose to protect an innocent victim instead of protecting himself. He laid down his life for a woman he’d never met before. Because that’s what heroes do.

Today France mourns and honors and recognizes and celebrates their fallen hero.

In two days, we’ll mourn and honor and recognize another Hero. A man who selflessly laid down his life to save others. A man who let himself be captured and crucified instead of retaliating with violence. A man who gave up the opportunity to be distant and comfortable in order to be with us in the struggles of our lives. A man who died to rescue us.

Because that’s what heroes do.

As we honor the hero and the Hero this week, it’s a humbling reminder that our broken world doesn’t need any more selfish, self-obsessed celebrities. The world needs more selfless, courageous heroes who willingly lay down our lives, in ways big and small, choosing what’s right over what’s expedient, putting others before ourselves, following the narrow way of peace and gentleness and compassion and love in a crazy world that’s waving its guns and demanding its rights.

We’re called not only to love our enemies, but also to lose our lives at their hands if that’s what it takes.

Because that’s what heroes do.

Previous Post

March 23, 2018

Ashes, Ashes: What Jesus Really Came To Save Us From

Next Post

March 31, 2018 Sitting in Saturday

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Uncategorized

Select a Month February 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 August 2017 July 2017 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which ancient city is famous for its towers and the confusion of languages?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Nineveh Babel Sodom Babylon

Books by This Author Books by Sarah Thebarge

See All Titles »