Hero Essay

Dear friends,

We recently had a competition at my new school where everyone had to write an essay on a hero born before the 1500s. I did mine on Athanasius and, since most of the people at my school hadn't heard of him, I was curious to see if it stands up to VP scrutiny. :D Please post any and all comments below!

Athanasius - The Man who Dared to Stand against the World

“JESUS IS NOT GOD.” Arius’s voice rang through the council, daring the silent room to answer. His words hung in the air, bold and unchallenged. In the silence, the joyful chants of the crowds waiting outside echoed the inevitable truth: Arius had won, once and for all. Bishops slowly began to whisper, their eyes fixed on their new leader. Then, a voice rose above the others, and the whisperers turned their heads to gawk at the man who dared to challenge the people’s song, to ignore the bishop’s threats, to speak the heretical words that had cowered behind every man’s smile. “In John 10:30, the Master told us ‘I and the Father are One.’ And though the world stand against me, I will follow Christ.” So began the lifelong struggle of Athanasius “contra mundum” - the man who dared to stand against the world. Two thousand years later, his legacy of perseverance, courageous leadership, and tireless dedication remains an inspiration to Christians all over the world, challenging them to surrender everything to Christ and stand up for what they believe.

What makes Athanasius a hero? Remarkable in many ways, Athanasius’s radical life was characterized by a determination that persevered through months of scorn, exile, and persecution. From the time he was appointed bishop on June 8, 328 and criticized for being too young, Athanasius faced constant attacks from fellow Christians, church leaders, and even the Emperor of Rome. One of his most significant enemies was Arius, a heretic who claimed that Jesus was not fully God. Though Athanasius defeated Arius and his followers at the Council of Nicea, the Roman Emperor Constantine eventually forced Athanasius to allow Arius back into the church - and Athanasius refused. Many have criticized Athanasius for argumentativeness, but his actions are no more severe than 2 John 1:10-11, which says: “If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching [that Christ and the Father are One], do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.” Going against popular opinion was no easier in Athanasius’s day than it is today. Athanasius’s boldness earned him seventeen long years of exile, and he was continually attacked and persecuted - both publicly and in secret - by those who opposed him. In a similar way, America is now threatened by equally dangerous heresies - such as the “tolerance” of evils like abortion, homosexuality, and other gods - that threaten to destroy the church and undermine the Bible’s authority. Therefore, though he lived several thousand years ago, Athanasius’s heroic perseverance remains a beautiful testimony and a bracing reminder of the message that all Christians need to hear - follow the authority of God’s word, and never give up.

Athanasius’s life was also characterized by a second quality that makes him a hero - his courageous leadership. Athanasius not only defied the false teachers of his day, but he also led the rest of the church to follow him as he followed Christ. From a young age, Athanasius showed his desire to care for the flock of Christ when he became one of the youngest bishops in church history. Despite his many long years of exile, Athanasius spent his forty-five years as bishop of Alexandria dedicated to serving his people, not only through sermons, but also through brilliant treatises and biographies written to strengthen their faith. In addition to his two famous treatises Against the Gentiles and On the Incarnation, Athanasius also wrote a biography of the early monk St. Anthony that inspired church fathers for years to come, including both St. Benedict the Great and St. Augustine. Described by Augustine as the book that was instrumental in leading him to faith, Athanasius’s biography laid the foundation that inspired generations of future believers to follow harder after Christ. However, some Christians have questioned the positive impact of this influential book, arguing that it did more good than ill and hatched the worldview of Asceticism. Although the book does tell the story of a hermit, the criticisms are ill-founded because its purpose is not to force everyone to live in a hermitage, but rather to foster a greater spirit of dedication and abandonment to Christ. Church history shows that those influenced the most by this book (including St. Benedict, author of the Monastic Rule, St. Augustine, and Athanasius himself) did not become hermits, but instead development strong, close knit communities of believers that witnessed to those around them or led the church as authors and bishops. As a matter of fact, St. Anthony himself eventually chose to leave his hermitage to serve those around him - setting an example not of forced abstinence from God-given joys, but of joyful sacrifice and a willingness to “count all as loss for the sake of Christ.” (Philippians 3:8) To summarize, Athanasius’s leadership at Nicea, among his people at Alexandria, and through his world-changing writings challenges the comfort-loving mindset infecting the American church, and provides a convicting example of the courage and sacrifice God calls for in all true Christians.
Finally, Athanasius is an inspiring hero because of his selfless, diligent efforts to use his talents to serve God. Athanasius is one of the best examples of an author gifted with incredible intelligence and grace who chose not to write what was popular or profitable, but instead what would serve the church. Athanasius’s books were written to praise and inspire God, and their boldness came from a strength and confidence only God can provide. Though many called him a “dwarf” and said he was too young to be a bishop, Athanasius let no one despise him for his youth but put other believers to shame by his radical devotion to God. In particular, Athanasius’s book On the Incarnation is a gem of biblical truth - as C.S. Lewis puts it in his introduction, “When I first opened his De Incarnatione I soon discovered that I was reading a masterpiece… for only a master mind could have written so deeply on such a subject with such classical simplicity.” Tirelessly working to advance the gospel, Athanasius is a heroic example of a talented man who gave all of his gifts to God.

From the books of the Bible to the Nicene Creed, Athanasius’s legacy of perseverance, courageous leadership, and tireless dedication is deeply etched into the pages of church history. Though he lived thousands of years ago, he remains a hero whose love for Christ inspires Christians all over the world to live radical lives and never be ashamed of the gospel.

Thanks for reading! :)

~Joy

(P.S. Shoutout to everyone from Omni II A last year! :D)

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Hero Essay

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