Will You Pay the Price of Heroism?

In this episode of Wake Up, Look Up, Pastor Zach reflects on the real cost of standing up for what is right in a world where speaking out can carry serious personal consequences. He considers the tension faced by athletes under pressure and connects it to the story of Esther, who risked everything for the sake of her people. Through that lens, he points to the example of Jesus and challenges us to live with integrity even when it comes at a personal cost.

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Creators and Guests

Host

Zach Weihrauch

Follower of Jesus who has graciously given me a wife to love, children to shepherd, and a church to pastor.

What is Wake Up, Look Up?

Check out new episodes of our daily podcast, Wake Up, Look Up, with Zach Weihrauch as he interprets what's happening in our world through the lens of the gospel.

Hello everyone, and thanks for listening to Wake Up, Look Up, a podcast where we connect events happening in real time to the gospel of Jesus Christ. I'm Zach Weihrauch, and in today's episode, we're asking the question, will you pay the price of heroism? This is prompted by an article I read on ESPN's website recently about the Iranian team playing in the Men's World Cup. recently in interviews, members of the Iranian World cup team have stressed that they are apolitical. Now, they need to stress this because the Iranian diaspora, Iranians living outside of Iran, those outside of the control of the fundamentalist religious regime, are actually protesting their games, arguing that. That Iran is a violent country, an oppressive country, a country that does not deserve to compete in an international event celebrating international goodwill. And the Iranian players are in a tough spot because many of them probably agree with the sentiment about their country and probably appreciate being able to breathe free air as they play games in the United States. But at the same time, their families live back in Iran and, are probably in danger if they were to speak out. and so they are just simply saying, we are not political people. We are athletes. We're playing for all Iranians. Those who live in Iran and those who live around the world, they're just staying neutral. And I don't blame them. It's an incredibly tough spot. But I'll tell you, when I read this, it did make me appreciate those who, throughout human history, have actually risked themselves and their family to, to take a stand, to make a bold statement. And when I read this, I couldn't help but ask, what would I do? Right? I have a family. I care about them. I value my personal safety and health. What would I do? Would I speak out? Would I take the path of least resistance? It also made me think of one particular Bible hero, Esther. Esther, who, at great risk to her own life, went to Batman for her own people. told by Mordecai that maybe it was for such a time as this in Esther 4:14, that she had actually been made queen. In other words, Mordecai was saying, stop asking, why me? And start recognizing that the whole reason you're in this position is so you can say something. I'm not suggesting that God has put the Iranian World cup team together so that they could speak out against the oppressive, oppressive regime. I'm just saying for all of us, I think it's worth asking, are we willing to do that on a much smaller scale? Are we willing to take the stand to live the life of integrity to say the hard thing that needs to be said to people in power, despite the fact that we know it's going to cost us. Because the reality is we can wax eloquent all we want about justice or equality, or free fair treatment or doing things the right way. But if, when it push comes to shove, we look the other way because of personal cost, then we really don't mean any of the things that we said. And of course, it's not just Esther that I'm thinking about here. It's also the example of Jesus Christ, who, of course, when he came to earth, had ample opportunities to look the other way. Even Pilate says to Jesus many times, look, just say what you need to say, do what you need to do, and I'll, get you out of this pickle. But Jesus refuses. He stays true to who he is, to who God is, to what God has called him to do, because he values other people more than himself. And man, I'm convicted by that. I'm convicted by the tough spot the Iranian World cup team is. I'm convicted by the example of Esther. I'm convicted by the love of Jesus Christ. May God make us all the kind of people who stand up for what's right, who tell the truth no matter the cost, because we value the lives of other people more than ourselves. That's what it really means to be a hero. And I think this recent story in the news gives us all reason to wonder if that's what we mean when we think of ourselves. Hey, thanks for checking out. Wake Up, Look Up. For more content, be sure to visit the Christ Community Chapel app or our website ccchapel.com

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