Is the world black, white, or gray all over? Is it best to live for oneself or others? What is a truly heroic choice? Mass Effect 2 touches on these questions with Commander Shepherd, but how does the Paragon hero compare with a Christian hero? Paragon Shepherd is similar and different to a Christian hero in his moral standard and goal.
Shepherd's moral standard is alien to a Christian hero's standard. Paragon Shepherd's moral standard spawns from relative emotions. In the loyalty mission, "Eye for an Eye,” the companion character, Garrus, decides to spare his backstabbing friend stating that it is "so much easier to see the world in black and white. Gray, I don't know what to do with gray." Paragon Shepherd responds, "You gotta go with your instincts.” Garrus counters with "My instincts are what got me into this mess.” Paragon Shepherd assumes that people have basically good instincts which will determine the right and wrong in a murky world of good and ill. However, an emotional basis of ethics allows for no consistency in determining good and bad. Anything can be morally good if it feels right. In contrast with an ever-shifting standard, the Christian hero bases right and wrong on the Word of God. God states in Deuteronomy 32:5, "Vengeance is Mine, and retribution, in due time their foot will slip; for the day of their calamity is near, and the impending things are hastening upon them" (NASB). Garrus shouldn't kill his Benedict Arnold, not because he sees good in him, but because God will handle the vengeance.
Paragon Shepherd's moral standard is akin to the Bible as it reflects the Law written on his heart. Even though Shepherd’s instincts can shift, they are still made in God’s image. As Romans 2:14-15 says, "For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them" (NASB). Shepherd's instinct or conscience still bears witness and tells him that some actions are evil, even if he doesn't fully understand why. To truly make heroic decisions, Shepherd should base his decisions on God’s law, but at the very least Shepherd’s conscience can still help direct him toward a godly choice.
Paragon Shepherd's goal parallel and contrast with a Biblical hero's goal. Shepherd's goal replaces God with the greater good. In the suicide mission, Shepherd calls on his team to fight for all sentient life and to stop bloodshed. While this is a good end result, it is in contrast to 1 Corinthians 10:31, which calls the Christian hero to act for God's glory. Both Christians and Shepherd would make the same choice but would have contrasting motives. Shepherd's goal generally parallels Christian heroism. He bravely risks himself to save the galaxy in the suicide mission. He avoids romance with Tali in order to protect her. The willingness to act in others’ interest without gain for oneself mirrors the call in Philippians 2:3-4 to "Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others" (NASB). Christian heroes are similar to Paragon Shepherd in their care for others.
Paragon Shepherd's heroism comes close yet falls short of a Biblical hero because of his moral standard and objective. While many of his actions have good consequences and good reasoning, the purpose and source of the reasoning fall short of the Biblical standard. In the day-to-day trials of life, Christians need to make sure their actions are based on the Bible and not on emotions or selfishness.