Celebrity and the Church

“The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task.  Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church?  He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil.” 1 Timothy 3:1-6

Lately because of the extreme moral depravity of our current culture… the obvious machinations of evil are blatantly on display in all sectors of life. This is causing anyone with a ‘right’ mind and a real desire for freedom and truth to actually find the Truth in Jesus Christ. This obviously is a good thing. Many of these in their current standing are well known by society and the masses, and they could be classified as ‘celebrities’ because of their past history, wealth, and followers. Unfortunately, because the institutional church has adopted so many worldly ways – much of the leadership of the church seeks these types of individuals out and puts them on ‘display’ for the garnishment of money and influence. These individuals are basically being thrust onto the Christian community – and many immediately see them as ‘leaders’, because of the institutional marketing systems adopted by the modern Church. But this is NOT right. Anyone who has read the pastoral epistles by Paul to Timothy and Titus knows that putting a ‘novice’ Christian into any type of leadership or elevated role is not helping them or the community.

Now because of our technological society and its ability to magnify ANY individual voice – so many newbies have an instant platform to ‘share’ their story and opinions to the world. This actually only heightens the danger and the absolute need for discipleship and discernment. False teachers and false prophets and preachers have been prevalent since the first century. Currently I can name at least 5 VERY well-known individuals who now claim Jesus Christ as their savior within the last year. They are beginning to see the spiritual war for what it is and are sharing that truth. But ALL of them have VERY little life experience walking with the Holy Spirit. They barely understand the very basic foundation of the ‘faith’. Although most are highly intelligent and are obviously VERY talented… those gifts do not lend well to a humble life being led step by step by the Holy Spirit. There is a great need for them to be befriended and taken into discipleship by a spiritually mature and wise elder of the faith.

Why am I saying all of this? Because SO much of the current American Church is enamored by celebrity. So many have ‘stars’ in their eyes and have little to NO real spirit-led life. They are mostly Sunday ‘pew’ sitting Christians whose life is basically semi-religious. They individually… (one on one) have NEVER been discipled by ANY elder of the faith. This has caused a great spiritual immaturity in the current American institutional Church.

Are you enamored by these ‘new’ Christian celebrities? Certainly we SHOULD pray for these new brothers and sisters in Christ, and while you’re at it – pray that they might be correctly discipled by mature Spirit-led wise Christians who in their own right are NOT celebrities nor wish to be. We should NOT seek to be a celebrity in the world system OR any other system. As the above scripture states … that opportunity opens wide the door to temptation of one’s pride, and with that comes the possibility of a great fall. I’ve seen too many professional pastors fall into that trap and destroy their reputations and families. Everyone should desire to be in a spiritual community or close fellowship where real humble, transparent, and vulnerable relationships can grow and be knitted together in the forming of the real Bride and Body of Christ. But just sitting in a pew on Sunday morning or watching or listening to a sermon isn’t enough for that to happen. We all NEED discipleship WITH the Holy Spirit. We ALL NEED to have mature Spirit-led Christians helping us grow in that relationship with Him.

Do you have that type of relationship with your close friends? Close enough to have daily if not weekly conversations about spiritual things? Close enough to confess your failings with them? (James 5:16) Do you have anyone to confess your deep intimate issues with?

We’ve seen way too many BIG named Christian leaders have to step down lately because of moral failings. This is mostly because they allowed their pride, fear, and lust to gain too much of a foothold in their lives, and most likely because they weren’t confessing to anyone else. They felt they didn’t have peers they respected and confided in.

Do you?