Christian Celebrities, is that biblical?
“In our celebrity-producing church culture, we often forget that when Jesus did his most important work, he had been unfriended by almost everyone.” By: Joyce Harback
Here in North America, it seems that the above quote has a lot of truth to it. As a fellow church attendee I often feel that if you don’t have someone important backing you and your message, or if you yourself are not famous in some way, then the people are not willing to hear what you have to say.
This saddens me a great deal, because when you read the bible, the people that God chose to use were ordinary, uneducated men and women, whose hearts were devoted to him.
I would like to share with you the story of the Apostles Peter and John, they were ordinary men, who had been fisherman by trade, when Jesus called them to walk with him and learn from him.
They were uneducated by the world’s standards, they were rough and tough, and were used to out door living and most probably didn’t have great table manners, (My supposition of course)
God chose these men, to reveal his great power to the world. They had no extraordinary gifts or talents; they were the “bottom of the social class” of the day. Yet God used them mightily, why?
He used them because they were men whose hearts were fully devoted to him, they believed him and his message of love and peace to the world. They were willing to lay everything that they were, (their jobs as fishermen), their families, their homes and aside to follow Jesus Christ.
They knew him to be the Messiah, the promised one and they knew that there was nowhere else that their hearts would be “at home” like they were with Jesus.
In the following verses you will see what God considers to be useful for his kingdom; Where do you fit in?
1Corinthians 1:26 – 31
Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.
But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.
He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things–and the things that are not–to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.
It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God–that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.
Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”
As you read the account of Peter and John, please keep in mind that these were ordinary men, used by God to do extra ordinary things for the kingdom of heaven.
Acts 3:1 – 10
One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer–at three in the afternoon.
Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts.
When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money.
Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!”
So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.
Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”
Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong.
He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.
When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
If you are of the faulty belief system that you cannot step out and do what God has called you to do, because you are not “in the in crowd at church”, or “you are not famous” or “you don’t have great financial backing” or you are not a Christian celebrity” or whatever lie the devil has trapped you with, please know that to serve God faithfully, all you need is Him.
I am not saying that the men and women, who have become famous throughout North America for their ministries, don’t have a heart for God, that is not my intention. What I am trying to point out however, is that if you believe that God has called you to be his child, and you have accepted him as your lord and savior then He has given you a purpose on this earth.
That purpose is to sow into his kingdom, by being a light to the entire world around you. Whether it is in the grocery store or the dentist office or even at work, we are called to be God’s hands and feet here on this earth, to a lost and dying world.
Don’t let the Christian celebrities, intimidate you, step up today and be whom God has called you to be, embrace the plans that he has for your life and live it to the fullest. Love your neighbors deeply from the heart, be there for them, offer them kindness and mercy whenever it is within your power to do so. Pray for them and direct them to our precious heavenly father.
You might not always be received with welcoming and open arms by those whom God has sent you to love and show his love to, but neither was He.
The Apostle Peter was flogged shortly after the healing of this man, and he eventually endured a Martyrs death. The Apostle John, was sent to live out the rest of his days on the Island of Patmos, I imagine it was not a very hospitable place to be.
The point is, that these men, willingly surrendered their lives to God and He filled them with his Holy Spirit, and through the power of his Holy Spirit they turned their world upside down.
Be bold, children of God, step out in faith and surrender to the power of the Holy Spirit within you today, I promise that you too will set your world upside down as you reveal your precious Savior to the world around you.