The Solution To The Celebrity Pastor Dilemma

[A spokesperson from Bishop Long's church said this was about honoring a man of God and not making him a king.
OK. Fair.
A bit of advice to you pastors out there…
If in your Sunday planning meeting the idea of lifting you up and walking around stage with you comes up…
Probably should say..."Thanks kenny for that idea. Anyone have something else?]

Anything that gives us satisfaction above Christ is an idol.
There is something just plain horrifying about that truth.
For me, I have crafted idols out of virtually everything.
We are living in a day and age where creating idols out of those who simply want to show us the face of Christ is almost impossible to stop.
And I don’t point the finger at the messenger.
Well, not most of the messengers.
Most “celebrity” pastors I know are simply and effectively delivering the Good News of Jesus Christ. Humbly I may add.

Listen to the Word of God from Isaiah 44…
“The carpenter measures with a line
and makes an outline with a marker;
he roughs it out with chisels
and marks it with compasses.
He shapes it in human form,
human form in all its glory,
that it may dwell in a shrine.”

WE do this.
WE craft idols into human form.
WE are the carpenters.
And I think it pains the heart of God.
We love to blame others for this idolatry.
We blame magazines, conferences, blogs, twitter, ect.
“Well if they would just stop creating such a celebrity Christian culture” we say.

What a bunch of crap.
WE, US, ME, YOU.
WE do this.
Not any of the above listed tools.
The mirror reveals all we need to know about idol building.

I think there is a solution.
Ready?
Start reading the Bible.
Read it more than you listen to his or her podcast.
Read it more than you read his or her book on biblical leadership.

Let’s continue to the end of Isaiah 44…
verse 22…
“I have swept away your offenses like a cloud,
your sins like the morning mist.
Return to me,
for I have redeemed you.”

Just like that.
That easy.
God will allow us to drop our idols and return to Him.
The more we spend reading the Word of God the more it will be obvious that to idolize man may be the stupidest form of idolatry ever.
So my recommendation on how to stop this form of idolatry is simple.
Look in the mirror and read the Word of God.
Paraphrase for those of you who didn’t get it…
Stop blaming others and sit in the ocean of God’s love for you.
I promise you will stop idolizing man at that point.

You will slowly stop being impressed by man and begin to be overwhelmed by the love, mercy, and grace of God.
Thoughts?
Los

http://www.keithelgin.com Keith Elgin

ouch

http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com loswhit

ouch

http://chrisjohnson.tv/ Chris

Like this one Los. I wonder sometimes how the Israelites could have seen God in a pillar of fire and then turned to make a golden calf, but people do it all the time, like you said: “me, we, us, you”… Really like the last paraphrase. Peace…

http://www.facebook.com/carloswhittaker los

PEACE

kennyd

Why it always gotta be Kenny with the bad idea?

http://www.facebook.com/carloswhittaker los

LOL
http://www.BobbyG.org BobbyG

Well, if you watch Jay Leno (& other comedians), it’s always “Bob”…

Andrew

Junk…

http://www.facebook.com/carloswhittaker los

in the trunk

http://thoughtsaboutnothing.com Kyle Reed

will you sign my bible.

good points here carlos. easy to look to a man as an idol to follow rather then to God. Maybe it is because it is easier to listen to someone talk then to have to be alone and sit in silence with the word of God.

http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com loswhit

Hey Kyle. Nice to meet you. Remember me?

http://thoughtsaboutnothing.com Kyle Reed

I could say the same right back at you. first you take over my coffee shop then you call me out on your blog

http://csaproductions.com/blog/ Brendt Wayne Waters

A succinct summary. But seeing as how I can’t do brevity worth a darn, I’ll stick with Los’ version.

liz

Thanks for that good word. My husband & I have been talking about this problems for many years & I believe it’s happening more & more in the protestant churches. Something more insidious than idolizing the ‘celebrity pastor/leader’. With the decline of denominations & the rise of church planting, multi-site congregations – comes the pastor/leader w/o any human or organization to be accountablity to. Instead of one pope, we’ve birthed tens of thousands. They start churches and surround themselves with men who will support their vision & ideas. Or they take on churches & slowly remove leadership till they have the staff that will just say yes to everything…take time to have church constitutions changed so they can control hiring & firing & who can or can’t minister. If they fail at an established church they just ‘plant’ their own & write a book or start their own ‘not for profit’ foundation. The honor of being called to shepherding has morphed into a business model & brand. And what was once authority meaning responsiblity for caring for others, now this authority means get behind MY vision for MY church or you can leave!! All the red flags are there…you just have to look around & be brave enough to admit it. Sad stuff.

http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com loswhit

Good stuff Liz

Kimberly B.R.

I thought the same thing when I saw this footage. “Didn’t he know this ‘crowning’ would happen? Why is he ok with this!”
The closer to him the further from them (idols) Your words hit the nail right on the head.

http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com loswhit

I hope he didn’t know…

liz

Thanks Los. At our last church the pastor’s wife monitored everyone’s FB & Twitter. Any one who wrote their thoughts on christianity(not mentioning any names) was very nicely, but clearly shown the door.

http://jesusbling.blogspot.com Amy Vogel

I have a friend whose husband needs to read this!!!

HA! Just kidding.

Once again Los, excellent post. I love that you are not afraid to call a spade a spade, an idol an idol and a sin a sin. I read this quote from Vance Havner, from his commentary on 1 Corinthians 2:13-16) this morning and think it applies here:

“Nothing is more rare in churches today that discernment. The natural man knows nothing of it, the carnal man is devoid of it. Only the spiritual man has it and we have all too few in that category.”

Thanks for falling into the last category – a man who thinks about the things of God!
http://andykiff.wordpress.com Andy

Ouch indeed – that was uncomfortable viewing. To try and be fair to the guy, he didn’t look all that comfortable with it either, but then again he didn’t try to resist.

And a very good point that the idol isn’t the one to blame – it’s us as idolaters.

Any word that points us straight back to the Bible is a good one, and that’s just what I did.

Interestingly I found myself in Numbers 16 on today’s reading plan – a good balance to this post showing what happens when we go to the other extreme with our leaders!
Daniel Windsor

This is my FB post from a talk me and Eric had at Dinner last friday night..I believe God is speaking to His bride about this topic..

“Had a great talk with Eric Hill the other night and we both agreed on something. People aren’t made for fame. I had to think about this over the past few days to really wrap my head around it but it is TRUE. Ask any famous person if they really like all of the attention. Look at what fame does to some people(addictions, greed, family strife.) I’m not saying that doesn’t happen without fame because it does, but some of it happens in direct result. God made us to be reflectors of His Glory, not absorbing the very thing that He deserves. He is the famous one and even in Christian Culture if we are not careful we can easily make people famous for the gifts that God has given them. That was not his intention for the gift. It was to be used to give HIM glory and HIM alone.”

Susan

Love this. Your so right, we are not made for fame- we are to reserve this for the only One who deserves it- Jesus Christ. Thanks for sharing.

http://www.whiteflagproject.com Adam Ford

Los…
What happened to you in the past month or two?
Whatever it is, it’s a beautiful, awesome thing.
All glory to God.
Soli Deo gloria.
Joan Ball

I agree with you, Carlos, that individuals need to take responsibility for how they respond the people and institutions that might become idols, but the impact of groupthink, marketing and cultural norms has been shown in research studies across multiple disciplines to have a powerful impact on our thoughts and behaviors. This is also Biblical. Like when God not only judges the person who goes off track but the one who becomes a stumbling block to him or her. The conference promoters, Christian publishing industry (which is now owned by secular publishers) and other institutions that build celebrity (as you know having a celebrity-level “platform” is the calling card for book deals, speaking slots and magazine by-lines) are culpable in emphasizing leadership, popular ministries and the desire to get next to popular figures. Reading the Bible is a great place to start. I would suggest particular attention to the first few chapters of Proverbs which point to the importance of cultivating discernment. Without it, it can be pretty easy for people to use the scripture to justify all kinds of self-serving and self-aggrandizing activities in the name of Jesus…
Ryan

Los,

First things first, I agree with your post and the point about returning the the Word. Secondly, I think you are awesome and do a great job of presenting your life and your passion with us.

However, do you think this post’s topic is so evidently clear and simple to you because you may be part of the “celebrity Christian” culture you spoke of? Like is it easy for Jay-Z to say someting like “Rappers are people just like everyone else.” as he steps into his Bently and drives yo his penthouse suite?

Please hear me when I say that I dont think you live for the fame and/or are ingenuine in your actions. However, I do know, since your so refreshingly raw with us, your readers, that you have struggled with doing things for personal/worldly gain instead of simply glorifying Christ (as we all have at some point in our lives).

I dont say any of this to “call you out” or be a pest, I was just genuinely interested in your thoughts. Thanks bro!
Bryan

What’s the quickest way to get this to Steven Furtick and Perry Noble?

MJT

Interesting comment. Why?

Bryan

A few months ago Noble had a drive to reach 5000 accept Christ in one weekend. He kept tweeting about things like “How good its going to feel to post that 5000 ppl were saved at your church that weekend.” They also had a slogan printed up on shirts that said I “heart” my church. Well it’s not about the church. It’s about Christ. When we start focusing on the church that we attend, or the pastor we like, then we start getting off track. I was checking out Furtick’s video blog and it was just him surrounded by “yes” men. It was a very, “I am hanging around with my cool pastor who dresses cool and is the most popular kid in the class” feel. I think that all of his inner circle staff have a certain necklace they that get to wear also. It seem that I remember seeing that in some of the videos also. I don’t think that you should try and set yourself any higher that you congregation because you are able to fall just as bad as they are. It also contributes to an underlying resentment when you single out certain staff members and raise them above others. It really leaves a bad taste for me.

ronni

You know our church has those shirts… I <3 my church… with our logo on the back… and there is NOTHING wrong with loving your church. Period. They are my family, and they loved me to Christ… it IS about the church… because Christ gave himself FOR the church. The point of the cross.. IS THE CHURCH. Every individual in it… HE WANTED. So he died. Every number of that 5000 is a soul that needs to know Christ. What does it matter if someone has a special necklace, or whatever? When people had the authority of a king in the older days, they wore his ring… same thing.

I hope they hit 5000. I hope 5000 people met Christ.

I hope the lamb who was slain got the reward of his suffering… even if we don't like the methodologies used.

http://www.matthafer.com Matt from Morgantown

Truth man truth.

Really appreciate your thoughts especially since you actually know a lot of the celebrity pastors out there.

I am a church planter and I feel like I am the only planter in my region that doesn’t see Mark Driscoll and John Piper as Jesus’ equals at times.
http://carolesmithturner.com Carole Turner

Love this. Last year at a conference at our church, several youth had buttons made with our pastors face on it that read “Team Dino” I wanted to hurl. I know from experience, this is more common then not in this mega church mentality we have here. We exalt man because we live in a celebrity culture so we carry that into our churches and the way we look at our leaders. It’s gross. I told my daughter she better not start wearing a button with some preachers face on it. And knowing Dino, this would make him very uncomfortable too. Like you said, I think most of them just live their lives, do what they do and aren’t eaten up with themselves and their importance. They are good leaders so the people in the congregation sometime idolize that. I think they just need to be sure and always deflect that attention, unlike what The Bishop did in the clip. I pray NO ONE follows Eddie Longs example in any area, he likes to have sex with teenage boys that call him daddy. I got nauseated just typing that. God help us all.
http://www.jimmyspencerjr.com Jimmy Spencer Jr

Pastors are the faces of the Christian brand. Each church wants to grow and advance its brand into its neighborhood and across the country. The bigger the pastor gets the bigger the church brand gets…that why when pastors start doing/saying crazy stuff churches are reluctant do anything…because they can’t afford to see the brand take that hit.

Until churches stop seeing themselves as brands and start seeing themselves as groups of people—this craziness ain’t goin’ away
http://Hisfamealone@mac.com Tony Simoncini

Los

This is a sad display of what church can and has become in some instances. And considering the recent past for Eddie Long it’s even more crippling!

I don’t pastor a very big church and realize that those who do are good communicators and leaders so people end up following the pastor to some degree as they attempt to make disciples of Jesus (hopefully that is the attempt)… But even if he didn’t plan this himself what kind of message and leadership is given to the people that they would even think this is a good idea?

Lastly, Honor and respect of leadership is one thing, but this stuff is just plain scary!!!

Nice Post

Peace
http://jasonthomascormier.blogspot.com/ Jason Cormier

Really hit it home here. I put too much stock in preachers/teachers/people early on and got really burned in the end. Totally wrecked things for a long time. Turning completely and only to God has made all the difference.
shayne

Best post I’ve seen on this blog for a while. Good job.
MJT

The video is hard for me to watch.. uncomfortable may be a better word, but don’t many of us in some way elevate and celebrate celebrity, mistaking celebrity as an anointing. And when people are elevated its almost inevitable that what we elevate we also tear down.
http://www.calebgordon.com Caleb Gordon

Los-

I could not agree more!

Way to knock it out the park son!!!
josh

Great post Los, and such a humbled response. Honestly when I saw ‘Bishop’ Long pull this stunt, all i thought about was pulling his king tail off that throne and wearing him out. He’s no king, he’s the jester. But oh, thank God for the priestly types to handle it as you have. God bless brother.
Jenny

I’m only 22 but the more i get to teach and am used to lead people to Christ the more I realize how essential it is for me to disciple in such a way that leads people away from me and unto Him. It keeps my heart in check as a Shepard and has radically changed how i teach.
http://disciplebeacon.blogspot.com Rob

Someone here earlier said people are not made for fame, and they are absolutely correct. I think back to some of the celebrity preachers we’ve had over the years, and how some of them went down and went down hard. The main reason for a lot of this is in especially in today’s media culture, if and when you do become famous, and you’re standing for something that may be as popular in popular culture (like standing up for Jesus Christ), then you will go under the microscope.

It’s been that way for several years now. There was Jim Bakker, who lost his ministry and went to prison for a few years after he was convicted of embezzling from his own ministry. Robert Schuler of Crystal Cathedral has had money issues. Ted Haggard lost his position after being caught with a male prostitue after speaking out on homosexuality. Somehow, only a few like Billy Graham have managed to maintain their credibility and maintain their message without a major scandal. We can only pray for the major forces of today like Rick Warren and Joel Osteen that they keep their focus on what matters, and that is Jesus.

Carlos Whittaker

The Solution To The Celebrity Pastor Dilemma

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