Recently I have found myself in the midst of “celebrity.” I came face to face with the beast of fame. I attended a dynamic lecture by Jeffrey Sachs on the Future of the Global Economy. He left us wanna be world changes oohing and ahhing… and groaning. Not only are his books great, he is a terrific public speaker. I think I got some stardust on me just before he went up to speak. Earlier in the week I found myself in the audience at the Oprah Show. She bathed in the adoration of the audience. I personally, was a little Oprahed out by the time she actually showed up. By midday I had definitely O.D.ed on Oprah. On the weekend a friend took me to a Bulls game where the CPS kids were going nuts for the Bulls… Oh, those lovable losers.
I saw it in myself at the lecture, the women at the Oprah show and the fans at the United Center.
Does the human condition cause us to crave a hero? Why do we so align our identity with our heroes… till they let us down. Society is addicted to celebrity. Yet celebrity is so fickle. Human beings can go from flipping burgers one day to becoming an Idol the next. Sadly we thrive on celebrity. You can text vote your worship or worship online… whatever is comfortable for you. Are our lives that boring? Are we still pursuing the mythical cool, introduced to us in Jr. High? Like candyfloss we consume it and are never satisfied and all the while making us sick. Why do we turn everyone and everything into a golden calf? I see it in the church just as much as in the world. Choose your super hero… Rob Bell or John Piper, Rick Warren or Bill Hybels, Donald Miller or Shane Claiborne?
I just finished reading this part in 1 Samuel where the people ask for a King… like everyone else. I imagine them chanting before Samuel “give us a King, give us a King!” Samuel is grieved, goes and prays and God warns them of what they’ll get; slavery, oppression etc… but they insist on it. They want it coz suddenly they know what’s best for them. So God gives them their King and they replace God with celebrity… and of course they get what He said they would. Oh, they/we never learn.
King Jesus, forgive our false-hero worship. Cast down the idols in my heart and make me as Samuel. May no one or nothing take your rightful place.
There just may have been a conversation today in the SGM office about how it would great if Allan blogged more. Tahdah!
Posted by ladychgo | May 2, 2008, 9:48 pmOf all the wonderful things in this world I can think of none better than when I check this blog and see that you have joined in! I can go to bed now and breath again! Welcome back my dear “colored” brother, welcome back!
Posted by Aaron | May 3, 2008, 8:13 amThe responsibility, though, lies not only with the followers, but with the leaders. We should not be so surprised to see people revelling in the glory heaped on their heads – that’s a perfectly natural response. If you’re going to lead, and you’re likely going to be good at it, you have to be just as careful not to allow others to worship you and to be intentional in redirecting their worship to Christ, where it belongs.
Posted by Jenn | May 14, 2008, 1:53 pmI knew it was too good to be true! you give us a little taste of the “goods” (writing skills and insights) and then you leave for even a longer period of time. I am tired of being pimped by you man! Quit playing with my emotions!I’m hatin!
Posted by Aaron | June 17, 2008, 4:00 am