Avizandam. In Scots law, this term describes the careful consideration given by the judge before an important decision. Join me each week as we explore various topics from a spiritual perspective and take matters. Avizandum. We live in the day of the celebrity.
We have celebrities in Shobiz. We have celebrities in business. We have celebrities in politics. We have celebrities in sport. and we have celebrities in the pulpit.
There have always been celebrities, but social media has dramatically increased their exposure.
Now artificial intelligence can dramatically manipulate that exposure. I recently read Spellbound by Molly Worthen, who is a professor of history at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. We have students there who attend Calvary Church, so it is encouraging that UNC Chapel Hill has a professor of the calibre and good sense of Mollyworthy. The subtitle of the book is How Charisma Shaped American History from the Puritans. Donald Trump.
Charisma is a Greek word, and used for example in First Peter four, verse ten. There it is translated as spiritual Gift. Charis is the Greek word for grace, so a charisma is a grace gift from God to His people for wisdom and empowerment as they use their gifts for the glory of God and for the blessing of others. But in this podcast I want to focus on the question of the celebrity. Worthen states that celebrity.
Is the emotional connection between a famous person and the ordinary public? Occasionally celebrities use their platforms to advance a political or a religious cause, but more often they offer fans, even if social media grants them the more dignified identity of followers, a kind of passive escape. It feeds on a steady stream of mass produced stories and images that give fans the illusion of intimacy, the feeling that you know something personal and real about the Star. That's a good description of the celebrity syndrome. While we can understand the celebrity concept in the unbelieving world, it does not resonate with those of us who are followers of Jesus Christ.
Yet it does seem that we have celebrities in the pulpit. Their views and opinions are almost given the status of the Word of God.
Some of them claim to have received a special anointing from God. They claim that God has given them some vision in a dream. or that they have seen Jesus who has spoken special words to them. Other celebrities in the pulpit don't necessarily claim to have received special revelation from God, but nonetheless, cultivate fans and followers who bow to what they say and what they write. As Worden says, they may talk of followers, But they are in reality fans.
In the pulpit they're given a higher status than the humdrum pastor who week after week is visiting the sick, teaching the word of God, leading his flock of two hundred, and preaching the word of God. The celebrity's fans or followers want something more exciting. more inspiring, more cheerworthy. Certainly preachers of the gospel should be respected. But we need to remember that that we do not have any inherent authority.
The Reformation emphasized that Scripture alone, sola scriptura, is our only authority. While the traditions of the Church may be interesting and even helpful, they are not authoritative. Extra biblical revelation. Such as the Book of Mormonism, can never replace Holy Scripture or be regarded as on par with Holy Scripture. No so-called vision or special revelation of the preacher.
which he claims to have received from God, or some secret interpretation of Scripture, can ever and should ever be put on the level of Scripture.
Some of these celebrity preachers would say their vision or interpretation of Scripture or special word of knowledge should not be regarded with the same authority as Scripture. But practically speaking, their followers are not so much interested in a systematic exposition of Holy Scripture. but in hearing the views, opinions, dreams, visions, special secret interpretations of the preacher. He's the star he is the celebrity in the pulpit. As always, we must examine this subject in light of the teaching of Jesus.
Can we reverently ask, was Jesus a celebrity? Humanly speaking, his life in ministry was a failure. At the end of his life his followers deserted him. He was put to death. Isaiah writes, He was despised and rejected by men.
a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, and as one from whom men hide their faces, he was despised and we esteemed him not. Crowds did flock to him, but they were seeking their healings, the loaves and the fishes, rather than hearing and entering the kingdom of God. The twelve disciples debated who was the greatest. James and John wanted a special place in the coming Messianic kingdom. But Jesus taught that whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.
Jesus again inverts the standard of the world. The unbelieving world believes that greatness is seen in exercising authority, in power. But the kingdom of God has different values.
So, Jesus gives this supreme example, which also acts as an inspiration to us. for even the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
So let's not have any celebrities in the pulpit, but rather humble servants of God. May we follow Jesus, who came not to be served, but to serve. Instead of exalting and promoting ourselves, let each one of us walk humbly in the fear of the Lord. This is is the beginning of wisdom. Avazandum.
You're listening to the weekly Avizandam podcast from The Verdict, featuring Pastor John Monroe. John is senior pastor at Calvary Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. Listen to John's daily program, The Verdict, on broadcast radio or major podcast platforms. For more information about the Verdict Ministry, visit us online at calvarychurch.com/slash the verdict.
