Many of us want to be superstars, to be in the limelight and be acknowledged for our astounding abilities. But are any of us really all that astounding? As director of Adventures in Missions, Seth Barnes sees this phenomenon daily and reminds us that we are not all that astounding, but it is God who is astounding.
Josh had a very vivid dream while we were out hiking that he later
recounted to me:
recounted to me:
It seemed like we were in the upstairs of a house. There was a
handful of guys standing around, when all of a sudden, you said, “Now i
understand…..there are too many superstars!” And as if the word from
God was so overwhelming, you collapsed. A couple of us caught you and
placed you on the ground. You did
not totally pass out….you just seemed weak and fell. That was the end
of the dream.
Let’s suppose for a second that God was in the dream, that indeed it was
a message of some sort. What would God’s point be? I guess it would be
no big revelation that too many of us have ego issues. We want the
limelight. Somehow, God is not enough; we need to boost ourselves with
the adulation of people as well.
a message of some sort. What would God’s point be? I guess it would be
no big revelation that too many of us have ego issues. We want the
limelight. Somehow, God is not enough; we need to boost ourselves with
the adulation of people as well.
When you’re following a superstar, a number of things are inverted.
You find it easier to take your eyes off God and look at man. He (or
she) can become a little g god.
You find it easier to take your eyes off God and look at man. He (or
she) can become a little g god.
When you’re following a superstar, inevitably you’ll be
disappointed. If it’s not an issue of integrity, it may be an issue of
poor choices or something that seems to you like a compromise.
disappointed. If it’s not an issue of integrity, it may be an issue of
poor choices or something that seems to you like a compromise.
Superstars get twisted around in the limelight. The guys who can
keep it together and maintain that prophetic edge like Rich Mullins or
Keith Green are rare. Far more common is the Elvis Presley or Michael
Jackson syndrome.
keep it together and maintain that prophetic edge like Rich Mullins or
Keith Green are rare. Far more common is the Elvis Presley or Michael
Jackson syndrome.
When Cornelius the centurion saw Peter, he wanted to treat him like
a superstar. Peter would have none of it, saying, “I am only a man
myself.”* When Paul healed a crippled man, the crowds went into
superstar-adulation-mode saying, “The gods have come down to us in human
form.” Paul and Barnabas appropriately responded to their
anthropomorphism, We are merely
human beings–just like you!“*
a superstar. Peter would have none of it, saying, “I am only a man
myself.”* When Paul healed a crippled man, the crowds went into
superstar-adulation-mode saying, “The gods have come down to us in human
form.” Paul and Barnabas appropriately responded to their
anthropomorphism, We are merely
human beings–just like you!“*
For some people, reading People magazine or watching American Idol
is a sin. It reinforces their tendency to elevate regular, ordinary
human beings to superstar status. It idolizes them, lifting them up to a
place of reverence where God belongs.
is a sin. It reinforces their tendency to elevate regular, ordinary
human beings to superstar status. It idolizes them, lifting them up to a
place of reverence where God belongs.
I’m continually wary of this tendency in humans. As the director of
a growing ministry, I sometimes face this temptation to dabble with the
limelight. I’ve seen it take out so many ministry leaders and want
nothing of it – I avoid the public eye as much as possible. It feels
unnatural to me; we don’t need any more superstars. We have too many
already. We love to raise them to unsustainable heights and then, we
love to see them fall. It’s a peculiarly American phenomenon – one which
we’ve all participated in and need to repent of.
a growing ministry, I sometimes face this temptation to dabble with the
limelight. I’ve seen it take out so many ministry leaders and want
nothing of it – I avoid the public eye as much as possible. It feels
unnatural to me; we don’t need any more superstars. We have too many
already. We love to raise them to unsustainable heights and then, we
love to see them fall. It’s a peculiarly American phenomenon – one which
we’ve all participated in and need to repent of.
Who have you elevated to superstar status? Maybe a celebrity or
maybe your own pastor. They’re bound to disappoint you. Isn’t it about
time you cut them a break?
maybe your own pastor. They’re bound to disappoint you. Isn’t it about
time you cut them a break?
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