John
Pavlovitz, " Stuff That Needs To Be Said” Blog
When
Your Pastor Is Bigger Than Jesus!
“We’re more popular than Jesus now; I don’t know which
will go first — rock and roll or Christianity.”
These words were spoken in 1966, by Beatles member John
Lennon. (Blogger’s note: For those under 30, please see here before
proceeding)
.
Many Christians at the time were outraged, perfectly
illustrating how to completely miss a point, as the singer/pop star/activist
wasn’t claiming that his band was better than
Jesus, but bigger; having a higher profile and greater influence in popular
culture. (For those who were alive at
the time, and whose hearing was permanently damaged by the ear-severing shrieks
of young girls watching them, his statement only seems slightly like hyperbole).
Lennon certainly didn’t believe his
popularity actually eclipsed Jesus’, but even if he did, the crazy thing, is
just how many could say the same thing today, and put up a pretty good
argument; singers, politicians, Reality TV stars; all hovering the rarefied air
of demigods.
With technology allowing everyone to have their own Public
Relations department, and with our seemingly insatiable desire to consume
content of any quality, we see megasuperstars being manufactured every day.
They acquire massive Twitter followers, generate the incomes of small countries, and
impact fashion, politics and social justice causes with ease.
There are lots of these “little
Gods” in our midst as believers; cultural idols who threaten to steal our
attentions and affections, who campaign to take up our faith-space. That’s
really nothing new, as the Bible warns against this continually and clearly.
But most alarming of all, is that there is a new breed of
worldwide pop star, whose power and influence daily competes for the hearts and
devotion of Jesus followers throughout the world: The Celebrity Pastor.
The rise of massive megachurches, and
the influence of religious multimedia organizations, have made modern Christian
Church culture the newest star machine; churning out a seemingly endlessly
supply of overstyled, attractive, charismatic men and women of God, who
are perfectly bred for mass consumption. They seem totally fine with soaking up
the spotlight and getting the lion’s share of the glory; leaving Jesus as only
a quiet, gracious runner-up.
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