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John Pavlovitz, " Stuff That Needs To Be Said” Blog When Your Pastor Is Bigger Than Jesus!

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)

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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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David Robertson: Using the Charlie Hebdo killings to attack religion is just cowardice. Christianity Today

Many times I have been presented with the mantra of the New Fundamentalist Atheists, "Atheists don't fly planes into buildings". To which the obvious response is "Neither do Presbyterians, Anglicans, Catholics or charismatics – not even the most extremist wacko charismatics. When did you last hear of Benny Hinn suicide squads?" But those who don't think about the consequences and harm of their prejudices far too often rush into this demonization of all religious people.

Meanwhile the Guardian was 'brave' as it published examples of the Charlie Hebdo cartoons. Yet they did not publish the cartoons that were the actual cause of the attacks – instead they published ones attacking the Pope. Doubtless they will also be 'brave' and publish numerous articles in the next few weeks on how we need to avoid Islamophobia and how at the same time we need to tar all religions with the same brush and marginalise them all.

I have noticed this tendency among many of the liberal intelligentsia to portray themselves as brave because they attack all religions in general (carefully avoiding any offence to the one that would actually have some consequences for them), or because they create meaningless awards that cost themselves nothing, for those who really are brave. The publishers and staff of Charlie Hebdo were indeed brave, knowing that what they did could endanger their lives. Those who salute their bravery and then refuse to imitate their actions, but instead use their memory to further their own agenda, are cowards.

And it is a cowardice that has consequences. Despite all the boasts about how "we will not be intimidated" the fact is that most of the mainstream media will be intimidated. The BBC and most newspapers in the UK would not dare to publish such cartoons. That is understandable, but it would be better if they did not boast about how brave they are and then take out their frustrations and sick sense of humour on other religions that won't kill them. Today I noticed that one secular society did not publish the cartoons but did publish a grossly sick and offensive sexual cartoon about all the major religious figures in the world – except, of course, Mohammed. Perversity, irrationality and cowardice combined.

I find it disturbing the way it has become standard practice for some people to use others' tragic stories in order to exploit and further their own agenda. Take for example the tragic story of Joshua Ryan Alcorn, the transgender teenager who committed suicide. I have lost count of the number of articles pontificating about this case, demonizing the parents and offering simplistic solutions. The argument is simplistic: if only if it were not for religion there would be no confused and messed up teenagers. If Stonewall and the British Humanists could just be in charge of educating us all then teenage angst, confusion and suicide would just disappear!

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