“Ultimately, the only answer for our tendency to become celebrity Christian wannabes is constant repentance and faith in Christ for salvation, sanctification, and growth in Him. We must decrease and he must increase. So long as Christ is exalted, we should be satisfied in Him (Phil. 4:11-13).”

In pastoral ministry, writing, social media, and blogdom, there is a temptation to pursue being popular; to pursue being a celebrity. Yet, in order to follow Christ, we must deny ourselves, take up our crosses, and follow Him (Matt. 16:24). This includes denying our desire to be popular, our desire to be celebrities. Perhaps Christ is leading us away from popularity to “obscurity”? It shouldn’t matter as long as we’re following Him.

“This is eternal life to know, the living God and Christ the Son.” —Augustus Toplady (paraphrasing John 17:3)

Are you a celebrity Christian wannabe?

You might be a celebrity Christian wannabe if . . .

1. You’d rather minister to strangers on the Internet than those in the hospital, nursing home, shut-ins, or orphans (James 1:27). These people cannot do anything to increase your celebrity status.

2. You’re jealous when other godly voices are heard and heeded above your own. God’s glory in Christ is no longer your goal, for your voice must be heard. You’re not like John the Baptist who was overjoyed that Jesus was becoming more popular even though his own popularity was decreasing (John 3:25-30). Those unconcerned with their celebrity-status don’t care if their popularity decreases so long as Jesus’ popularity increases.

3. You frequently link to other Celebrity Christians in hope that they’ll notice you, and return the favor. You rarely link to the articles of anyone who isn’t a celebrity Christian. After all, what can a non-celebrity Christian do for you?

4. You’re no longer corrected or taught by your local pastor(s), Sunday school teachers, small group leaders, and other Christians. You’re the celebrity, they’re not; they should learn from you. Yet, if God’s word is true and authoritative, you can learn from any Christian who teaches it accurately (Heb. 4:12).

5. You’d never take a ministry position that limits or decreases your popularity. In celebrity culture, you’re “here today and gone tomorrow.” Celebrity-status comes and goes, and you’ve got to “strike while the iron is hot.” Taking a ministry position that limits or decreases your popularity may destroy your celebrity-status forever; and that can’t happen!

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