Famous Jesus in a Celebrity Christian Culture by Mary DeMuth So three times in a week I walked into a public place (store, restaurant) and I was recognized. As in, Are you Mary DeMuth, the author? types of questions. Each time I was with a family member, and we laughed about it afterward. It shocked the heck out of me, to be honest. I am used to being little ol me, plugging away quietly at my books, poking my head out of my writing nook every once in awhile. I couple these three strange encounters with another I had where I heard a leader from a mission organization share his heart. He said something to the effect of, I just dont want to live in such a way that Jesus takes His hands off my life. (click to tweet) It shook me. Sometimes we can get too big for our own britches and think were ALL THAT, forgetting that we should give Jesus everything, and its His work within us that has lasting, eternal value. Without Him, as Jesus said in John 15, we can do nothing. In this culture of Christian celebrities, this verse is instructive: If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important. Galatians 6:3 NLT. We are important when we serve, when we spend our lives for others, when we rely on Jesus strength to help us do what sometimes seems impossible. The greatest is the smallest, as Jesus kingdom goes. I need His hands meddled in my life. I want His applause, His intervention, His work. And when Im recognized out of the clear blue, I want to be the kind of follower that smiles and thanks Him for the opportunities Hes given me. And gives Him the glory for it all. Why? Its my purpose to highlight His fame, not desperately herald my own (click to tweet). I know its a crazy privilege to be recognized for what you do. But more than anything, I want people to see me and see Jesus work in my words. I think thats how we all are, right? To shine the light on the Light. To point to the Amazing One... That being said, there is no such thing as a Christian celebrity because Christ is the celebrity Hes the hero. Hes the splendid power inside our clay-pot lives. Hes the only reason I can write and speak as I do. And there may come a day when I do nothing that is recognized or heralded, and that is awesome! I may stop this whole shindig and open up a bakery, pining over loaves of bread instead of words of wisdom. The recognition is nothing. Its the trusting in Jesus thats everything. Fame only serves as an opportunity to serve more people with humbleness and dependence (click to tweet). What do you think?
Posted on: Thu, 18 Sep 2014 16:30:01 +0000
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