Last week Pastor Jym offered some cautions on some well-known teachers with which we are all familiar. As I pondered his admonitions I began to think back to so many men and women who have impacted my faith. People like John Piper, J.I. Packer, Dorothy Sayers, C.S. Lewis, and Tim Keller have all preached sermons and written books that have taught me many things and helped to fortify my convictions. I am grateful for their ministries and the gifts that God has given them, but Pastor Jym’s article reminded me of Paul’s admonition to the Corinthians whereby he admonishes them for boasting about their favorite Christian leader.
There is no question that we live in a celebrity culture. Reformed circles (in which I find myself) are possibly more guilty of this than anyone. We love our conferences and flock to hear speakers whom we often place on pedestals and unreservedly soak up their teachings and read their books. A few years ago someone came back from a conference and was showing off his John MacArthur Study Bible which he has autographed by John MacArthur himself. I found that having someone autograph a Bible a bit disconcerting and odd. I am trying to imagine Paul signing autographs at the Aeropagus.
Jym’s article last week served as a reminder to me on two fronts. The first is that no one’s teachings are immune from the scrutiny of scripture and if they in any way, shape, or form, detract from the Bible’s truth or its preeminence in our lives, then they should be cast aside. The second reminder was a bit more subtle and that is the issue of the Christian celebrity. There is no question that we love our celebrities in America. We love to follow them and we love to watch them fall. Paul, however, seems to indicate that placing our allegiance behind celebrities is “fleshly and worldly” thinking (1 Corinthian 3:1-4).
It is understandable why so many go to hear John Piper, Allistair Begg and Jen Wilken. They are all great communicators and challenging speakers, and God has used them in mighty ways. Their worst sermon on their worst day is going to be better than my best sermon on my best day. They are gifted for sure, but let us remember that they are merely human and always one failure away from disgrace. Elijah ran from Jezebel shortly after defeating the prophets of Baal, and Peter denied Jesus hours after wanting to take on the entire Roman Empire.
These men and woman are simply “jars of clay” made of the same material of which you and I are, and I think that sometimes we diminish the importance of the ministry of the local church in favor of following our favorite Christian celebrity. Hopefully, the truths you hear from so many of these gifted men and women is the same truth that you hear at LifePoint. So, let me wrap up by offering a warning to all of us as we listen to our podcasts, read our books, and go to our conferences that all truth is God’s truth and it is Him that we worship. Let us give honor to the architect and builder of the church and not to the hammers and screwdrivers that Christ uses to build it.
Pastor Nate
