Stars and Celebrity Preachers

 People today are infatuated with celebrities and stars, but in the Bible we see that God has a very different view.

Who did God choose to be the mother of Jesus? A humble and completely unknown girl in Nazareth, a town with no good reputation. Mary was a nobody in Nazareth.

Shortly after the beginning of his ministry, Jesus chose Philip.

Philip went to look for Nathanael and told him, “We have found the very person Moses and the prophets wrote about! His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth.”

“Nazareth!” exclaimed Nathanael. “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” “Come and see for yourself,” Philip replied. Jn 1:45–46 NLT

None of the first apostles were rabbis. Only one was rich, Matthew, a tax collector with a bad reputation.

Mary and the first apostles only became world-famous much later, long after their deaths.

Despite their humble origins, the disciples were not free of ambition.

Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him.

“What is it you want?” he asked. She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.” Mt 20:20–21 NIV

Jesus had no desire for worldly honour.

Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself. Jn 6:15 NIV

Many in this world want to be famous. Many are infatuated with celebrities and stars. Unfortunately, there are many Christians who also have this attitude.

Christians in the traditional protestant churches and in the independent churches reject Catholics because they ascribe superhuman authority to the pope, but in America there is a church on every street corner where the head pastor rules like a pope.

 In the Old Testament, the Hebrews wanted a king even though that was against God's will. They demanded a king and God gave them Saul. Saul was humble at first, but gradually he became proud and self-centred.

Paul rebuked the Christians in Corinth for wanting to identify themselves as disciples of this or that preacher.

Some of you are saying, “I am a follower of Paul.” Others are saying, “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Peter,” or “I follow only Christ.” 1 Cor 1:12 NLT

Many Christians want to find their identity in the glory of a great preacher, but your true identity as a Christian is only that of a beloved daughter or son of God because Jesus sacrificed his life for you on the cross.