The western world is partly driven by celebrity. Early months in the year accent celebrity in the USA. A much watched television program is the Academy Awards show held in winter. It is celebrity driven: accenting style, or the lack of it; talent or the lack of it; and wealth or the lack of it. The grooming of some of the stars is often in bad taste. Some men appear scruffy in tuxedos, scruffy to express the real celebrity self. Women compete with their clothing, or lack of it. Christian values are not on the program, except for vocal appreciations and family references. Screaming rock stars believe themselves, and their fans also believe them to be, talented. Young women, sometimes nymphs and poorly disciplined, flaunt themselves, perhaps joking about the concerns of their parents regarding their moral welfare. The story can be repeated, with changes to fit different contexts – for athletes, business moguls, even Christian entertainers on occasions.
I have known several eminent persons in my lifetime. I worked for a few years with Billy Graham, the evangelist. We spent a full day in Washington, DC, cloistered in his room, working on an important problem while congressional persons were trying to get to him for photo takes with them. I have shared extended ministries with eminent ministers, including two U. S. Senate Chaplains. Included were a number of other well honored clergymen of my era. A. W. Tozer’s hand was on my shoulder the evening of my ordination. I was present to listen to others not easily characterized by specific camps, like Martin Luther King, Norman Vincent Peale and Bishop Pike. I number several eminent scholars among my acquaintances. I spent a week as host to William Foxwell Albright, arguably the greatest of all archaeologists. Arnold Toynbee inspired me, one Sunday afternoon, in a speech at the University of Minnesota. Other persons of eminence have touched my life meaningfully. Celebrity status seemed to mean nothing, or little, to them.
Celebrity and eminence are not the same, in the meaning I perceive them to hold. An Oscar’s actor may be eminent, but, for me, that eminence must preclude any celebrity status. The two, eminence and celebrity, may appear in the same person, but they are separate as lungs are not hearts, and brains are not bowels. The celebrity decides to be a celebrity, and may not achieve status of eminence. He or she often pays too high personal price for celebrity. These persons must know that no matter how wide the waters of celebrity may be, they are shallow. The shouts of approval on Sunday become crucify him on Friday. Jesus knew that, and when the people would make him a celebrity, he responded with silence or shifted accents. We remember that the people tried to make him a celebrity. He attracted great crowds. He used the phenomenon for purpose, to teach and to heal. Many were missing the point, but many did not. His silences to persons like Herod give to us a legitimate model for celebrities, if celebrity is in proper place.
Nearly all persons yearn for some recognition. It may or may not be deserved, but it is human to desire remembrance of worth, to somehow surpass the ordinary in the minds of our significant group – even while we live. Anticipating ultimate realities, the wise person lets it all go by as it will for recognition from the Lord. In a spirit of humility, we see our own lasting value in Jesus Christ, and his evaluation of us. In this perception rests meaningful and lasting recognition and worth for any person. Out of this context Francis Schaeffer’s question presses us: How Should we then live? We ought to sense our worth in that which God thinks of us. *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020