Celebrity, Fortune Fame, Greatness
“What fans want from the lives of celebrities more than anything else are two things: First, the attractive ride on the coattails of lives that seem more exotic than their own mundane existence. [Think the British monarchy, the Kardashians, movie stars – especially of the 1930’s and 1940’s, ‘famous’ politicians, etc.] When life feels tedious, there is a thrill in associating with lives that appear more glamorous and exciting. Second, there lingers in the imagination of celebrity admirers the prospect of an answer to the nagging question whether they too might also possess some trace of greatness, however small.
“The drawback to the first desire is that it fosters secondhand living – life lived through the distorted filter of someone else’s wealth and fame. The draw back to the second craving is that it overlooks our God-given significance and inherent worth.
“When the disciples met up with Jesus in a Capernaum kitchen one day, they were reluctant to reveal their chatter about who carried the most charm. [Mark 9:33-42; Luke 9:46-50; Matthew 18:1-7] Jesus does not scold them for discussing rank or wanting prestige. He merely presents them with a new flowchart that flips the want for greatness to the must of servanthood. In so doing, He puts the reality of true greatness within everybody’s reach.
“‘I’m an insomniac-agnostic-egotist,’ says Ernest in an old ‘Frank and Ernest’ comic. ‘I lie awake at night trying to figure out whether or not I believe that I am as great as I am.’ More than a few of us have pondered less egocentric versions of this question, British royals likely included. Jesus has a word for all of us: stop trying to figure out greatness. It is not a mystery. You have it. Just dissociate it from wealth, power, and fame, and get to work as a servant.”
(The above is quoted from Rev. Peter W. Marty, Editor and Publisher of the ‘Christian Century,’ April 7, 2021 issue, page 3.)
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther, priest and theologian, some 500 years ago said, “God does not love us because of our worth. We are of worth because God loves us.”
FORGIVENESS
We do not confess our sins in order to be forgiven by God. We confess our sins because we have already been forgiven by God. Thanksgiving and joy.
WORSHIP
We do not worship God in order to be loved by God. We worship God because God already loves us. Praise, Honor, and Glory.
PRAYER
We do not pray to God in order for God to hear us. We pray to God to hear what God says to us. Conversation, Relationship with God and one another. OBEDIENCE
We do not obey God’s Will in order to be loved by God. We obey God’s Will because God already loves us. What we are called to be and do.
SERVICE
We do not love our neighbor in order to be loved by God. We love our neighbor because God already loves us. Mission and Ministry.
“God does not love us because of our worth. We are of worth because God loves us.”
May the Peace of The LORD be with you through the Season of Pentecost.
Sincerely, Pastor Jon Beake