Five thousand followers on Twitter. Two thousand “likes” on Facebook with another 750 friends. Hundreds of weekly sermon downloads via podcasting. Ten thousand hits on youtube. Up and coming musician? Hollywood superstar? NO, It is a pastor and he has a following.
In the world of media-saturated marketing, the celebrity pastor has become all the rave. For decades, their community preaching ministry was confined to live radio preaching on Sunday mornings or possibly cassette tapes being sent via the mail.
Then came the era of the tele-evangelist and Christian cable TV stations such as TBN, Daystar and CBN with its flagship show The 700 Club. While many of these stations are still going strong today, they have lost much of their appeal to a consistent cycle of scandal and the dominance of the prosperity gospel, which is slowly going out of style. The general public’s interest is waning in “watching” others worship in a TV studio and being constantly tapped for donations. Yet ministry through media is not slowing down. As the digital age blossoms and social media takes over the world, pastors are getting in on the rising tide of digital ministry. Nowadays any pastor, from the smallest church in rural America to the megachurch in surburban communities, can broadcast, podcast, video-cast, tweet and blog, sermons, bible studies, devotionals, teachings, all for free. With nothing more than a flip camera, a laptop and a bit of time, they can expand their reading, listening and watching audience far outside of the walls of their church. They can reach people on the other side of the world with a cheap website and great domain name. They are stretching farther than TV or radio ever imagined.
The question, then becomes, what might result with such digital opportunities? What temptations lurk in the dark with such media venues at their pastoral finger tips? The answer, I believe, is pride. With this power, comes arrogance, egos, an infatuation with oneself, self-directed idolatry, envy, jealousy, and a lust for more and more. Temptations abound with such opportunities and any pastor should carefully discern his or her heart before proceeding. The Bible says in Proverbs 16:18 “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” James 4:6 says “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” The slippery slope toward pride and destruction is being greased daily as the digital age accelerates. Nevertheless, I believe modest and humble pastors who use digital media can do so with pure and righteous hearts. They can seek to serve the Lord and their flocks by helping provide more and more avenues for people to hear the Gospel and get strengthened in their relationship with Christ. If pastors see their role as a servant of God holding the greatest news ever told and not some type of megastar celebrity pastor, they can be of great service to God's kingdom building plan. It is all about attitude and motivation. If the attitude and motivation is only to build up a legacy and name recognition, then you have stepped over the line into idolatrous sin. But if the attitude and motivation is to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ and make His name famous, then Glory.
Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:8 help us here, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Purity of heart — is going to the standard for pastors in the digital culture because the avenues of the digital age are only going to increase. As always, thanks for reading and until next time... may you be empowered to prosper! be blessed.
Saturday, May 3, 2014
Celebrity Pastors and The Potential For Pride
Five thousand followers on Twitter. Two thousand “likes” on Facebook with another 750 friends. Hundreds of weekly sermon downloads via podcasting. Ten thousand hits on youtube. Up and coming musician? Hollywood superstar? NO, It is a pastor and he has a following.
In the world of media-saturated marketing, the celebrity pastor has become all the rave. For decades, their community preaching ministry was confined to live radio preaching on Sunday mornings or possibly cassette tapes being sent via the mail.
Then came the era of the tele-evangelist and Christian cable TV stations such as TBN, Daystar and CBN with its flagship show The 700 Club. While many of these stations are still going strong today, they have lost much of their appeal to a consistent cycle of scandal and the dominance of the prosperity gospel, which is slowly going out of style. The general public’s interest is waning in “watching” others worship in a TV studio and being constantly tapped for donations. Yet ministry through media is not slowing down. As the digital age blossoms and social media takes over the world, pastors are getting in on the rising tide of digital ministry. Nowadays any pastor, from the smallest church in rural America to the megachurch in surburban communities, can broadcast, podcast, video-cast, tweet and blog, sermons, bible studies, devotionals, teachings, all for free. With nothing more than a flip camera, a laptop and a bit of time, they can expand their reading, listening and watching audience far outside of the walls of their church. They can reach people on the other side of the world with a cheap website and great domain name. They are stretching farther than TV or radio ever imagined.
The question, then becomes, what might result with such digital opportunities? What temptations lurk in the dark with such media venues at their pastoral finger tips? The answer, I believe, is pride. With this power, comes arrogance, egos, an infatuation with oneself, self-directed idolatry, envy, jealousy, and a lust for more and more. Temptations abound with such opportunities and any pastor should carefully discern his or her heart before proceeding. The Bible says in Proverbs 16:18 “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” James 4:6 says “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” The slippery slope toward pride and destruction is being greased daily as the digital age accelerates. Nevertheless, I believe modest and humble pastors who use digital media can do so with pure and righteous hearts. They can seek to serve the Lord and their flocks by helping provide more and more avenues for people to hear the Gospel and get strengthened in their relationship with Christ. If pastors see their role as a servant of God holding the greatest news ever told and not some type of megastar celebrity pastor, they can be of great service to God's kingdom building plan. It is all about attitude and motivation. If the attitude and motivation is only to build up a legacy and name recognition, then you have stepped over the line into idolatrous sin. But if the attitude and motivation is to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ and make His name famous, then Glory.
Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:8 help us here, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Purity of heart — is going to the standard for pastors in the digital culture because the avenues of the digital age are only going to increase. As always, thanks for reading and until next time... may you be empowered to prosper! be blessed.
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