The Problem with Celebrity

The Grammy Awards were passed out last night, so there is lots of celebrity news coverage this morning -- Dixie Chics this, Justin Timberlake that, and so on. And if you look at news reports and blogs covering various gatherings of preachers and Christian writers, you see a pattern of men and women using celebrity as a platform to speak to the issues of the day.

There is a fundamental problem with confusing celebrity and moral authority. Celebrity can come from recognized skill, lucky circumstances, heroic deeds, eloquent speech, even sinful notoriety. Moral authority comes from connection with Christ, and long shaping of character, with full awareness of of our natural depravity. If you want a blunter comparison: moral authority only comes through confession and repentance, but you can be quite a celebrity just by admitting sin without repenting of it.

"This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word." (Isaiah 66:2)

Let's lead our families to understand whom is worth listening to.