Proclaimer Blog
T4G: a few reflections: Celebrity Pastors
For the remainder of this week I'm going to offer a (very) few observations arising out of T4G. I had the privilege of going (along with a few other Brits). For a more detailed report you'll have to wait for next month's EN, but for now, here are my immediate thoughts – starting with the most contentious of issues – celebrity pastors.
It was brave of the organisers to tackle this subject with a panel discussion including Carl Trueman, the anti-celebrity celebrity. You can read Carl's surprising observations here. The video/audio is not up online yet (not sure if it will be) but for what it's worth Carl articulated two problems with the celebrity culture:
- it sets up false aspirational models for young men entering ministry which are deadly to their own ministries and often mean they leave ministry early and disappointed.
- it creates a disjoint between preaching and the local church. In the panel itself this issue was never really answered – and it is a particular issue of the internet age which does need tackling.
It's true that the US effusiveness on show here made this Brit, at least, cringe. During some of the introductions I was searching in vain for the vomit bag whilst all those around me were a-whoopin' and a-hollerin' (come on, this is Kentucky). But hold on a moment. Before we cast the stones let's remember we live in glass houses too. What are these guys doing on stage when they big one another up as they do?
First, as another Brit here helpfully pointed out to me, they are crossing tribal boundaries. There are people here from loads of different evangelical tribes. These long and effusive introductions serve a purpose. They give confidence to one tribe (e.g. Sovereign Grace) that a speaker from another is to be trusted and listened to.
But perhaps more importantly for us, they are also evidence of leaders being honoured (Phil 2.29 and 1 Tim 5.17). True, it's being done in a particular way that makes me feel uncomfortable. But surely our sin is of the other extreme? How rarely we honour those who deserve it! We have done this in the past. It is of the greatest irony that we Brits spent decades eulogising two men of national influence whom we spoke about in hushed terms (Llloyd-Jones and Stott). Our sadness now is that we have few national leaders to replace them. And could this be because we have not honoured where honour is due?
So, keep your stones in your pocket, I say.