The Pursuit of Fame
This is the rough draft of Pastor Steve’s message from the first week of “Chasing Carrots” on October 20, 2019. You can also watch the message here. We hope you find this helpful as you pursue your next steps in Christ
“You know, there is this incredible lie that is so easy to believe and is so easy to buy into. It goes something like this. If I could have _____ then I would be happy. Here is another version of it. If I could do ______ then I would be fulfilled in life. What do we believe goes in that blank? If I could have more money? If I could have more sex? If I could do that kind of job? We think that way because on some level we believe something is missing in our lives and if we had what is missing we could be more fulfilled. So what do we do? We pursue what we think is missing, we get what we feel is missing and once we have it, what happens? It’s not as satisfying as we thought it would be. After doing this a few times, we begin to realize that the thing, whatever the thing is, it promises a lot but it doesn't always deliver. Who knows what I'm talking about?
This is what we call; Our continual pursuit for more. Our chasing of the proverbial carrot. Over these next few weeks, we are going to talk about some of the carrots that are dangled in front of us. Carrots like more stuff, personal perfection, and approval. Today, here is where we will start; our pursuit of fame. This pursuit says, “I want to be known. I want to be admired. I want to be liked. I want to be followed. I want to be accepted. I want to be respected. I want to be famous. This may cause many of us to say, “wow, this is an easy one for me. I obviously am not pursuing fame. I don’t have to really tune into this one. Whew!”
To which I would challenge that thinking and say, you might actually be surprised in how easily this pursuit creeps into our lives. Maybe you are not an all our crazed YouTuber but you do look for fame in small, subtle ways. I’ll call them mini-cravings for fame. Maybe you are not trying to scarf down a 12-inch sub of fame at your local sandwich place. However, you are craving the mini, bite-sized sliders of fame. There is a part of you that wants to be known, to be loved and to be accepted. As a result, you might find this pursuit of fame showing up in very small and subtle ways in your life.
How do we pursue fame? Maybe it happens when we over-commit. You end up doing more than you'd like to because you don't want to let anybody down. I have this mini craving to be liked by everybody. Because of that, you end up saying yes to things you'd rather say no to and you find yourself way overcommitted. Maybe you pursue fame when we want credit for it. You did something, so, you fish for compliments. I did the job at work and so you let people know. I served, so I drop some hints for others to pick up on. If I'm showing up doing something special, I want you to know that I did it. I want credit for what I did. Mini-craving for fame.
Maybe it happens when we crave online feedback. Social media perhaps is the breeding ground for the hunger for fame today. Did you like my picture? Did you, yeah, I worked so hard to get the caption just right. Some people today will delete a photo within five minutes if it doesn't get enough attention. I've got all these people that like me. I'm gonna be known. This is what I need. If more people follow me if more people like me. We live in a day and age where we live or and crave for likes and comments. Micro-cravings of fame
Now, maybe you don’t battle this regularly, but there are a lot of people who do. In fact, there is growing evidence that our kids struggle with this. In fact, here is what statistics say. Do you know what the number one goal is for 10 to 12-year-olds today? Any guesses on what it is not? It's not for financial security. It’s not to be rich. It's not for success or achievement or even great relationships. The number one top most common goal for 10 to 12-year-olds is to be famous; to be broadly known, to be accepted, and to be respected.
But it’s not even just kids today. Let’s take an informal poll for a moment. How many of you are between the ages of 22 and 37? Raise up your hands. If you fall in that age group, studies show 50% of you believe that your life should be made into a movie. Now I don’t want to be mean but most people aren’t going to go to your movie. They are going to go see the Avengers, Lion King or James Bond first. I’m sorry. One in 12 people would actually disown their family to become a household name. Really? One in nine would give up on the possibility of marriage to be broadly known. One in six would give up having children to be famous. There are so many people today that would give up so much of what we consider to be important to be famous.
Now, just to be really really clear, it’s not wrong to be famous. There is nothing about it that is sinful. Scripture tells us to work hard. To not be lazy. Remember this? “Whatever you do, work at it with all your strength for God and not for men.” And it’s possible that if you excel, fame may pursue you. If you do well at something, honor may come your way.
Another thing we need to understand about fame is this; God makes people famous. David is a great example. David went to God for wisdom. “God, our enemies keep pursuing us. They keep trying to destroy us. Do you want me to fight back? Do you want me to defeat them?” God says yes!
So David did as God commanded him, and they struck down the Philistine army, all the way from Gibeon to Gezer. 17 So David’s fame spread throughout every land, and the Lord made all the nations fear him. 1Chr. 14:16-17
In his obedience, David is blessed and given fame from God. You can also make the case that Jesus was famous. The fact that we are here today thinking and processing through our lives proves that we need to take his life seriously. Think of Jesus’ track record. He opened blind eyes, healed deaf ears, and he taught with incredible wisdom. He claimed to be the way to God. He gave his life for us. In multiple passages in the gospels, we see how the crowds followed him. On one such occasion, Jesus raises a child from the dead and this happens.
They were all filled with awe and praised God. “A great prophet has appeared among us,” they said. “God has come to help his people.” This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country. Luke 7:16-17
In both cases, this fame is coming from God and obedience to God. There is nothing wrong with being famous.
It’s funny that when we talk about fame that some times as parents, our kids think we are famous. Have you ever had that experience? I’ll never forget walking into Starbucks a couple of years ago with Nina. I think it was a year or two after we planted Turning Point. I had been going there multiple days a week to study, to meet with people. You know the story, it’s our offices for the church. I walk in the door and I was I walk in the door, at least two baristas say, “Good morning Steve.” I say good morning back. I walk up to order a coffee and a third different barista behind the counter says, “Hey Steve, how are you doing? What do you want today?” I order. My coffee gets made and ends up down and the pickup station. There someone says, “have a great day Steve.”
I look over at Nina and her eyes are all lit up. She’s taking this all in and I had no idea what she was thinking. Apparently she was paying close attention to all of this attention I was getting and how many baristas knew my name. And I’ll never forget what she said. “Dad, I didn’t realize you were so famous.”
It made me laugh so much. Just so you know, it’s not wrong to be famous even if it’s just at Starbucks. Even if only our kids think we are famous. But let’s talk about the challenge you and I face; pursuing fame. Pursuing fame is very, very dangerous. Even in mini doses. John says it this way.
Do not love the world or the things in the world. 1 John 2:15
Now John doesn’t say, “don’t love fame” but I believe we can make the connection very easily. We live in a world that loves fame. Our culture is in love with it’s Kardashian, The Hills, look at my YouTube channel self. I read the other day that Kylie Jenner, one of the Kardashian family, is worth over a billion dollars in her twenties. And hat is she and her family most known for? Pursuing fame no matter what. And the challenge is, that we get sucked right in. We find ourselves looking for our own mini doses of fame and loving it. John says, “don’t love that.”
If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 1 John 2:15
Wow, that seems pretty bold, doesn’t it? Let’s read that through the eyes of pursuing fame. When I pursue fame, I’m not really pursuing Christ. When I pursue what others think, I’m not really pursuing what Christ thinks for my life. That, in turn, has the very real potential to pull our hearts away from God. And if my eyes are on myself then how can I focus on Christ? If my eyes are on myself, then how can I care for others? I can’t!
“I think everybody should get rich and famous and do everything they dreamed of so they can see that it's not the answer.” (Jim Carrey)
Jim Carrey has gotten really weird in the past few years but in this case, he’s right. He’s echoing what scripture already has said. The pursuit of things like fame, it’s not the answer. So the question then is, “what is the answer?” One of the greatest examples of how to battle this inner desire comes from John the Baptist. John the Baptist was Jesus’ cousin and from day one, he knew his purpose in life. His life was about pointing people to Jesus. He repeatedly said, “Hey, it’s not about me. I’m not the savior. He is. Jesus is.”
In spite of pointing people to Jesus, John was pulling in the crowds. He was an odd dude. He preached a non feel-good message that said, “you gotta repent of your sins.” Yet, people were drawn to John the Baptist. As his popularity and the crowds grew, I wonder if he internally struggled with those mini cravings of fame like we do? I mean, he was human like us. People were saying to him over and over again, “Hey, are you the one? You sure you are not the one?” If he struggled with that fame at all, we don’t see it outwardly because John the Baptist is always saying, “I’m not the guy. Jesus’, he’s the guy. You need to follow him.” As John’s ministry is winding down and as Jesus begins his ministry, here is what John the Baptist says. It’s amazing!
He (Jesus) must become greater, I must become less.” John 3:30
It’s never been about me. It’s never been about me being known. It’s never been about my fame. I want you to see more and more of him and less and less of me. It’s always been about the name and the person of Jesus. So, I’m going to decrease so he can increase. I’m going to be less than so you can see he is greater than.
John is a great example for us on how to live but here is my question. How do we live like that when we all have these mini-cravings to be known? How do we live like that when or culture glorifies YouTubers and validates us by how many people know us on social media? Here is where it begins with each of us; motives. How do I overcome my drive for fame? I have to check my motives. It begins with what is driving me.
So, to dig into our motives, let's ask this key question. One, who am I representing? When you do life where God has put you, who do you represent? Do you think about who you represent? When you show up at the party, who are you representing? When you post online, who are you representing? When you talk with others, who are you representing? We know who the answer should be. It should be Jesus. That’s the right answer, but let’s not simply give a churchy answer to avoid the real issue of looking internally. It should Jesus that I represent but if I’m really honest, often it is me that I represent. I’m greater while Jesus is less.
Think about how this plays out in how we live. It happened the other day when we sent that text or sent that email. Rather than having a face to face, we let them have it. “You are a lousy ex. You are a loser of a friend. You underperformed on the job.” Who am I trying to make look good? Who is that I’m representing? Me. It happens when we choose to complain about someone maybe even in the church. “Well, you know. I wish they would just listen to me. I told them they needed to do it that way. I have so much experience and can do a better job than he is.” Who am I representing? Who am I trying to make look good? The answer is easy. Me.
Paul reminds us of who we are in Christ. When we follow Jesus, we are made new. He says that we have been forgiven and are in right relationship with God through Christ. We are reconciled to Christ. He says it this way:
And he(Jesus) has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, 2 Corinthians 5:19-20
He says we are given this message to give away. A message of what? Reconciliation. Seeing people reconciled to God, that’s our job and mission as Jesus followers. So much so that he calls us ambassadors. Now, what does an ambassador do? They represent someone else. They represent their home country while stationed overseas in a foreign country. While they live in that country they represent the values and beliefs of their home country in front of everyone. Whatever they say or do, that represents their people and their government back home.
When we lived in Costa Rica, we knew where the embassy was and where the U.S. ambassador lived. His residence was off of this main drag that had these huge walls, a guard shack and at each entrance were these hydraulic lifts to prevent anyone from driving on in. Above the compound was the American flag. I remember running by that residence more than one time wondering if I would get a peek at the security team or the motorcade for the U.S. ambassador. I thought it was cool. Here I am living in a foreign country and in the middle of this country is a place and a group of people representing my home and my country. You and I, as Jesus followers, are those ambassadors wherever we do life. We represent Christ all of the time.
We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 2 Corinthians 5:19-20
In foreign diplomacy, the U.S. makes appeals in other countries through their ambassadors. In the same way, Jesus Christ is making an appeal through you. He is reaching the world through you. He is showing his love through you. You are the appeal. You are the highest-ranking diplomat representing heaven. So, when you walk into a room, the truth of Christ walks into a room. When you walk into your job, light walks into that job. When you step onto your campus, hope walks onto campus.
Here is the most challenging way to look at it. When I walk into wherever, who am I representing more? Myself or Jesus. Who is increasing more? Me or Jesus. When you wrestle with those mini moments of fame, ask yourself this simple question. Does this represent Christ or does this represent me?
Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name goes all the glory for your unfailing love and faithfulness. Psalm 115:1 (NLT)
It’s a great passage, isn’t it? What if we could actually live it? What if we could make the necessary changes for us to decrease and for him to increase? What if we could live in such a way where people see Jesus in and through me? And in turn, give me glory and fame and credit rather than me. We will continue that conversation in our groups this week but let’s take some time to honor God. Let’s take some time to remind ourselves of his glory and his power through worship.”