Hello beloved children of God,
I hope you’re all fine by God’s grace.
Today, we are going to talk about Christianity and fame.
Fame can be defined as the state of being known or talked about by many people, especially on account of notable achievements.
Have you noticed that we live in an era in which just anyone can become famous? We don’t need a huge budget (as compared to many years ago) to become famous. At times, just a few social media accounts and some advertisements and almost anyone can skyrocket their way into fame.
Fortunately or unfortunately, it’s valid not just for businesses, but also in the Christian milieu. With the rise of social media, virtually anyone can become famous, and many Christians leverage social media for fame.
In the midst of this, we can only wonder, is this really for Christ, or is it just for fame?
Many churches and Christian Ministries leverage social media for fame. When we fellowship in a church which has the culture of fame, it becomes so easy as Christians to also want to become famous. Today we’ll talk about this topic, and I hope it will help Christians and Christian Ministries to reorder their priorities, and to check their motives.
1. Did Jesus tell us to make our fasts public?
Announcing fasts on social media, and showing videos of ourselves as we’re fasting is something which attracts lots of views on YouTube videos, and probably lots of likes on other social media platforms.
Matthew 6:16 NKJV
“Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.
From our Lord Jesus Christ’s words in Matthew 6, I understand that fasting is something between God and man, and that we need not to make it public in order to get the approval of men and women, or in order to get views, likes, subscribers and followers.
Here I’m not talking about Christian Ministries and Pastors who announce fasts for their congregation, but about individual people who tell us when they will fast, who tell us as they are fasting, and who afterwards make videos to tell us how much they benefited from the fast. Of course, a Christian minister is supposed to announce fasting days for the whole community, but does that mean every Christian should announce to everyone else whenever they fast in order to brag about it and show how spiritual they are to get more love from people?
Personally, I think that an influential Christian can invite his or her community to fast from time to time, to pray and fast together as a community but I don’t think it’s Biblical to make it public when you’re personally fasting alone just so as to gain following or likes or even support. What do you think about this? Please let me know in the comments section
2. Did Jesus Tell Us To Pray In Public to be Seen?
Another very common thing amongst Christians seeking for fame online is praying and worshipping publicly.
Matthew 6:5-6 NKJV
“And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
I believe that when our Lord Jesus Christ said these words, He had already foreseen the social media era, in which everyone shares everything.
Some people can’t have a prayer before meal with their families without making a video or picture and sharing it online. The question you should ask yourself is “why am I sharing this? What are my motives?”. More often than not, the desire is that people see how spiritual you are or how spiritual your family is, and that they envy you.
I know that, when a church service or prayer meeting is recorded live, you will inevitably see people on the recordings praying, worshipping, bowing down to adore God, crying out of awe before God’s glory. However when churches select individual pictures of people worshipping and praying in their church during the service, and that they share those pictures to make social media posts, is the motive to get likes? Is the motive to show how spiritual the church is? Is it about bragging? Is it about Jesus Christ? Is it to be seen by men?
I personally believe that a Christian who makes Bible studies online and prayer sessions online will of course have videos of him/her praying online, but I wonder, when someone selects just the part where they look ultra spiritual and shares it online, are they sharing it to be seen by men or are they sharing it for God’s glory?
3. Did Jesus Tell Us To Give Alms In Public?
Matthew 6:1-4 NKJV
“Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.
That one is a big one.
Generally, when you go out for mission trips, when you go to help the poor, you want people to know what you did so that they can feel empowered and desire to do the same, but at the same time, there can be a desire in you to be seen by people, and to be admired for what you do.
Many Christians are unable to give anything to the poor without taking pictures showing them with a big smile, giving something to the poor. Many Christians can’t give to the poor without taking pictures of what they are giving and sharing it online. More often than not, giving has become an opportunity for fame.
Recently, there was a scandal on YouTube about a married couple living in the USA, who identify as Christians, who adopted an autistic child from Asia, so as to boost their YouTube channel and to earn more money through sponsorships. Once they got the fame they wanted, they rehomed the child (rehoming means giving away the child to specific services which will find another family for that child).
If it was really a good deed, something they were doing for Christ, did they need to make the adoption public? If it was really for Christ, would they have rehomed the child once they became famous and rich thanks to that child?
As we are doing charitable deeds, we should always remember the words of our Lord Jesus Christ.
As for me, the charitable deed in which I’m most involved, is taking care of orphans by paying for their school fees and bringing food supplies to them. Generally, people won’t believe and send their money to help if they don’t see pictures of the kids, so I generally have to share with them what’s going on with the kids, but I always keep in mind that those pictures aren’t for my own fame or for my own glory, they are just for people to know where their money really goes to, especially when they can’t come over to verify themselves, but I pray to God, that I will never make it about me or about fame, because I just want to do God’s Will.
Conclusion
We may do very beautiful things as Christians, but from the moment we start doing them and sharing them in order to be seen by men and women, to be admired, to get fame, we have missed the mark. Let’s always check our motives and verify that we are doing it for God’s glory and not for fame, nor to increase our social media following. Nowadays, people brag about everything : their studies, their marriage, their children, their jobs, their Christianity etc. Let’s share The Gospel of Christ, without making it about us, but keeping the focus on Christ.
Prayer
Father Lord God Almighty, I confess that at times I cared more about my own glory and fame, than about spreading The Gospel and making it all about Christ. Lord held me, that I may do all things for your glory, that I might decrease and Christ may increase, in Jesus Christ’s Name. Amen
Prayer requests
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God bless you
Victoria Eyog
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