Teresa Che Ferry is an award winner with the Press Services International Young Writers Program. She attends Waverley Christian College, Melbourne Australia.
How many of us have role models? I’d say that anyone who’s reading this has some sort of role model, a person they look up to, follow and admire. Now let me ask you another question, out of all your role models and people you admire, how many of them would, in today’s society, be classified as celebrities? If you’re like a majority of people, most of the people we admire, aim to be like, chase on Instagram and fan girl about are, indeed, what this world would deem celebrities.
Whilst there is absolutely nothing wrong with having role models who fit in this category, the danger is that we see the lives of power and influence that they lead and then conclude, whether we are conscious of it or not, that we simply don’t have what it takes to be a truly influential person in our own circumstances that perhaps aren’t so glamourous, Instagram worthy, or as pretty as we would like them to be.
Sadly, many in our society today have fallen into this trap without even knowing it, and ultimately leave influence, leadership and success to those with a celebrity status. What we need to realize is that we will never influence and change the world by trying to be like it.
This same ‘resignation’ mentality can often be applied to our own faith. Whenever celebrities like Justin Bieber, the Jonas Brothers, Dwayne Johnson, Rodger Federer, Kanye West and Ashley Graham speak out or mention their Christian faith, it causes a wave of mixed responses. Whilst some are negative responses, a lot of the time the Christian, and non-Christian populations of the internet respond with support and admiration for these high profile people who have the courage to step out publicly with their faith.
Whilst yes we should celebrate the many celebrities who have the courage to be open about their faith (not just Christianity), I would argue that in society today we more often than not idealize and admire the faith of big name stars more than we do the faith of everyday people. Our obsession with celebrities has to stop.
Whilst I’m not denying that Jesus works through people with high profiles, are they truly the best we have to offer? Somehow or another I feel that by projecting this image of Christianity, we are losing our grip on the true message of the gospel. We don’t need to make it look more palatable. The fact is, we the ordinary folk are just as much an influential Christian as big name stars are. We as Christians need to stop leaving the ‘influential Christian’ bit to people who are famous, wealthy and notable because you and me can share the gospel and bring the love of Christ into our society just as well as they can. We too can be an influence.
We’ve often heard the saying, big things have small beginnings, and in Zachariah 4:10, we are told to ‘not despise the small things, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin’. Maybe being an ‘influential Christian’ brings images of big stages, spotlights and conversion. Maybe Psalm 96:3: ‘declare his glory among the nations.’
We, the disciples of Christ, are called to share the good news and love of God with others, but the job is actually a lot simpler than it seems. It doesn’t require big missionary trips to all corners of the earth, mass conversions, fame or power, it all starts with the example and seeds we sow in the hearts of those around us, our friends, peers, colleagues and family. Jesus himself said that ‘faith as little as a mustard seed’ has the potential to move mountains.
Whilst maybe we can’t convert and change other people’s lives in drastic ways, we can however, be the face of God for them by loving, listening and caring for them as Jesus would. By being that Jesus for them, we can influence those around us in, what I would argue, much bigger ways than anyone with a celebrity status can. After all, the church and Christ’s message is not just for the successful, the powerful, the influential and the celebrated, but for the addicted, the sinful, the rejected and those who society labels unsuccessful and unwanted.
It is our duty as followers of Christ to bring his message and love to all in our society. To be the ‘light to the world’, we don’t need a celebrity status, for he has placed and made us into exactly who and where we need to be at this exact moment in time. You and me, the ordinary, can truly be the change in this world for his greater glory.
Teresa Che Ferry is an award winner with the Press Services International Young Writers Program. She attends Waverley Christian College, Melbourne Australia.
Jeremy Dover is a former sports scientist and Pastor
Jeremy Dover's previous articles may be viewed at https://www.pressserviceinternational.org/jeremy-dover1.html
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