I’ve been on a journey of epiphany for the last few months. It started when I began attending Fellowship Church (Ed Young’s church) here in Dallas. It’s continued and even intensified since coming on staff at RT Creative Group.
I’m starting to realize that all these celebrities we look up to or despise are just people. Obvious? Perhaps. But when was the last time you criticized your favorite-to-hate pastor? When did you last shake your head when you read Rob Bell’s tweet? When did you show your fellow church workers Pastor Fashion and hang your head in shame. What was your last Facebook post about Mark Driscoll’s latest comment?
Even though we realize these “celebrities” are people, we often attack them as if they aren’t. We vilify and even dehumanize them. We make discouraging and life-stealing comments about them in public places. You might be surprised to know how often this stuff makes its way up the chain and to their ears…
I’ve probably developed a bit more compassion since I’ve attended a church whose pastor I previously disliked. I had a bad taste in my mouth toward Ed Young. But I’m realizing he’s a flawed man just like me. He owns his flaws and runs with them. More than that, he really plays off his strengths.
And you won’t hear him criticizing fellow celebrities. You know why? If he started doing that he’d take himself out of the game. He’d become a critic instead of a doer. And he wants to be a doer.
Sure, critics get attention and stir people up. But critics don’t actually do anything. They’re condemned to sit on the side lines.
I don’t want to be a critic. I want to be a doer. So I’m working on myself – I’m going to stop turning “celebrities” into villains. I’m going to see them as people, get inspired by them, and move forward – do my thing.
Join me.
Great insight!
Not just celebrities, but I see other Pastor in the community, or dare I say within the same church turn into villains.
Great insight!
Not just celebrities, but I see other Pastor in the community, or dare I say within the same church turn into villains.
I wanna be a doer!!!
I wanna be a doer!!!