Tag: Luke 5

Escaping Christian Celebrity Culture: A Lesson from Jesus

In today’s Christian world, there’s a growing trend that mirrors the celebrity culture we see in entertainment—prominent pastors, authors, and Christian leaders who garner massive followings and media attention. But when we examine the life of Jesus, we find a stark contrast. In Luke 5, Mark 2, and Matthew 9, we see that Jesus often withdrew from the crowds. Though He performed miracles and taught large gatherings, He never craved the spotlight. Instead, He sought solitude with the Father and avoided the temptations of fame.

Jesus exemplified that true leadership is rooted in humility and submission to God’s will. When the crowds clamored for His attention, He often retreated to spend time in prayer, ensuring His purpose remained aligned with the Father’s will (Luke 5:16). He wasn’t interested in gathering fame for fame’s sake; He focused on serving, healing, and ultimately fulfilling His mission to redeem humanity. This starkly contrasts with the celebrity culture that elevates human leaders to near-idol status.

Today’s Christian “celebrity” culture can be dangerous because it risks shifting focus away from Jesus and onto individuals. Pastors and leaders should not be viewed as celebrities but as vessels pointing people toward Christ. Unfortunately, recent high-profile failures remind us of the pitfalls of elevating any human leader. When we put anyone but Jesus on a pedestal, we set both them and ourselves up for disappointment. Christian leaders like Tony Evans, Robert Morris, and Steve Lawson remind us that even the most respected can falter, underscoring that no one is above accountability.

What can we learn from this? That true pastoral leadership should point people to Jesus, not themselves. A pastor should prioritize service, humility, and leading others to a deeper relationship with God—not to fame. If Jesus, the Son of God, rejected the spotlight in favor of solitude and humility, shouldn’t our pastors and leaders do the same?

This leaves us with a critical question: Are we following Jesus or are we seeking leaders who entertain or make us feel good about ourselves? A good pastor will always redirect our focus back to Christ, making sure that our hope rests solely in Him, not in human authority or charisma. The lesson from Jesus is clear—humility, service, and submission to God’s will should define leadership, not fame or celebrity. In this light, Christian celebrity culture is not just undesirable; it’s incompatible with true, Christ-like leadership.

When Jesus Calls

In the Gospels, we see a remarkable moment when Jesus calls His first disciples. While they were going about their everyday lives—fishing by the shore, mending their nets—Jesus walks up and simply says, “Follow me.” And just like that, they drop everything and follow Him. What’s most surprising is the immediacy of their response. They didn’t hesitate, ask for time to think about it, or even inquire about what this journey would look like. They left their nets, their boats, their livelihoods, and followed Him instantly.

We find this story in multiple Gospel accounts. In Matthew 4:18-22, we see Simon Peter and Andrew being called, followed by James and John. Luke 5:1-11 gives more detail about the miraculous catch of fish, which serves as a sign of Jesus’ power. In Mark 1:16-20, the simplicity of Jesus’ call is emphasized once more—there’s no fanfare, no big promises, just a command to follow. And they obey.

There’s something about Jesus’ call that cuts through the noise of everyday life and demands a response. The disciples might not have known the full scope of what they were getting into, but they knew this: Jesus was worth following. His call offered something more meaningful than their fishing nets, and they couldn’t ignore it.

What can we learn from this? Often, we can become so caught up in our daily routines, our plans, and our careers that when Jesus calls us to something new, we hesitate. We might ask ourselves, “What if I’m not ready?” or “What will this mean for my current plans?” But the disciples teach us that when Jesus calls, the only right response is to follow—without delay, without conditions.

Jesus’ call doesn’t always lead us away from our jobs or families, but it does lead us away from a life where we are in control. To follow Jesus means giving up the idea that we have everything figured out and trusting that His path is better, even — perhaps especially — when we can’t see where it leads. When the disciples left their nets, they didn’t know that they were stepping into a world-changing mission, that they would witness miracles, or that they would eventually become the leaders of the early church. They just knew that Jesus was calling, and that was enough.

For us today, the call of Jesus might look different—it could be a nudge toward a new direction in life, a call to serve in your church or community, or a challenge to step out of your comfort zone. Whatever it is, we are invited to respond like the disciples—immediately and wholeheartedly. Jesus still calls us today, and He calls us into a life filled with purpose and adventure. But we won’t discover that if we hold onto our “nets” and insist on staying in control.

What is Jesus calling you to today? Will you drop everything to follow Him?