Cont’d…
Perils of the Celebrity Lifestyle
Prominence has come to be regarded as equal to success in both society and the church. Usually along with prominence comes the privileges enjoyed by a successful person in society, such as adoring devotees, bodyguards, time saving gadgets, fancy cars, luxurious houses, opportunities for up-market leisure activities and vacations, and material wealth. Many celebrities have serious personal problems just like other people, perhaps even more than others, and some of these problems are related to being famous. But many good people wish that they too could be famous like these people.
Many celebrity Christian leaders today are also having serious problems. But their ministries show visible signs of success like spectacular prophecies, miracles, great preaching, teaching or singing, and great crowds coming to hear them. Therefore, those close to them don’t give the needed attention to the problems. The ministry risks crashing if the celebrity leader is confronted and disciplined for his wrong actions. Sometimes leaders are so powerful that there is no structure to hold them accountable and to correct their wrongs. The problems are left unattended with only a few knowing about them and their ministry goes on.
All Christians are tempted in relation to power, money and sex. But famous people are particularly susceptible to temptation in these areas.[2] They have more opportunities to abuse the power and the adoration of people they enjoy. Reports of Christian megastars crashing are being reported with sickening regularity today. I used to get a very popular Christian daily news bulletin from the USA. Almost daily there was a dose of news over the sexual improprieties of Christian leaders. I felt I was getting a sinful satisfaction and my mind was getting polluted from reading these detailed reports. So I unsubscribed from this bulletin.
Many of these problems of Christian leaders are related to insecurity.[3] Many leaders are talented, but insecure, people who have come to the top through sheer hard work and drive. There is nothing wrong with that. But they need to have safeguards to help them not let their insecurity ruin them. Insecurity may trigger a desire for the satisfaction of conquering people sexually, resulting in them using their positions to sexually exploit others.[4] Insecurity may cause leaders to abuse power and become dictatorial. The opportunity to amass material possessions could trigger gross expressions of greed. Those who rose from poverty to leadership are particularly susceptible here. Some use the sacrificial contributions of people to adopt extravagant lifestyles with fancy cars, luxurious homes, and expensive holidays. The theology of some of these faithful givers permits them to be happy to see that their leaders living with extravagant prosperity even though they themselves may be struggling financially.
The pressure of having to perform in the public arena, or of having to lead a growing organisation, could cause dangerous levels of stress which sometimes expresses itself in bursts of uncontrollable anger, especially with colleagues, or in attacks of severe anxiety. Sportsmen, artistes and preachers will testify to how vulnerable to temptation they are after performing before a huge audience. Some resort to stress reducing substances like alcohol (alcoholism is becoming a serious problem in the ministry). Others look for sexual outlets. Those who suffer most from the stress of famous people are their families. There is an alarming increase in the incidence of neglect, serious conflict, and divorce among Christian celebrities.
Some celebrity leaders like to build monuments that showcase their success, like huge buildings, hospitals, seminaries, and universities. These monuments may not come within their primary callings and giftings. Often these projects run into financial difficulties. In raising funds for them some leaders break principles of Christian integrity. For example, they extort money from unsuspecting Christians through prophecies of blessing in return for generous giving. The upkeep and maintenance of these projects also become a huge burden. And leaders could be detracted from their primary callings because they must raise funds for that.
