My pastor can beat up your pastor.

Welcome to the age of the celebrity pastor.

We've always had popular men of the cloth. The advent of social networking simply helps make them viral.

The results can be funny. I overheard two acquaintances going back and forth about how awesome their respective pastors where. Various major points were compared, from hair gel to mobile device.
Finally, one of the debaters threw down his trump card. "My pastor can do a split!"

At this point, I had to interrupt. I needed to agree... his pastor was cool. A pastor who does splits? Incredible. I felt inadequate and unfulfilled, and made a mental note to request the same from our pastor during the next church event.

Looking back, I wonder why I did not have the presence of mind to ask for an in-depth reason as to why his pastor did a split in the first place. Then again, it was probably best left unsaid. In any case, this pastor had achieved celebrity status on account of his proficiency of a move that defined MC Hammer.

The hushed, reverential tones of congregants when mentioning their pastor is a clear sign. You live where? Have you heard Reverend so and so? No? GOODNESS!

Makes you wanna raise a lighter to the sky.

It isn't only pastors. Lately, it seems the church (I use the term collectively) is eager to bestow the term "believer" on any famous person that utters the word "God" in any public forum. The problem here is obvious; this includes even the most hedonistic stars that win at awards shows and every artist facing felony charges. Look on the cover of some of your favorite christian magazine for proof.

Celebrities rule.

Of course, the real danger is when the messenger becomes greater than the Message. Is modern christianity being driven by personality cults? Do we treasure the trend more than the substance?
We live in an age where we are all addicted to sizzle. We like the famous, and want to be like them. We allegedly unmoor balloons with imaginary children in them in order to get reality shows. Why should the church be any different?

Except for one small fact: it should. And we need to reevaluate our motives, because if I see any pastors making any homemade devices that can float, I refuse to visit that church.

Stay blessed!

Balloon pic courtesy of AP.
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