"God Doesn't Need Celebrities"

Above is an ad on the community bulletin board at our local post office.  The church who hung it there (NOT my church. by the way) was advertising a movie "proving" that the late, great actor STEVE McQUEEN became a Christian later in his life.  Apparently, judging from the blurb promoting the movie, the film was used as a means of evangelistic outreach.

Before I get to my main point, I have to "clearify" (as George W. Bush might say) the following.


1.)  I like Steve McQueen, just watched "Nevada Smith" again and I think he was brilliant.  I truly hope he DID get saved!!


2.) The Bible clearly teaches that anyone can get saved, right up to the very end of their life, if they truly repent and believe the Gospel.


3.) God DOES use celebrities at times to further His Cause!  Recently, in fact, I've written here about Chris Pratt and Mariano Rivera being used, I believe, by Him (see recent blogs.).  And...


4.) Though I didn't see the McQueen film, I am waiting for a book I ordered which "proves" that BOB DYLAN'S profession of faith is genuine (I hope it is.)  So I, too, DO take some interest in the professions of the well-known, like MANY Christians do!


All of that being said, there is a mentality in the church-at-large today that somehow God NEEDS celebrities to turn people's hearts to Him.  This is simply not Biblical.  

Christianity first spread because of common, ordinary people (the original Apostles.)  One might say that when PAUL came on the scene HE was a celebrity....he was INfamous more than he was famous.  But the church was already established by then....to the point that Saul / Paul was persecuting it before the Lord appeared to him on the road to Damascus.

Let's be clear, though.  Saul / Paul was a "celebrity" who needed GOD, more than GOD needed HIM.


Years ago, before I got saved, I idolized singer Cat Stevens in the 1970s.  In one of his songs, Stevens sang that he was

"Doing the work of God, trying to make things better for Him" (from "Music," 1974.)

Wow, how arrogant but how HONEST....there are MANY celebs who think God needs them.  He doesn't.  He doesn't need ANY of us to accomplish His purposes, though He glorifies Himself by USING us, in spite of our weaknesses, if we truly know and serve Him.