‘For no one can lay any foundation other than the one that has been laid; that foundation is Jesus Christ’ – 1 Corinthians 3:11
Last night I read the news that Jim Caviezel, the actor and professed disciple most famous for playing Jesus in The Passion of the Christ, has added his name to the Christian Hall of Shame. Promoting an upcoming movie at a far-right conspiracy conference (what in God’s name was he even doing there?) he pushed the QAnon conspiracy theory that an international cabal (made up of rich Jews, liberal Democrats, and Hollywood elites, among others) take drugs procured through the harvesting of children’s blood. Seriously. You can’t make this stuff up.
My immediate thought was: not again.
In recent years, we have seen many famous Christians fall from grace. I won’t list the names here, first because there are tragically too many, second because what would be the point? Many of these folks have been stars of the Christian culture I was raised to believe in, folks who had inspired me significantly in my own faith journey. I suppose one lesson I might glean from that is that God can use anyone, and often works through broken vessels to advance his purposes.[1] But right now, what I feel for the most part is embarrassment. Embarrassment that, once again, in icon from Christian culture whom I have pointed to time and again as an example of faith has proven to be a first-class moron.
Actually, I feel more than just embarrassment. To tell the truth, moments like these shake my faith a little. It would be surprising if they didn’t. Like I said, many of these fallen Christians have been part of my own faith journey. Their example has propelled me along at crucial moments. If they are frauds (or worse) what does that say about my faith? Is that fraudulent too?
Before I shock some of you too much, let me assure you that my faith is not fraudulent. But the fact that such a thought would enter my head even for a moment, even in jest, concerns me. It causes me to wonder if others might think it too, and not just for a moment. Let’s face it, each of these fallen Christian celebrities, not to mention their aggregate influence, has done considerable damage to the faith of many believers. In some cases, the damage may last a lifetime.
And that, reader, is something to write about.
That the fall of Christian celebrities can damage a person’s faith, reveals the folly of ‘Christian celebrity.’ Throughout Christian history, there have been notable followers of Jesus, men and women who, through their ‘long obedience in the same direction,’ to use Eugene Peterson’s phrase, have demonstrated what the life of discipleship looks like. Such men and women deserve to be read about, studied, and respected as examples to emulate. As Paul once said, ‘imitate me, as I imitate Christ’ (1 Corinthians 11:1). But today, and for some time, we have raised up models for emulation who have not, at least not for a long time in the same direction, modeled Christlikeness. Rather, we have made idols of those who, say, star in a movie, or build a large following using principles drawn more from the world of business than the Bible, or have nice hair, or a silver tongue, or look good in a pair of skinny jeans. Charisma, biblically speaking, refers to a person having a gift of the Spirit; today it means having the right look, the right words, and the ability to make people (supposedly spiritually) swoon. These are not the Christian saints of old. These are Christian Celebrities. And there is a ginormous difference between a saint and a celebrity.
But more to the point, Paul’s words about imitation remind us that even as we read and study those who have exhibited lifelong faithfulness and Christlikeness, we really shouldn’t imitate them. The only sense in which we should is to the extent that they imitated Christ. He, and he alone, is the one we have been called to follow. He, and he alone, is the one we are called to imitate.[2] We cannot build our faith on the cult of Christian celebrity, or even Christian sainthood, for there is no other foundation than the one that has already been laid, and that foundation is Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 3:11).
I was hurt (that’s not too strong a word) last night when I read about Jim Caviezel. I suspect that many others will be too. As they (you?) have been, time and again, as the idols of Christian celebrity have fallen like so many poorly stacked dominoes.
And so, if your faith has been shaken, let me urge you to take this opportunity to re-center your faith where it belongs. We should not believe because Christian celebrities inspire us. We should believe because Jesus does.
As I thought of these things this morning, I coincidentally (not!) heard the stirring words The Good Confession by Andrew Peterson, words that remind me why I believe:
All I know is that I was blind
But now I see that
Though I kick and scream,
Love is leading me.
And every step of the way
His grace is making me
With every breath I breathe
He is saving me.
And I believe.
Yes. That’s why I believe. Jesus is my foundation. There is no other. No not one.
Under Christ’s Mercy,
Brent
[1] For this I am thankful, being a broken vessel myself.
[2] By the way, on more than one occasion, Jesus explicitly rejected the chance to be a celebrity (see, Matthew 4:5-7; John 6:14-15).