How to be Famous

 For some reason today I feel that Im supposed to write something about fame.  As quite often happens when I sit down to write the blog I dont have much idea of what's going to develop as I put my fractured thoughts on the page.  

Nobody makes themselves famous.  Even in today's world of Instagram influencers and celebrity culture, however hard people work at ' putting themselves out there' they only become famous by having a widespread public response or following.  And of course what we admire and follow varies from culture to culture and over time.  If I were to go back in time and tell my great grandparents that someone would become world famous for releasing a sex tape or putting a stuffed shark in a glass tank they would probably sigh in despair.  

I think there are a couple of reasons why we make people famous.  Firstly we admire and are in awe of individuals who achieve amazing things.  Be it acts of selfless heroism, world changing inventions, soul stirring creativity, or talent in any field we rightly want to celebrate excellence. 

Secondly, and perhaps more dangerously, we covet other people's lives.  We live vicariously through another persons successes. Or looks.  Or voice.  And we would like the fame and adulation ourselves.

Thirdly, we love a good story.  Fame only comes about because someone is shared.  And people share things that mean something to them.  Being a fan of someone gives you access to a community of like-minded people.

Jesus, of course, is the most famous person in the world. He is actively celebrated and worshipped by 2.4 billion Christians in the world, but also recognised as a prophet by 1.9 billion Muslims. (approx 57% of world population )  For 2020 years His life and work has been told and retold.  Jesus takes fame to a whole other level.  If we hold up Jesus as the standard for being famous nobody else comes close. And yet the Bible tells us   

He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.  Is 53:2

He was unattractive.  Undesirable.   Ugly maybe?  He was homeless, poor and hung out with the very worst sort of people. And He was put to death as a common criminal.  If Jesus were around today I wonder how famous we would make Him?  The first century disciples did the most amazing job of spreading the name and the fame of Jesus all over the world. But they did more than that.  The reason why Jesus is still famous today is that the disciples didn't just talk about Him, they embodied Him.  They didn't just tell stories about Jesus, they did the things that Jesus did. They healed the sick, championed the poor, broke down barriers of class and race and gender.  They fed the hungry and did miracles and were prepared to die for their hero.  And none of them appropriated fame for themselves - they attributed everything they said and did to Jesus, making Him increase as they decreased. They, like King David centuries before, recognised that the source of any success was God and that He was the one who maintained their reputation in the eyes of man  

We all like to be appreciated, thought well of, admired.  Secretly most of us would probably quite like to be a little bit famous for doing something amazing.  Jesus made Himself of no reputation and His disciples followed His example.  

 For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest." Luke 9:48 

Im pretty sure that heaven is going to be full of little people we have never heard of who are famous in heaven for being like Jesus.  And the big important people we imagined might be sitting up at the front near the throne will be barely recognised ( although much loved) despite their magnificent theologies, awesome philanthropy, best selling books and packed out preaching or worship tours.

We live in an increasingly ' celebrity' obsessed society.  I think, particularly for our children, it will become ever more difficult to hold onto the notion that character is what is important and that the opinions of others matter little in comparison to the opinion God has of us.  We are playing to an audience of One.  Being famous in His eyes is all that matters.