Thread by @BethMooreLPM

John 12 this AM. Choosing V.43 for comment because of its relevance to platform culture. Along with others God calls at times to serve inordinate numbers, I’ve had a birds-eye view to the dynamics involved. 1st the verse:

“For they loved human praise more than praise from God.”

1. Do NOT seek a large platform. It’s deadly. If God entrusts you with it, serve with fear & trembling but do not get sucked into celebrity. It will make you sick. God alone can handle worship. We think we want it because of our Garden-born lust to be gods. Hear me: WE DON’T.

2. It’s not that human praise MAY turn into human hate. It’s that it WILL. You like being loved. Can you handle being hated? Because you will be. Anyone who adores you can abhor you.

3. You make yourself a celebrity and you will make yourself a slave. Every time. They own you.

4. Celebrity is a counterfeit of community. It says, “I want to be part of a crowd” only you aren’t part of it. Increasing celebrity leads to increasing isolation. God made you for fellowship. There’s no such thing as fellowship w/crowds & yes people.

5. Crowds rob your family.

6. Crowds get dangerous. Adoring crowds inevitably lead to stalkers. You have never dealt with anything more terrifying than a relentless stalker.

7. You will not just be criticized. You will be slandered and lied about. You won’t be able to clear some of it up.

Wrapping up....

Social media makes this topic woefully relevant. We can know how important crowds are to us by asking ourselves a simple question: Would we like social media as much if all we could do is interact but we couldn’t see numbers of followers or likes or retweet or re-posts?

Leave the fame to God. Run for your life from making a name for yourself. That tower always falls on the one that builds it. It’s just a matter of time.

There’s only one name worthy to be praised. Live for that one. If people hand you a crown, throw it instantly at His feet.