When Christian Celebrity Falls — Again
It has happened again. Another well-known Christian “celebrity” has been caught up in moral failure. Philip Yancey has confessed to eight years of marital unfaithfulness with a married woman. It is truly hard to keep up with what seems to be the falling house of cards that is Christian celebrity. One hesitates to comment or offer assessment on the latest public confession, because it seems as though there will be another one tomorrow.
The Weight of Influence and the Cost of Failure
One cannot infallibly point to a single reason why so many Christian celebrities fall, other than the obvious reality of ongoing human sinfulness. However, one observation may be made: generally speaking, Christians, regardless of gifting, may not be meant for celebrity and broad platforms. As the old saying goes, “The bigger they are, the harder they fall.” The larger the influence and platform, the more far-reaching the impact of public moral failure. When a leader fails, it is not only the leader who is affected, but also the souls who trusted them to be examples worth following.
Teaching Outside the Local Church
Philip Yancey was not a pastor; he was an author of popular-level Christian writing. Yet even though he was not a pastor, people read his books much as they would listen to a pastor. This is where Christians who choose to write and speak outside the local church must be especially careful. There is often little accountability in this sphere, and we must heed James’s warning that “not many of you should become teachers” (James 3:1). In reality, most of us do not truly know the people writing the books or speaking at the conferences. We assume they have been vetted, that they are under proper accountability and that they are faithful, godly Christians. Yet teachers outside our immediate sphere may be charlatans, because we do not see the fruit of their daily lives. For this reason, we must be careful how much influence we allow such figures to have over our faith and ministry.
Our Search for a Savior We Already Have
Christians have long been drawn to big names to follow. When a new voice gains a platform or when a Hollywood celebrity or professional athlete professes faith, Christians often celebrate as though these individuals will somehow make Christianity great again. It can feel as if we are still searching for a messiah to legitimize Christianity in our nation and world. The reason these failures impact us so deeply is precisely because these figures cannot be the Messiah. Jesus alone is the one who “suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous” (1 Peter 3:18).
Discernment, Not Disengagement
This is not to say that we cannot value or learn from preachers and teachers outside our local churches. But we must exercise discernment. Not everyone is meant for, or can handle, the stage, and those who believe they are must carefully weigh the cost and responsibility. No one is perfect, and church history is filled with small-church pastors who have fallen into domineering leadership, sexual immorality, embezzlement and other sins. Still, the reality remains that most Christians and most pastors are called to be busy leading a quiet life.
Paul’s Call to a Quiet and Faithful Life
One of the issues Paul addresses in his letter to the Thessalonians is idleness. Some people in the church were not contributing to the work and were instead causing trouble. Paul has strong words for those who are unwilling to work and who become busybodies. Near the end of 1 Thessalonians, Paul writes:
A way to love one another is to live quietly, mind your own affairs, and work with your hands. If we focus on what God has placed right in front of us, this can lead to walking properly before those who do not yet know Christ.
Choosing Faithfulness Over the Platform
Perhaps if instead of writing books for a wider audience, recording videos for people outside our immediate spheres and seeking larger stages, we focused on the quiet life and the spheres around us, we would have a deeper, more honoring and more lasting impact.
A Final Exhortation to Pastors and Christians
Pastor and Christian, value the life that is in front of you. Be busy ministering to the flock God has entrusted to you (1 Peter 5:1–4). Go ahead and write a book or start a YouTube channel, but make the edification of the people around you — those who know you — your first priority. Aspire to live quietly and attend faithfully to what God has placed before you.
