“Hey, aren’t you a Pastor?”

The other day i was at our local Giant grocery store, filling up the buggy with all things that make for a festive and wondrous Thanksgiving meal. After all the festivities were over, I headed toward the check out. Removing groceries from the buggy is a less than tough guy, biker activity, but one tries to maintain a sense of decorum while doing so. As i put my half gallon of soy milk (yea, i know) on the conveyor belt, I heard "Hey, aren't you a Pastor?" Caught completely off guard, i put the soy milk down, smiled and said, "well kinda." "Yea, I thought i saw you at LCBC a few times." Had a cool conversation with him about Saturate and LCBC.

Being recognized is a big deal today.

Several weeks ago Adam and i were glued to our computer screens as we watched what we thought was a 6 year old boy fly through the air trapped in a weird weather balloon. I remember freaking out when they opened the thing up and he was not in there. Turned out to be hoax. I was so into it. I wanted to smack the dad for how he used this kid to become famous and hook a TV show. Really? Dad faces jail time, mom almost got deported and lost her kids.

Thanksgiving day, a couple made their way into a "State Dinner" hosted by our President. Seemed harmless enough, till i realized how bizarre it was to get so close (actually shook Obama's hand) to the current leader of the free world. Politics aside, it was a little freaky. Turns out, they wanted to be on a TV show. Really? They both face felony charges that could lead to jail time.

In a world of non reality, reality TV, we have become completely obsessed with becoming famous and wealthy. With wealth and fame come ease and fun, big homes and fast cars. We all seem to want to live and party like big rock stars. Really?

It would be nice to be able to say that these issues exist outside the world of Faith. But they don't. These desires are at the very core of humanity. Church positions become stepping stones to the big prize (i know, i are one), a big church, a big audience and a big pay off. Families have been put at risk for the fulfillment of Church dreams just  as much as the balloon boy, all for the sake of fame and fortune.

Admittedly, it was cool for someone to recognize me for where i serve. But it also scared me. 

We really were not ever meant to be known for anything that we do. Especially in the Church. We are really supposed to be known for who we know and how He wants to know others. You know...Love, actually. But, it happens. People are famous pastors, worship leaders, and teachers. But they become well know for who they speak of, who they sing about. We put them on pedestals and admire them...as long as they do what we like. We fashion our lives and our way of doing things after them, dress like them, even speak like them. We want to be the next them.

The deepest thing about a follower of Jesus is not what we do or even what we have done. If what we did, or who we were before Jesus was so great, why did we need Jesus in the first place? The deepest thing about us is  that God loves us.

Be recognized for that.  

Jeff Fields | REFLECTION