Famous Christians, or at least famous people who call themselves Christians, have been part of pop culture in America for as long as I can remember. Some of those famous Christians have believed the Bible and maintained a good Christian testimony for a long time – maybe their whole lives. Others have not.
Fame doesn’t make anyone bad. Popularity doesn’t always have a corrupting influence. We don’t necessarily have to compromise to be well known.
With that being said, all of us can name a few popular Christians who went bad or became corrupted or compromised their Biblical position. In fact, many of us are concerned for those in the spotlight. The pressures and temptations of life in the public eye can be extreme.
Celebrities who believe and live according to the scriptures are likely to be fewer than those who don’t. Bible doctrine, which brings light into a dark culture, is not usually popular. Light exposes that which is hidden in darkness and men love darkness rather than light. That’s why we hear many speak of their “faith” and “Jesus,” but not as much about what the Bible says about faith and about Jesus.
YouTube and social media have given believers opportunities for gaining a higher profile. There are more popular Christians (or so-called Christians) today than ever. As the numbers have increased so have our responsibilities for discernment.
Every Christian celebrity is an individual case. Words, actions, associations, and beliefs should be considered for each one. “All those preachers on YouTube are a joke” is not a Godly or reasonable position. Everyone deserves a fair hearing.
But think carefully about what I just wrote: words, actions, associations, and beliefs should be considered. If a person becomes an influencer and we are among those they influence, we need some information about them!
What is their testimony of salvation? What have they said about the Bible? Do they have a local church? Do they regularly attend that local church? What does their local church believe? These are a few of the questions worth asking before we become a fan and promoter.
It may be easier to click like or share and ignore the details, but people of integrity value details. Details matter.