Controversial subject matter

Hmm, I guess the title would really be a double entendre. What is on my mind today is the catapulting of baby Christians into the spotlight when they are not ready. What happens to those who have had a illustrious past whom God has taken and changed and filled with zeal and then we get a hold of them? We turn them into, for lack of a better word- Superstars of the Kingdom. The coup de grace of God. What a huge mistake the Body of Christ has made.

Paul in his letter to Timothy states the following instruction; I Timothy 3:6-7 An elder must not be a new believer, because he might become proud, and the devil would cause him to fall. Also, the people outside the church must speak well of him so that he will not be disgraced and fall into the devil's trap.

Now I know some of you are going to say well, he's talking about elders!!! Do you really think the enemy cares what position you are holding if it is a position of authority or any type of leadership? NO! When we put new believers in a spotlight we place them in the sights of the enemy for failure. We in our desire to let people see what God has done and bring in converts, thrust these new babes into the spotlight and often seal their destruction.

Let me give you just a small taste of what I am talking about. Gary Busey, an actor, was "born again" a few years ago a televangelist grabbed hold of him and put him on the tv for God's glory. He is now on reality television being mocked and ridiculed and going very public about his need for rehab. Could someone please call TBN and ask them to go get him and speak some truth into him and set him up at a Christian Based & Principled rehab. Carol Alt, one time supermodel, also held up as a trophy for God. Now, posing in Playboy. The blogs that I have come across about her are heartbreaking and I feel defensive for her and for Gary Busey and for so many others who the Good Word was planted in and the cares of this life and the glitter and the glitz of celebrity are choking them. Does anyone else care that this did not have to happen? I saw Gary Busey given the opportunity to preach on TBN and the things that he said were so wrong. But it didn't matter cause he was famous and God saved him, like that was the most unusual thing.

God is not impressed with actors, actresses, porn stars, or anyone else who gets saved. He is not impressed when people who have lived an outlandish lifestyle gets saved. Why? Because that is why He sent His Son!!!! These people are not famous to God, just because they are to us. They are His creation in need of a Saviour and He saved them and we fed them to the wolves. I am very grieved by this, very grieved.

It happens in churches too, all across America and probably the world. Someone comes in, has what most call an "awesome testimony" of God's miraculous, life changing power and then "BAM" they are shot to the top of the "celebrity" list at the church. They are complimented, people want to talk to them, their opinion matters on the things of God and His Word and is taken to heart. Then you see it happen, pride slides in. They don't listen to those who are spiritual and seasoned, they are not tempered and they do not want to listen to the elders. Because God has given them revelation that the rest of us don't have.

Try to correct them in love and they will bow up. Totally unscriptural, but they somehow feel like God targeted them for something greater than the rest of us. Maybe he has, but God is God and He is not contrary to His Word. Aren't we to be doers of His Word? Yet, we so miss that very important instruction and in the process lose many, and I say many, children of promise.

I called this controversial because many will take issue with what I have said. The direction is in the Bible, take it up with God. The proof is in the lives who have been damaged, ask them what it means to be asked to lead, when they were supposed to follow. I called this controversial because the whole subject wrestled with me when I read about Carol Alt. Some things I have read said, she is not ashamed of her God given body. I don't know if she said that or not, but apparently she is not as she chooses to share it with the world. Why? Because she was not taken and nurtured and taught what it is like to really be a child of God and all that that entails. That you glorify God by a changed life that shines from the inside out, not the other way around.

Like so many of Hollywood peoples aquaintances, who use these "stars" for their own agenda's and pocketbooks, the church has their hand out as well. I'm ashamed.
God's grace is awesome. I also speak as one who at one time, when I was a new Christian was given a little more authority and influence than I should have been. I can't throw stones, I live in a glass house. I do know this, I made mistakes that hurt people. I do know that I was a baby and baby's make messes and I made a mess. When the bullets stopped I was standing alone. Except for God.

Not a single person could have told me I was not ready to be a leader. Even had I read what I just typed out in I Timothy I would probably have made an excuse of how that did not apply to me. But, it did and it still applies to every new believer. I am a survivor in the Kingdom of God because of His great mercy and His forgiving power. Please pray for baby christians who are put in places they should not be. Pray for them, love them, be patient with them, and give them the Truth in love. They may not accept it right away or may shrug you off, but one day it will piece their heart and they will get it and be thankful that you were not wowed by them but loved them enough to be honest with them. I know, I had one who did love me enough to make me mad and to chance I would never speak to them again. She loved me and she loved God and she did the hard thing, the right thing. I am convinced that I am still here because of that love, honesty and lots of prayer.