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Celebrities for Jesus: How Personas, Platforms, and Profits Are Hurting the Church
An award-winning writer shows how and why celebrity is woven into the fabric of the evangelical movement, identifies many ways fame goes awry, shows us how we all unwittingly foster a celebrity culture, and offers a vision of faithfulness to the Messiah who was despised and rejected.
224 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 2022
69 people are currently reading
3639 people want to read
About the author
Katelyn Beaty
8 books487 followersKatelyn Beaty is a journalist, editor, and keen observer of trends in the church. She has written for the New York Times, the New Yorker, the Washington Post, Religion News Service, Religion & Politics, and The Atlantic and has commented on faith and culture for CNN, ABC, NPR, the Associated Press, and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
She is cohost of the Saved by the City podcast and previously served as print managing editor at Christianity Today. She’s the author of Celebrities for Jesus: How Personas, Platforms, and Profits Are Hurting the Church (Brazos Press, 2022) and A Woman's Place: A Christian Vision for Your Calling in the Office, the Home, and the World (Simon & Schuster, 2016). A Midwest native, Katelyn lives in Brooklyn.
She is cohost of the Saved by the City podcast and previously served as print managing editor at Christianity Today. She’s the author of Celebrities for Jesus: How Personas, Platforms, and Profits Are Hurting the Church (Brazos Press, 2022) and A Woman's Place: A Christian Vision for Your Calling in the Office, the Home, and the World (Simon & Schuster, 2016). A Midwest native, Katelyn lives in Brooklyn.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 308 reviews
April 12, 2022
A timely and necessary critique that pulls no punches, but avoids cynicism and cruelty.
Almost everyone will agree that white evangelicalism has a Christian celebrity problem. Most critiques go no further than that or have no idea of a better way forward. This book explains how this phenomenon began and the ways that it is damaging the body of Christ.
If you are hoping to rage against celebrities and dive into an expose, then you will be disappointed. The book critiques plenty and does not mind naming names. She goes into detail to explain the destruction caused by some of the biggest names in evangelicalism. But she also shows grace. She by no means makes light of their sin nor excuses it. She describes it in harsh terms. But the focus of the book is not to look at how terrible "these people" are. Instead, it takes a wider view of the destructive power of this system that creates and platforms them in the first place. I was surprised to see how the book shows the destruction of a Christian celebrities own life. This phenomenon is not just bad for the church generally, but for their own souls.
There is a chapter that is dedicated to the Christian publishing industry's complicity in the creation of celebrities. This chapter is worth the price of the book alone. I've thought about the Christian celebrity complex plenty, but her insight into the publishing world is worth the price of the book.
What I appreciate most about this book is that it looks right at the darkness and destruction, but never loses hope. Criticism is necessary and needed, but we also need to see a better way forward. I left this book not scoffing at other celebrities and their destruction of the church. But it forced me to consider how I personally am complicit in creating them. And to ask myself if I am willing to do anything to reverse the trend.
In the end, this book is brilliant. It's short and packs a mighty punch. It provides a much-needed critique that I pray the church hears.
I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a review.
Almost everyone will agree that white evangelicalism has a Christian celebrity problem. Most critiques go no further than that or have no idea of a better way forward. This book explains how this phenomenon began and the ways that it is damaging the body of Christ.
If you are hoping to rage against celebrities and dive into an expose, then you will be disappointed. The book critiques plenty and does not mind naming names. She goes into detail to explain the destruction caused by some of the biggest names in evangelicalism. But she also shows grace. She by no means makes light of their sin nor excuses it. She describes it in harsh terms. But the focus of the book is not to look at how terrible "these people" are. Instead, it takes a wider view of the destructive power of this system that creates and platforms them in the first place. I was surprised to see how the book shows the destruction of a Christian celebrities own life. This phenomenon is not just bad for the church generally, but for their own souls.
There is a chapter that is dedicated to the Christian publishing industry's complicity in the creation of celebrities. This chapter is worth the price of the book alone. I've thought about the Christian celebrity complex plenty, but her insight into the publishing world is worth the price of the book.
What I appreciate most about this book is that it looks right at the darkness and destruction, but never loses hope. Criticism is necessary and needed, but we also need to see a better way forward. I left this book not scoffing at other celebrities and their destruction of the church. But it forced me to consider how I personally am complicit in creating them. And to ask myself if I am willing to do anything to reverse the trend.
In the end, this book is brilliant. It's short and packs a mighty punch. It provides a much-needed critique that I pray the church hears.
I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a review.
September 15, 2022
4 // I am not sure who Beaty’s target audience is here. She spends the first half of the book providing a bird’s eye view of Christian celebrity in pastoral, political, general ministry, and entertainment spheres. The most likely people to read her book will already be well aware of the key figures she spends time on (Mark Driscoll, Ravi Zacharias, Carl Lentz, etc.) There are a plethora of podcasts and articles highlighting their downfall and concerning patterns, so Beaty’s effort rehashing seems unnecessary.
However, as I kept reading, I could see that Beaty has a unique thread throughout the book - she specifies time and again how celebrity corrodes the image bearer in the spotlight. Rather than bashing the public fallen figure, she has a tone of compassion. She chooses to focus more on the problematic cultural structures that feed our impulses toward pride and idolatry. And as Mike Cosper did in “The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill,” Beaty reverses the spotlight onto the audience to ask what our contribution may be, and to prompt us toward self-examination.
I was disappointed that Beaty chose not to explore the uniquely female-driven celebrity Christian culture on social media, in publishing, and in the conference circuit. The presence of these women often bleeds into MLM and influencer circles, but I don’t find this often addressed. If anyone has further resources for me, do share.
The value of the book (for me) was found in Beaty’s more general chapter on Christian publishing, which is very very good for those who aren’t already familiar with the industry’s vices. And her last chapters on the life of Jesus and on faithful living in obscurity are gold.
However, as I kept reading, I could see that Beaty has a unique thread throughout the book - she specifies time and again how celebrity corrodes the image bearer in the spotlight. Rather than bashing the public fallen figure, she has a tone of compassion. She chooses to focus more on the problematic cultural structures that feed our impulses toward pride and idolatry. And as Mike Cosper did in “The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill,” Beaty reverses the spotlight onto the audience to ask what our contribution may be, and to prompt us toward self-examination.
I was disappointed that Beaty chose not to explore the uniquely female-driven celebrity Christian culture on social media, in publishing, and in the conference circuit. The presence of these women often bleeds into MLM and influencer circles, but I don’t find this often addressed. If anyone has further resources for me, do share.
The value of the book (for me) was found in Beaty’s more general chapter on Christian publishing, which is very very good for those who aren’t already familiar with the industry’s vices. And her last chapters on the life of Jesus and on faithful living in obscurity are gold.
August 5, 2022
Celebrities for Jesus is an incisive look at “how personas, platforms, and profits are hurting the church". I greatly admire Katelyn's voice and seem to align with her theology. I am a fan of her first book, A Woman's Place, and appreciate her style of both objective journalism and humor about Christian culture.
The first section of the book dives into a history of evangelicalism, megachurches, and evangelical celebrities--Billy Graham being the first. Beaty defines celebrity as "social power without proximity." The second section describes three temptations of celebrity: abusing power, chasing platforms, and creating personas. Beaty defines power as "the innate human ability to steward the world to glorify God and bless creation and fellow image bearers."
It was interesting to read Beaty's perspective on ”Christian celebrities" as she is an insider in the Christian publishing world and has a public platform as well. Pop culture fans will enjoy the stories about Justin Bieber, Kanye West, and John Mulroney that parallel the stories of Bill Hybels, Carl Lentz, Ravi Zacharias, and Mark Driscoll. I admired how Beaty manages to make a book critiquing Christian celebrity culture surprisingly hopeful and positive. She always draws readers back to the example of Jesus Christ, the ultimate leader with power who rejected celebrity. Beaty challenges us to "recapture a vision of ordinary faithfulness, a vision of the Christian life that begins and ends with producing 'little Christs'".
The first section of the book dives into a history of evangelicalism, megachurches, and evangelical celebrities--Billy Graham being the first. Beaty defines celebrity as "social power without proximity." The second section describes three temptations of celebrity: abusing power, chasing platforms, and creating personas. Beaty defines power as "the innate human ability to steward the world to glorify God and bless creation and fellow image bearers."
It was interesting to read Beaty's perspective on ”Christian celebrities" as she is an insider in the Christian publishing world and has a public platform as well. Pop culture fans will enjoy the stories about Justin Bieber, Kanye West, and John Mulroney that parallel the stories of Bill Hybels, Carl Lentz, Ravi Zacharias, and Mark Driscoll. I admired how Beaty manages to make a book critiquing Christian celebrity culture surprisingly hopeful and positive. She always draws readers back to the example of Jesus Christ, the ultimate leader with power who rejected celebrity. Beaty challenges us to "recapture a vision of ordinary faithfulness, a vision of the Christian life that begins and ends with producing 'little Christs'".
May 29, 2023
Celebrities for Jesus considers fame in evangelicalism. Why is there such a celebrity culture? What about money and moral failure?
As someone who stays up-to-date on evangelical world news, I found the early chapters of Celebrities for Jesus repetitive. Beaty details the rises and falls of folks like Bill Hybels, John Crist, Mark Driscoll, and Ravi Zacharias. I followed those stories when they were headlining. For the peaceful readers who do not follow evangelical news, reading about those events in Celebrities for Jesus is a way to stay on top of the story without subjecting oneself to the news cycle. For those of us who did follow the news (and for any readers who lived the news stories) those portions are repetitive. There’s not much analysis in those chapters. Analysis does come later, but I didn’t find the retelling of all the stories particularly useful--for me. Not in the whole project of the book, just in my individual reading of it. Even in the mere months since the book was published, several events in the evangelical sphere have occurred that Beaty might have included. I would recommend this book, however, to those less familiar with those events, and to anyone who wants to untangle fallen-leader-syndrome from a celebrity/fame angle.
Unfortunately, Beaty does perpetuate the myth that Rosa Parks' activism occurred because "she was tired," (9) overlooking the fact that Parks studied at the Highlander Folk School, where nonviolent activists like John Lewis, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Septima Clark (Parks' mentor) trained. Mere months before Parks' civil disobedience, Emmett Till was brutally murdered, and Parks timed her stand (or sit, as it were) only days after the acquittal of his murderers. Parks wasn't just extra tired that day. It's not Beaty's fault that the popular record has so sanitized Parks' calculated act of courage, but from a journalist I expect a more nuanced understanding since Parks merits two whole paragraphs.
In “One Faith” by Michael Card and John Michael Talbot, a verse says: “But some of the shepherds / Have pastured themselves on their sheep / So [Jesus] has come out against them / And scattered his people of faith.” Celebrities for Jesus tells stories of the shepherds who pastured themselves on their sheep, rather than following Jesus, the Good Shepherd. At the end, Beaty concludes by examining how Jesus rejected celebrity in his own era, and reminds us that it is his example we should follow, not that of the latest Christian celebrity who sins have not yet found them out.
My church has a beautiful mural of Christ the Good Shepherd at the back. Every time we enter and exit the nave, we walk under the waters of baptism, on which Jesus stands, holding a sheep. High school graduates receive a Good Shepherd icon to carry with them through life. Since worshipping in this community, I have only begun to discover the richness of that image. Christ, not as celebrity pastor, but as a humble shepherd with pierced hands, feet, and sides. I found Beaty's exposition of Jesus thought-provoking and an extremely helpful corrective.
Beaty’s answer to Christian celebrity? Obscurity and deep community. Quite frankly, I love that. She dedicates the book “To the number ‘who lived faithfully a hidden life, and rest in unvisited tombs.’” Obviously, when you quote my favorite passage from a favorite novel, you have my attention. Overall, I appreciated this book and hope it is heeded, especially by anyone who wants to become a Christian influencer, the next Billy Graham, or a megachurch pastor who runs the operation like a business (all things I have heard from Christians in my personal acquaintance). The way up is down. The last shall be first. And, to paraphrase my dad, the best Christian in the world is someone you’ve never heard of, who lived a faithful life in quiet humility, whose renown is known only in heaven.
As someone who stays up-to-date on evangelical world news, I found the early chapters of Celebrities for Jesus repetitive. Beaty details the rises and falls of folks like Bill Hybels, John Crist, Mark Driscoll, and Ravi Zacharias. I followed those stories when they were headlining. For the peaceful readers who do not follow evangelical news, reading about those events in Celebrities for Jesus is a way to stay on top of the story without subjecting oneself to the news cycle. For those of us who did follow the news (and for any readers who lived the news stories) those portions are repetitive. There’s not much analysis in those chapters. Analysis does come later, but I didn’t find the retelling of all the stories particularly useful--for me. Not in the whole project of the book, just in my individual reading of it. Even in the mere months since the book was published, several events in the evangelical sphere have occurred that Beaty might have included. I would recommend this book, however, to those less familiar with those events, and to anyone who wants to untangle fallen-leader-syndrome from a celebrity/fame angle.
Unfortunately, Beaty does perpetuate the myth that Rosa Parks' activism occurred because "she was tired," (9) overlooking the fact that Parks studied at the Highlander Folk School, where nonviolent activists like John Lewis, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Septima Clark (Parks' mentor) trained. Mere months before Parks' civil disobedience, Emmett Till was brutally murdered, and Parks timed her stand (or sit, as it were) only days after the acquittal of his murderers. Parks wasn't just extra tired that day. It's not Beaty's fault that the popular record has so sanitized Parks' calculated act of courage, but from a journalist I expect a more nuanced understanding since Parks merits two whole paragraphs.
In “One Faith” by Michael Card and John Michael Talbot, a verse says: “But some of the shepherds / Have pastured themselves on their sheep / So [Jesus] has come out against them / And scattered his people of faith.” Celebrities for Jesus tells stories of the shepherds who pastured themselves on their sheep, rather than following Jesus, the Good Shepherd. At the end, Beaty concludes by examining how Jesus rejected celebrity in his own era, and reminds us that it is his example we should follow, not that of the latest Christian celebrity who sins have not yet found them out.
My church has a beautiful mural of Christ the Good Shepherd at the back. Every time we enter and exit the nave, we walk under the waters of baptism, on which Jesus stands, holding a sheep. High school graduates receive a Good Shepherd icon to carry with them through life. Since worshipping in this community, I have only begun to discover the richness of that image. Christ, not as celebrity pastor, but as a humble shepherd with pierced hands, feet, and sides. I found Beaty's exposition of Jesus thought-provoking and an extremely helpful corrective.
Beaty’s answer to Christian celebrity? Obscurity and deep community. Quite frankly, I love that. She dedicates the book “To the number ‘who lived faithfully a hidden life, and rest in unvisited tombs.’” Obviously, when you quote my favorite passage from a favorite novel, you have my attention. Overall, I appreciated this book and hope it is heeded, especially by anyone who wants to become a Christian influencer, the next Billy Graham, or a megachurch pastor who runs the operation like a business (all things I have heard from Christians in my personal acquaintance). The way up is down. The last shall be first. And, to paraphrase my dad, the best Christian in the world is someone you’ve never heard of, who lived a faithful life in quiet humility, whose renown is known only in heaven.
February 7, 2023
3.5/5
The best part of this book is the brief historical background to evangelical celebrity culture. I really wish Beaty had gone farther in both a critical analysis of current iterations of Christian celebrities and the solutions offered to criticize the cult of Christian celebrities. Her approach seemed more descriptive with a very light-handed pushback. There is plenty of biblical material to warrant a scathing rebuke, but that wasn't the goal of this work.
The best part of this book is the brief historical background to evangelical celebrity culture. I really wish Beaty had gone farther in both a critical analysis of current iterations of Christian celebrities and the solutions offered to criticize the cult of Christian celebrities. Her approach seemed more descriptive with a very light-handed pushback. There is plenty of biblical material to warrant a scathing rebuke, but that wasn't the goal of this work.
October 6, 2023
I love how the author highlighted the call to, as Paul says, "make it your ambition to lead a quiet life." There were some real zingers in this one. It made me grateful for pastors in my life who has been on the ground in the mud and muck with their people acting as shepherds. I would recommend this!
October 31, 2024
Solid, faithful, humble, helpful.
This was a really quick read because I found it so engaging even though a lot of what she was responding to (Mars Hill, Bill Hybels, Ravi Zacharias, etc) was already familiar to me. There are good insights here as well as practical encouragement for a better way.
Definitely worth a read.
This was a really quick read because I found it so engaging even though a lot of what she was responding to (Mars Hill, Bill Hybels, Ravi Zacharias, etc) was already familiar to me. There are good insights here as well as practical encouragement for a better way.
Definitely worth a read.
August 20, 2022
This ended up being a surprisingly quick read--both, I think, due to its length (short) as well as Beaty's compelling writing style. I found the topic surprisingly interesting and relevant.
The first section of the book was, to me, more interesting and, frankly, more documented/balanced/"equal opportunity issues" noted on both sides of the political aisle. The second section fell into more op-ed piece and felt much more biased against conservatives, in both politics and religion. Yes, the examples/issues are there--but they're on the left, too, and I didn't feel that both sides of the aisle were equally represented, nor was it entirely unbiased. Beaty and I both grew up in the 80s and 90s, with all that entailed across entertainment/mainstream culture and the American Christian church--and grew into who we are today a tad bit differently. Which is fine; it certainly prompted me to think quite a bit, and I am just as susceptible as the next person to follow a celebrity more than I should. I'll entirely own that, lol. I would have simply liked to see more room for dialogue across the aisle and across the board in the second section, along with more fleshing out of "okay--we shouldn't idolize peeps--so what _should_ we do instead?" The book ended a bit abruptly on that front, and I feel it would have benefited from more.
I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
The first section of the book was, to me, more interesting and, frankly, more documented/balanced/"equal opportunity issues" noted on both sides of the political aisle. The second section fell into more op-ed piece and felt much more biased against conservatives, in both politics and religion. Yes, the examples/issues are there--but they're on the left, too, and I didn't feel that both sides of the aisle were equally represented, nor was it entirely unbiased. Beaty and I both grew up in the 80s and 90s, with all that entailed across entertainment/mainstream culture and the American Christian church--and grew into who we are today a tad bit differently. Which is fine; it certainly prompted me to think quite a bit, and I am just as susceptible as the next person to follow a celebrity more than I should. I'll entirely own that, lol. I would have simply liked to see more room for dialogue across the aisle and across the board in the second section, along with more fleshing out of "okay--we shouldn't idolize peeps--so what _should_ we do instead?" The book ended a bit abruptly on that front, and I feel it would have benefited from more.
I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
July 11, 2022
Really enjoyed this book by Katelyn Beaty, who is a thoughtful and fair-minded writer. Subject matter is extremely relevant and important to discuss among Christians today and she did so with tact and expertise.
February 16, 2024
I'll start this review by stating I would not label myself as an "evangelical', but rather a Bible-believing Christian. While I have a favorite actor (Michael Emerson), favorite living singers (OwlCity/Phil Wickham/Chris Tomlin), I have also never been someone to understand the obsession with fame and celebrities. I do follow some pastors that have larger followings and enjoy Christian non-fiction, but I try to steer clear of false teachers and those who care more about building a platform than the Word of God.
I've been interested in reading this since before it was even released, as the topic is one that needs to be amplified and addressed among Christians. While there were some good points, overall I feel like this could have been a stronger book. I wish the author had committed fully to either taking a psychology or Biblical stance and formatted the book with that lens. I think trying to do both split the focus and made this feel almost like an attack on evangelicalism at points.
I did enjoy the insight into Christian publishing. Beaty highlights the lack of transparency with ghost writing, which is apparently used by many prominent authors without any credit attributed. She further discusses the inflation of sales by authors, including the questionable practices used for the goal of becoming a "bestseller". I was also interested in the content regarding the monopolization of Christian publishers by Murdoch/NewsCorp (Zondervan, Harper Collins, Thomas Nelson), as these publishers tend to be leaning farther away from Biblical truths in their newer releases.
I wish there was less content about celebrity conversion to Christianity, as it felt idolatrous at points to be so concerned with these people solely for their fame. I also wish there was at least a discussion of what can be done to change the culture of celebrity pastors or Christian influencers focused more on the spotlight than the light that is Christ.
I will also mention that there were points where I question the Biblical literacy of the author, as there are multiple instances of pointing out all evangelical pastors are men in a negative tone. This is Biblical.
Format: Audiobook via Hoopla
Rating: 3 stars
Book 30 of 2024
I've been interested in reading this since before it was even released, as the topic is one that needs to be amplified and addressed among Christians. While there were some good points, overall I feel like this could have been a stronger book. I wish the author had committed fully to either taking a psychology or Biblical stance and formatted the book with that lens. I think trying to do both split the focus and made this feel almost like an attack on evangelicalism at points.
I did enjoy the insight into Christian publishing. Beaty highlights the lack of transparency with ghost writing, which is apparently used by many prominent authors without any credit attributed. She further discusses the inflation of sales by authors, including the questionable practices used for the goal of becoming a "bestseller". I was also interested in the content regarding the monopolization of Christian publishers by Murdoch/NewsCorp (Zondervan, Harper Collins, Thomas Nelson), as these publishers tend to be leaning farther away from Biblical truths in their newer releases.
I wish there was less content about celebrity conversion to Christianity, as it felt idolatrous at points to be so concerned with these people solely for their fame. I also wish there was at least a discussion of what can be done to change the culture of celebrity pastors or Christian influencers focused more on the spotlight than the light that is Christ.
I will also mention that there were points where I question the Biblical literacy of the author, as there are multiple instances of pointing out all evangelical pastors are men in a negative tone. This is Biblical.
Format: Audiobook via Hoopla
Rating: 3 stars
Book 30 of 2024
August 9, 2022
I was really excited about this book. Especially in modern times, celebrity pastors and celebrity status among Christian leaders is becoming more common. With that, the problems it causes are becoming more common, too. I was excited to see a book finally talk about that.
This book didn't quite do it for me, though. The first section was fantastic. It was precise and full of examples and explanations on how celebrity pastors rise to fame and the downfalls that have come from their fame. The first section captured the goal of the book well.
But somewhere halfway through the book, the energy fizzled out. The tone was casual and the sharp, hard-hitting points dulled and trailed off. The number of personal examples and straight opinion made it feel more like I was reading an extended blog post than a reliable source of information. I didn't see the research to back up what the author was saying and because of that, I felt like the book didn't come full circle and live up the the premise the first section set up. There were a lot of interesting ideas brought up, but very little follow-through, which was rather disappointing.
That said, it's a good intro to the topic of celebrity pastors. I just wish it had been a bit more in depth and professional.
This book didn't quite do it for me, though. The first section was fantastic. It was precise and full of examples and explanations on how celebrity pastors rise to fame and the downfalls that have come from their fame. The first section captured the goal of the book well.
But somewhere halfway through the book, the energy fizzled out. The tone was casual and the sharp, hard-hitting points dulled and trailed off. The number of personal examples and straight opinion made it feel more like I was reading an extended blog post than a reliable source of information. I didn't see the research to back up what the author was saying and because of that, I felt like the book didn't come full circle and live up the the premise the first section set up. There were a lot of interesting ideas brought up, but very little follow-through, which was rather disappointing.
That said, it's a good intro to the topic of celebrity pastors. I just wish it had been a bit more in depth and professional.
August 31, 2022
This felt like an extended OP-Ed lacking a lot of deeper thinking and considerations. Plenty of anonymously attributed interviews and quotes made it feel lazy. The chapter on the publishing industry was perhaps the most detailed and interesting because the author is an editor in that industry and is employed by the publisher of this book. I found that a little concerning as to what insight was left on the cutting room floor to save face for the publisher. As she says in the book...they are here for profit.
March 13, 2024
4.5 stars. I was skeptical of this book. At the beginning, I wasn’t impressed, but by the end, I was close to tears. This book is honest, humbling, and healing, serving as an excellent reminder of the quiet life of true obedience. I think anyone who has ever attended a mega church should read this.
January 3, 2024
I don't usually rate books for which I know I'm not the target audience, but I'm making an exception today because this was so well written. I share none of the author's religious beliefs, and my interest in this topic is purely academic. That said, I was surprised at how much I genuinely enjoyed this book. The author makes a compelling case about the danger of celebrity, and I found myself stopping frequently to write down a quote I wanted to remember. I think that anyone with even a passing interest in the topics of religion or celebrity will find a lot of value here, regardless of their personal beliefs.
June 13, 2022
Note: I received a digital ARC of this book in exchange for a review.
In this book Beaty does an excellent job at examining the rise of "celebrity" and the role that it has taken up within the Christian church (in the United States). Many Christians are well-aware of public failings of celebrity pastors or ministry leaders, leaving them to wonder "how does this keep happening and what can we do about it?".
Beaty traces the history of Christian celebrity culture and examines the structures that enable and support it, such as Christian book publishing (especially interesting as Beaty both writes Christian books and works for a Christian publisher). I think it would have been easy to fall into making this a book that points fingers yelling "gotcha!" at specific individuals, but while Beaty is unafraid to mention individuals by name it never feels unfair or pointed, rather they serve as supporting examples of her overall argument calling for a willingness of ministry leaders to be smaller or more obscure, resistant to the temptation of celebrity and power.
As someone who has read the author's previous book and listened to her podcast it does strike me that she in fact has a certain level of "celebrity" herself, which she does recognize towards the end of the book.
I may need to end up purchasing a physical copy because I highlighted a bunch of stuff on the Kindle version.
In this book Beaty does an excellent job at examining the rise of "celebrity" and the role that it has taken up within the Christian church (in the United States). Many Christians are well-aware of public failings of celebrity pastors or ministry leaders, leaving them to wonder "how does this keep happening and what can we do about it?".
Beaty traces the history of Christian celebrity culture and examines the structures that enable and support it, such as Christian book publishing (especially interesting as Beaty both writes Christian books and works for a Christian publisher). I think it would have been easy to fall into making this a book that points fingers yelling "gotcha!" at specific individuals, but while Beaty is unafraid to mention individuals by name it never feels unfair or pointed, rather they serve as supporting examples of her overall argument calling for a willingness of ministry leaders to be smaller or more obscure, resistant to the temptation of celebrity and power.
As someone who has read the author's previous book and listened to her podcast it does strike me that she in fact has a certain level of "celebrity" herself, which she does recognize towards the end of the book.
I may need to end up purchasing a physical copy because I highlighted a bunch of stuff on the Kindle version.
August 15, 2022
I'm predisposed to be on board with this one, but Beaty's book is well researched and well argued. She asks the question, "Why do Christians keep putting people on pedestals?... Why do our icons so easily become idols?" I found her answer insightful: "When Christians feed on a story of persecution and cultural embattlement, they're prone to take any Christian in the public spotlight as a kingdom win." This isn't a book with a big solution, but I think it's asking the right questions, and not just of celebrities themselves but of the larger cultural forces that allow celebrities (those who have "power without proximity") to develop in the first place.
May 22, 2022
A needed book for this time, Beaty writes with both honesty and compassion, holding a mirror up and inviting the reader to do the same. It's truthful but not unkind, a must-read for anyone in church leadership (or, I suggest, Christians in leadership or who attend a church).
July 12, 2024
So on target it hurts. One of those books I’ll need to read every year.
April 3, 2023
Beaty is a prophetic voice in our current cultural arena of celebrity Christianity which idolizes fame, influence, power, and persona and baptizes it in the name of Jesus. While Beaty focuses on the roots of this phenomena (hello, D.L. Moody, Billy Sunday, and Billy Graham) and its present representatives (Bill Hybels, Mark Driscoll, RZIM, etc), she also recognizes these values have invaded and shaped the American church as a whole.
As a woman in ministry recovering from 2 different church settings where the leadership culture was largely one of wannabe celebrity pastors (thank God for therapy), I feel like I could write the entire playbook for the subversive, toxic leadership that pervades many of our congregations. By highlighting a few current, prominent examples, Beaty summarizes the characteristics of leaders who possess "social power with proximity" (her definition for celebrity) and explains why these are antithetical to the person and ministry of Christ.
(Also, the chapter on the Christian publishing industry and how few celebrity Christians even write their own books has me second-guessing every Christian with a public platform.)
Those who are looking for a guidebook at the end about how to reverse our obsession with the limelight will be disappointed. Indeed, Beaty's voice is consistent with the prophetic office, whose goals are to criticize the pitfalls of God's people and help God's people imagine a new way forward. Unfortunately, as she mentions in her last chapter, too often God's people are incapable of even imagining something else than the current status quo; God has given us prophetic voices before (she names Willard and Peterson and two examples) and we have largely read their words, signed off on them as great ideals, and then ignored them. Nevertheless, Beaty's final chapter about Jesus' humble life characterized by obscurity, everyday faithfulness, and self-sacrifice was inspiring - several places moved me to tears. She helps us imagine another way - the Jesus way.
I leave you with the final words from her book:
"We don't build or usher in the kingdom of God. We merely attest to its reality in our lives. If only we would get out of the way." <3
As a woman in ministry recovering from 2 different church settings where the leadership culture was largely one of wannabe celebrity pastors (thank God for therapy), I feel like I could write the entire playbook for the subversive, toxic leadership that pervades many of our congregations. By highlighting a few current, prominent examples, Beaty summarizes the characteristics of leaders who possess "social power with proximity" (her definition for celebrity) and explains why these are antithetical to the person and ministry of Christ.
(Also, the chapter on the Christian publishing industry and how few celebrity Christians even write their own books has me second-guessing every Christian with a public platform.)
Those who are looking for a guidebook at the end about how to reverse our obsession with the limelight will be disappointed. Indeed, Beaty's voice is consistent with the prophetic office, whose goals are to criticize the pitfalls of God's people and help God's people imagine a new way forward. Unfortunately, as she mentions in her last chapter, too often God's people are incapable of even imagining something else than the current status quo; God has given us prophetic voices before (she names Willard and Peterson and two examples) and we have largely read their words, signed off on them as great ideals, and then ignored them. Nevertheless, Beaty's final chapter about Jesus' humble life characterized by obscurity, everyday faithfulness, and self-sacrifice was inspiring - several places moved me to tears. She helps us imagine another way - the Jesus way.
I leave you with the final words from her book:
"We don't build or usher in the kingdom of God. We merely attest to its reality in our lives. If only we would get out of the way." <3
May 19, 2022
How do celebrities for Jesus hurt the Church? Is it not a good thing to use celebrity pastors, preachers, and professors to draw in the crowds in order to listen to the gospel preached to the masses? Didn't Paul say in 1 Corinthians 9:22 that he would "become all things to all people" that people might be saved through the gospel? Well, the arguments are compelling that God could use anyone, especially flawed individuals to draw people to Him. That said, would God approve of the Church copying the ways of the world in the name of ministry? Does the ends justify the means? It all depends on motives. It also depends on which is the greater influence: Culture or Christlikeness? In this book that reflects on the virtues and vices of fame and celebrity-style ministries, we reflect on the root values that are driving people to do what they do. Three dangerous temptations lie at the root of the worldly celebrity mindset. The first temptation is the unholy use of Power. Beaty names how the famous (or infamous) Ravi Zacharias was able to captivate large audiences with his persona and persuasive words in public. Yet, his private life is filled with shameful abuse of power. Before his death, he was accused of sexual impropriety. After his death, his organization broke down after in-depth investigations exposed a history of cover-ups and multiple abuses of positions and power. Other celebrities include Mark Driscoll, whose charismatic preaching drowns out other accusations of abuse. Another charming celebrity involved in sexual scandals is the lead pastor of the famous Hillsong Church, Carl Lentz, who deceived not only his congregation but also his own family. Prosperity gospel preachers often gravitate toward the rich and the influential at the expense of the poor and needy. Their motive is the very thing they often preach about: Health and Wealth. Beaty reminds us that celebrity not only deceives people, it shields one from being investigated, and eventually isolates themselves from people.
The second temptation is about chasing platforms for fame and recognition. Some do it through publishing while others look at profits as their driving factor. If one can get famous, it will draw more people to pay attention to them. Unfortunately, when fame takes priority over the promotion of Christ, the ministry suffers eventually. Associated with fame is also the power factor. Once authors become famous, they use their name to negotiate better deals with publishing houses, especially the bigger ones. From the desire for fame lies other associated temptations like plagiarism, deception, and using dubious sources like ResultSource to gain the upper hand in the ranking of bestseller lists. The point is: Be aware of anyone using publishing to look impressive on the outside.
The third temptation is about creating persona for recognition and personal gain. The aim is to look good and project an image that people like. Such people typically try to hide their inner insecurity with impressive outer shells. While people admire such people from the outside, deep inside, one pays a high personal cost, the chief of all is loneliness.
When one yields to one or more of these temptations, eventually the ministry and the Church suffers.
My Thoughts
==============
Katelyn Beaty has given us an important reminder that the higher one climbs, the harder one falls. Ministry leaders are often faced with a stark choice: Are they serving God or are they self-serving? Let me offer three thoughts. First, ministry leaders must ask themselves: Do they want ministry success via celebrity-style or integrity-style? Before one can choose integrity, one needs to resist the temptation to chase after celebrity status. One could argue that they could do both, justifying a win-win scenario for Christ and for themselves. This is the way of the business world. Whatever the means, if one gets the result, why not? Celebrity-style ministries tend to minimize the virtuous means as long as they get the result they wanted. Captured by the temptation for success, they substitute personal integrity for public fame. Beaty warns us that while celebrity conversions can make Christianity cool, they unwittingly lead people to bark up the wrong tree. Worse, they entice others to copy what they do, repeat what they say, and imitate how they look. Integrity-style however stays true to the ways of Christ. Resisting the temptations of the world, integrity keeps one grounded in the Truth of the Gospel.
Secondly, ministry leaders must ask: Is their ministry platform built upon their identity in Christ or the worldly persona they crave after? Beware that their icons of fame do not become idols of the world that distract people from the Christ they preach or claim to preach for. With identity, one grows out of a truthful self. Otherwise, the danger is to let persona eat us up from the outside in. There will come a time in which worldly success if it comes will have no inner foundation to stand upon. Like the famous phrase, "Empty vessels make the loudest noise," if our inside is empty, what we say may become hollow words that not only lead people astray, it destroys us further.
Thirdly, we are to ask ourselves if our motivations for ministry is humility-led or pride-driven. This calls for us to consider our motives right from the start. Even then, we need to regularly do self-examinations to clear the weeds of pride. As Beaty points out to us at the end of the book, we need to take heed of what Henri Nouwen calls, the temptations of relevance, being spectacular and powerful. All of these feed off the root of pride. Instead, the way to humble ministry lies in resisting all of these.
There are lots of good stuff in this book. If you are a ministry leader, you need to read this book. If you are aiming for greater recognition in your ministry, let Beaty's book bring you back down to earth, to walk in the ways of Christ.
Katelyn Beaty is a writer, journalist, editor, and keen observer of trends in the American church. She has written for the New York Times, the New Yorker, the Washington Post, Religion News Service, Religion & Politics, and The Atlantic and has commented on faith and culture for CNN, ABC, NPR, the Associated Press, and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. She also cohosts the Saved by the City podcast (Religion News Service). Beaty previously served as print managing editor at Christianity Today and is the author of A Woman's Place: A Christian Vision for Your Calling in the Office, the Home, and the World.
Rating: 4.5 stars of 5.
conrade
This book has been provided courtesy of Baker Academic and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.
The second temptation is about chasing platforms for fame and recognition. Some do it through publishing while others look at profits as their driving factor. If one can get famous, it will draw more people to pay attention to them. Unfortunately, when fame takes priority over the promotion of Christ, the ministry suffers eventually. Associated with fame is also the power factor. Once authors become famous, they use their name to negotiate better deals with publishing houses, especially the bigger ones. From the desire for fame lies other associated temptations like plagiarism, deception, and using dubious sources like ResultSource to gain the upper hand in the ranking of bestseller lists. The point is: Be aware of anyone using publishing to look impressive on the outside.
The third temptation is about creating persona for recognition and personal gain. The aim is to look good and project an image that people like. Such people typically try to hide their inner insecurity with impressive outer shells. While people admire such people from the outside, deep inside, one pays a high personal cost, the chief of all is loneliness.
When one yields to one or more of these temptations, eventually the ministry and the Church suffers.
My Thoughts
==============
Katelyn Beaty has given us an important reminder that the higher one climbs, the harder one falls. Ministry leaders are often faced with a stark choice: Are they serving God or are they self-serving? Let me offer three thoughts. First, ministry leaders must ask themselves: Do they want ministry success via celebrity-style or integrity-style? Before one can choose integrity, one needs to resist the temptation to chase after celebrity status. One could argue that they could do both, justifying a win-win scenario for Christ and for themselves. This is the way of the business world. Whatever the means, if one gets the result, why not? Celebrity-style ministries tend to minimize the virtuous means as long as they get the result they wanted. Captured by the temptation for success, they substitute personal integrity for public fame. Beaty warns us that while celebrity conversions can make Christianity cool, they unwittingly lead people to bark up the wrong tree. Worse, they entice others to copy what they do, repeat what they say, and imitate how they look. Integrity-style however stays true to the ways of Christ. Resisting the temptations of the world, integrity keeps one grounded in the Truth of the Gospel.
Secondly, ministry leaders must ask: Is their ministry platform built upon their identity in Christ or the worldly persona they crave after? Beware that their icons of fame do not become idols of the world that distract people from the Christ they preach or claim to preach for. With identity, one grows out of a truthful self. Otherwise, the danger is to let persona eat us up from the outside in. There will come a time in which worldly success if it comes will have no inner foundation to stand upon. Like the famous phrase, "Empty vessels make the loudest noise," if our inside is empty, what we say may become hollow words that not only lead people astray, it destroys us further.
Thirdly, we are to ask ourselves if our motivations for ministry is humility-led or pride-driven. This calls for us to consider our motives right from the start. Even then, we need to regularly do self-examinations to clear the weeds of pride. As Beaty points out to us at the end of the book, we need to take heed of what Henri Nouwen calls, the temptations of relevance, being spectacular and powerful. All of these feed off the root of pride. Instead, the way to humble ministry lies in resisting all of these.
There are lots of good stuff in this book. If you are a ministry leader, you need to read this book. If you are aiming for greater recognition in your ministry, let Beaty's book bring you back down to earth, to walk in the ways of Christ.
Katelyn Beaty is a writer, journalist, editor, and keen observer of trends in the American church. She has written for the New York Times, the New Yorker, the Washington Post, Religion News Service, Religion & Politics, and The Atlantic and has commented on faith and culture for CNN, ABC, NPR, the Associated Press, and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. She also cohosts the Saved by the City podcast (Religion News Service). Beaty previously served as print managing editor at Christianity Today and is the author of A Woman's Place: A Christian Vision for Your Calling in the Office, the Home, and the World.
Rating: 4.5 stars of 5.
conrade
This book has been provided courtesy of Baker Academic and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.
December 3, 2022
I really appreciated this book. As a Christian and Pentecostal pastor, the pull of celebrity is always present in the communities I'm a part of. And to be even more honest, I feel its pull in my own heart. How easy it is to get used to people's praises, feel the twinge of jealousy at others' successes, and the concern about how others may interpret the changes in my career path when serving areas of less esteem. Beaty's book is not just about the uber famous Christians. It's about how our churches create platforms that treat some people as more important and valuable than others. Even in a community of a hundred or couple thousand, the place where "everybody knows your name" can become the broker of the drug of self-importance and admiration. It's addicting, and when we're not intentionally resisting it, our true selves become more and more false.
Thanks, Katelyn Beaty, for your great research, insights, and writing! I'm left with helpful things to contemplate and pray about, along with warning signs of benign things that can quickly become malignant. Your work is a great gift to us!
Thanks, Katelyn Beaty, for your great research, insights, and writing! I'm left with helpful things to contemplate and pray about, along with warning signs of benign things that can quickly become malignant. Your work is a great gift to us!
September 28, 2025
That attention-grabbing title is hiding a rich bounty of wisdom, research, and storytelling. This is one of the more stellar contemporary Christian culture books I've read in a while. Insightful, humble, honest, and well-structured, Beaty remained focused throughout the book without devolving into tangents or trying to defend everything at once. Her commentary on power dynamics in institutions and relationships is refreshingly perennial and blunt without being antagonistic. This is a book I will be returning to and recommending. Not to mention it was a good check to my own spirit as I begin a more generative season for my writing and church involvement.
September 2, 2022
At the beginning of this book, Katelyn Beaty differentiates fame from celebrity, showing that even though fame can be a worthwhile byproduct of a virtuous life, celebrity is a different beast. At this point, as she perfectly defined both fame and celebrity, I knew the book was going to be amazing. I was somewhat nervous to read this originally, since I have found the author's Twitter discourse combative and frustrating in the past, but book is so good that it revised my opinion of the author. Beaty is thoroughly nuanced, compassionate, and Christ-centered, caring about disgraced celebrity Christians as well as the people they have harmed or led astray. Instead of just critiquing individual leaders, she calls out celebrity-producing systems in the church, showing how Christians often platform and promote attractive, charismatic people without appropriate concern for their emotional, relational, and spiritual well-being.
Powerful and Gracious
This book is a careful study of how our current Christian celebrity culture developed, why it is harmful, and how abuses of power naturally arise when people who start out as sincere leaders become isolated from others, lack adequate accountability, and become used to getting things done through the success of their ministry and the force of their personality. Beaty isn't afraid to call out specific names, sharing stories from leadership crises most of her readers will be aware of, but she does this with a spirit of grace.
In one chapter, Beaty focuses on the role of the Christian publishing industry. She honors her own and others' work to serve the church through publishing, but she grapples with harsh realities of how secular buy-outs of major Christian publishers and the siren song of profit have caused the Christian book industry to create a gatekeeping, celebrity-driven machine that prioritizes someone's popularity over their spiritual maturity or hard-earned wisdom. Beaty also addresses issues related to plagiarism, unacknowledged ghostwriters, and attaining bestseller ratings through unethical means. Her insider knowledge makes this chapter especially hard-hitting.
At the end, Beaty offers a call for "ordinary faithfulness." She deliberately avoids offering a tidy, multi-step solution to fixing this endemic problem, but encourages her readers to consider and follow Jesus's example of faithful, ordinary service in obscurity. Some readers may wish that she had provided more insight about how to effect change, but she decided against this to avoid the celebrity trap itself, in which someone claims to have all the answers and urges people to follow their program. I think this is wise, and not a cop-out in the slightest.
Additional Thoughts
I have just two critiques worth noting. One is that even though Beaty correctly labels many issues as the outworking of white evangelicalism, she frequently overuses the term when she is really talking about evangelicalism at large. As I repeatedly noticed this, I thought about how alienating it could be for some readers, whether they wish she'd acknowledge celebrity culture in the Black church or feel like she's scapegoating white people as the only contributors to a broad-ranging problem. I wish that she hadn't used the term "white evangelicalism" when talking about general issues that appear in many contexts, and I hope that future works on this subject will address specific Christian celebrity culture issues in other racial and cultural groups.
I also wish that Beaty had acknowledged concern for people's souls as a major reason why Christians rejoice over mainstream celebrity conversions. She clearly, thoughtfully addresses the poor motivations at play within some Christian responses to celebrity conversions, such as looking for cultural currency by association, but I wish she had acknowledged genuine concern for the celebrities themselves as a factor. She probably assumed that this was implied, but since she doesn't say it outright, she makes it seem like Christians only approach these conversions in shallow, selfish ways.
Conclusion
Celebrities for Jesus is a powerful, hard-hitting book that exposes major issues facing the American church today. Katelyn Beaty writes with grace and insight throughout, getting to the root of major issues while still expressing compassion for everyone involved, from the people enamored with celebrities to disgraced celebrities themselves. Overall, I found this book extremely thoughtful, well-written, and carefully thought out, and I highly recommend it to people who are concerned about the many issues that it covers. There is nothing sensationalized or one-sided about this book, and Beaty's careful examination of the celebrity problem is a must-read.
Update: I also recommend The Call to Follow: Hearing Jesus in a Culture Obsessed with Leadership as a fantastic follow-up read.
I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Powerful and Gracious
This book is a careful study of how our current Christian celebrity culture developed, why it is harmful, and how abuses of power naturally arise when people who start out as sincere leaders become isolated from others, lack adequate accountability, and become used to getting things done through the success of their ministry and the force of their personality. Beaty isn't afraid to call out specific names, sharing stories from leadership crises most of her readers will be aware of, but she does this with a spirit of grace.
In one chapter, Beaty focuses on the role of the Christian publishing industry. She honors her own and others' work to serve the church through publishing, but she grapples with harsh realities of how secular buy-outs of major Christian publishers and the siren song of profit have caused the Christian book industry to create a gatekeeping, celebrity-driven machine that prioritizes someone's popularity over their spiritual maturity or hard-earned wisdom. Beaty also addresses issues related to plagiarism, unacknowledged ghostwriters, and attaining bestseller ratings through unethical means. Her insider knowledge makes this chapter especially hard-hitting.
At the end, Beaty offers a call for "ordinary faithfulness." She deliberately avoids offering a tidy, multi-step solution to fixing this endemic problem, but encourages her readers to consider and follow Jesus's example of faithful, ordinary service in obscurity. Some readers may wish that she had provided more insight about how to effect change, but she decided against this to avoid the celebrity trap itself, in which someone claims to have all the answers and urges people to follow their program. I think this is wise, and not a cop-out in the slightest.
Additional Thoughts
I have just two critiques worth noting. One is that even though Beaty correctly labels many issues as the outworking of white evangelicalism, she frequently overuses the term when she is really talking about evangelicalism at large. As I repeatedly noticed this, I thought about how alienating it could be for some readers, whether they wish she'd acknowledge celebrity culture in the Black church or feel like she's scapegoating white people as the only contributors to a broad-ranging problem. I wish that she hadn't used the term "white evangelicalism" when talking about general issues that appear in many contexts, and I hope that future works on this subject will address specific Christian celebrity culture issues in other racial and cultural groups.
I also wish that Beaty had acknowledged concern for people's souls as a major reason why Christians rejoice over mainstream celebrity conversions. She clearly, thoughtfully addresses the poor motivations at play within some Christian responses to celebrity conversions, such as looking for cultural currency by association, but I wish she had acknowledged genuine concern for the celebrities themselves as a factor. She probably assumed that this was implied, but since she doesn't say it outright, she makes it seem like Christians only approach these conversions in shallow, selfish ways.
Conclusion
Celebrities for Jesus is a powerful, hard-hitting book that exposes major issues facing the American church today. Katelyn Beaty writes with grace and insight throughout, getting to the root of major issues while still expressing compassion for everyone involved, from the people enamored with celebrities to disgraced celebrities themselves. Overall, I found this book extremely thoughtful, well-written, and carefully thought out, and I highly recommend it to people who are concerned about the many issues that it covers. There is nothing sensationalized or one-sided about this book, and Beaty's careful examination of the celebrity problem is a must-read.
Update: I also recommend The Call to Follow: Hearing Jesus in a Culture Obsessed with Leadership as a fantastic follow-up read.
I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
May 18, 2024
The celebrity / growth / affluence / platforming culture of the American church is one of the most concerning issues we need to address. Beaty has outlined great examples and given insightful analysis about this phenomenon!
January 9, 2023
This was awesome! Highly organized w solid research & history, very relevant to today.. it’s making me think
September 10, 2022
Phenomenal last chapter.
September 2, 2022
Blew through this audio in a day. There's a lot of overlap with Jesus and John Wayne and The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill, for those who have read and listened, a lot will be familiar and just as gross as the first time you heard it. I think one of my favorite parts was the mention of a shirtless Bieber photo looking down at a Bible with the caption “wowzers” getting 8 million likes.
I actually don't feel like this addressed as much the HOW the personas, platforms, and profits are hurting the church (other than the obvious examples of abuse - power, sexual, spiritual, etc), but more so just the what and who of it. There wasn't a lot of...well if this is happening, then what? I'm not quite sure what the solution is other than for me personally, to continue to distance myself from churches and leaders that I've already happily distanced myself from.
“…'I preached to millions more than Christ did in his lifetime” (Graham). If ministry success is measured by number of listeners, then it makes sense that Graham embraced tv and other media. Why preach only to 100 when you have the tools to preach to millions? But the medium doesn’t just transmit a message. It changes the message. A medium designed for entertainment will transmute the Gospel into a message of entertainment. Media theorist Neil Postman calls Graham’s rationale for using tv “gross technological naiveté.” … “When translated to tv, the Gospel is stripped of everything that sets religious activity apart from other human activity - desacralizing it…the Gospel becomes another form of passive entertainment.”
--
“Many of our religious institutions serve the individual leaders rather than the other way around. Churches become a platform from which pastors can expand their teaching influence far beyond the people in the pews - the very people whom pastors are called to serve. The work of religious nonprofits, such as the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, is overshadowed by loud figureheads who use the organization to amplify their personal ideological agendas. And Christian book publishers and conference organizers tell Christian leaders that book sales or the conference circuit will be more influential and important than anything that they do in their church or their nonprofit. Institutions are too often platforms for self-expression, rather than arenas of deep moral formation.
None of this is Graham’s fault, of course. The evangelical movement to which he belonged was always going to favor charismatic individuals over institutions. Especially individuals who could inspire dramatic heart change among riveted audience members. Evangelicalism, especially in the United States, was always going to place a premium on entrepreneurial individuals, over and against, dusty or “dead” institutions. That has resulted in dramatic creative efforts to share the Gospel and a willingness to try new methods and empower gifted individuals, who might not otherwise fit neatly into denominational life or churchly culture. But it has also meant few gatekeepers, less accountability, and a greater potential for leaders to succeed on the basis of charisma, hustle, or a good game, rather than a genuine desire to serve like Christ. We see that nowhere more clearly than the megachurch movement…”
--
“In the United States, the IRS requires nonprofits to file an annual Form 990. This form includes information about annual revenue, salaries of the highest paid employees, names of board members and large contractors, and the amount of money the organization spends on administrative costs and fundraising. The 990 ensures that ministries and nonprofits are doing what they say they are doing, that they are using donor funds for the purposes of the nonprofit, not to line the wallets of top leaders. Because of the separation of church and state, American congregations aren’t required to file 990s. More and more, Christian nonprofits are taking advantage of this. In 2019, Ministry Watch reported that more ministries are switching their legal status from “nonprofit” to “church,” not because they are churches, but so that they don’t have to report to the IRS. Ministries that have made the switch include The Willow Creek Association, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, Cru, and Ravi Zacharias International Ministries…”
I actually don't feel like this addressed as much the HOW the personas, platforms, and profits are hurting the church (other than the obvious examples of abuse - power, sexual, spiritual, etc), but more so just the what and who of it. There wasn't a lot of...well if this is happening, then what? I'm not quite sure what the solution is other than for me personally, to continue to distance myself from churches and leaders that I've already happily distanced myself from.
“…'I preached to millions more than Christ did in his lifetime” (Graham). If ministry success is measured by number of listeners, then it makes sense that Graham embraced tv and other media. Why preach only to 100 when you have the tools to preach to millions? But the medium doesn’t just transmit a message. It changes the message. A medium designed for entertainment will transmute the Gospel into a message of entertainment. Media theorist Neil Postman calls Graham’s rationale for using tv “gross technological naiveté.” … “When translated to tv, the Gospel is stripped of everything that sets religious activity apart from other human activity - desacralizing it…the Gospel becomes another form of passive entertainment.”
--
“Many of our religious institutions serve the individual leaders rather than the other way around. Churches become a platform from which pastors can expand their teaching influence far beyond the people in the pews - the very people whom pastors are called to serve. The work of religious nonprofits, such as the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, is overshadowed by loud figureheads who use the organization to amplify their personal ideological agendas. And Christian book publishers and conference organizers tell Christian leaders that book sales or the conference circuit will be more influential and important than anything that they do in their church or their nonprofit. Institutions are too often platforms for self-expression, rather than arenas of deep moral formation.
None of this is Graham’s fault, of course. The evangelical movement to which he belonged was always going to favor charismatic individuals over institutions. Especially individuals who could inspire dramatic heart change among riveted audience members. Evangelicalism, especially in the United States, was always going to place a premium on entrepreneurial individuals, over and against, dusty or “dead” institutions. That has resulted in dramatic creative efforts to share the Gospel and a willingness to try new methods and empower gifted individuals, who might not otherwise fit neatly into denominational life or churchly culture. But it has also meant few gatekeepers, less accountability, and a greater potential for leaders to succeed on the basis of charisma, hustle, or a good game, rather than a genuine desire to serve like Christ. We see that nowhere more clearly than the megachurch movement…”
--
“In the United States, the IRS requires nonprofits to file an annual Form 990. This form includes information about annual revenue, salaries of the highest paid employees, names of board members and large contractors, and the amount of money the organization spends on administrative costs and fundraising. The 990 ensures that ministries and nonprofits are doing what they say they are doing, that they are using donor funds for the purposes of the nonprofit, not to line the wallets of top leaders. Because of the separation of church and state, American congregations aren’t required to file 990s. More and more, Christian nonprofits are taking advantage of this. In 2019, Ministry Watch reported that more ministries are switching their legal status from “nonprofit” to “church,” not because they are churches, but so that they don’t have to report to the IRS. Ministries that have made the switch include The Willow Creek Association, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, Cru, and Ravi Zacharias International Ministries…”
November 13, 2023
A well thought-out outline of the problems of celebrity in Christian culture and how the church has fostered such issues. Honestly, this book's thesis could probably be reworked into a new book every couple of decades with the new issues of Christian celebrity that will inevitably arise. Most convicting for me is the author's call at the end to live a simpler quieter life of faithfulness, and devoted to God and not to the things of earth. That's ultimately the solution and requires a new look at Jesus' exhortations in the Sermon of the Mount, etc.
Read
September 5, 2022I sat down with a cup of coffee this afternoon and read this in one sitting. When it comes to the case studies, there is a lot here that is already known for anyone who pays attention, and a lot here that may come as a surprise to others. I appreciate the chapter on publishing for obvious reasons, and also the emphasis on friendship and being known (as opposed to being known *of*.)
January 14, 2023
Outstanding. Convicting. The church needs this witness today.
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