Death, Life and Worth

"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants." (Psalm 116:15)

WARNING: File this under "Cranky Pastor On a Monday Morning" if you want to...

Yesterday, NBA great Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash. The news was all over my social media and Apple News app, and all over the news shows this morning. His 13-year-old daughter died, too, and while it's tragic and horrible, what has barely been mentioned is that 7 other people died in that crash as well. Seven people who weren't as well-known or celebrated as Bryant. Seven people who, when the news cycle is said and done, will barely be a footnote to the world at large.

We focus on Bryant because he is known. He is a celebrity, and though we say otherwise, we are fascinated and fixated on celebrities. We worship celebrities. "Worship" means "to give worth to," and in our world a person's worth is tied to how well they are known. Bryant is "worth more" because of his athletic ability. Maybe we wouldn't say it that way, but it doesn't take much observation to know that's really what we mean by the way we speak, the memorials we leave, and the number of times he is mentioned versus the number of times the other seven are remembered.

Celebrity worship means we fixate on well-known individuals and we evaluate the worth of others based on their fame. We even do it in the Christian culture. Pastors work hard day in and day out for their congregations, individuals serve for decades in a particular ministry, but the ones who get the attention are the ones who write books, who preach on television, or even the ones who make up a rap and become famous on YouTube. (When did "YouTube Influencer" become a legitimate job title?)

I cannot tell you how many times I have been greeted at the door after preaching with words like, "Did you know that <insert famous pastor's name here> said the same thing in his/her sermon? You must have copied them." Or "If you could preach like <insert name>, you'd really go somewhere!" Once, after challenging people to pick up a spiritual discipline, I heard, "I listen to <famous pastor> for spiritual encouragement. That's my discipline."

Just when I think I've heard it all...I am reminded that I haven't.

From the end of November to last week, I officiated at or took part in six funerals. Six funerals in about eight weeks. (My associate pastor had three funerals in one week!) One of the funerals was for my mother-in-law. Another was for the 43-year-old daughter of my associate pastor. The others were ones who were dear to those close to them. Not a single one of them was less important than Kobe Bryant. The loss was just as great to the world—especially in the worlds of those who loved them. We have got to stop worshipping celebrity and recognize the worth of each individual life. Fame, wealth or talent does not make you more important. After all, Jesus died for every single person, famous or not. He knows every single name, celebrity or not. He loves every single one, including you, whether you are famous or not.

Let's make Jesus famous and not worry about who else is.