Don’t put anyone on a pedestal

When a teenager, I idolized a few singers, including Elvis Presley. After becoming a Christian, that tendency to put stars on a pedestal was soon shaken. God showed me that no matter how popular or ‘great’ a person might be, as a friend used to say, they put their pants on one leg at a time just like everyone else.

I’ve been put on a pedestal by a few well-meaning people; and hated it. One extreme was having my mistakes overlooked or excused making transparency and confessing sin awkward to say the least. Not only that, if I did make even a small error, some would treat me as if I’d ruined the world. Pride likes a pedestal, but only to a point!

None of the above is biblical. God does not play favorites and tells His people not to do it either. Each member of His family has struggles, ups and downs, human needs, skills and weaknesses. Paul, an easy person to put on a pedestal, reveals reasons why this is not to be done. He was human like the rest of us and every time I read this section, I identify with him and feel empathy. That can’t happen if I put him up there somewhere rather than alongside me. Paul writes to Timothy:

Do your best to come to me soon. For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry. Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments. Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. Beware of him yourself, for he strongly opposed our message. At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them! But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen. (2 Timothy 4:9–18)

I feel his loneliness in this passage. He was needy. He forgot his cloak, books and Scripture in Troas. He had been opposed by someone, perhaps a person he’d trusted. He also had been deserted and attacked while alone by that roaring lion — Satan. He knew the pressures of suffering without anyone to help him, yet the Lord was with him. These are the words of a ‘spiritual giant’ yet they sound like the words of every Christian. Each of us struggles with the same things.

A couple weeks ago in a small group discussion about seniors, I mentioned what I thought most seniors struggled with — feeling abandoned and useless. Two were over ninety, another a bit younger and they nodded vigorously. They had not expressed this as a problem but seemed totally relieved that it came out in the open. They are people who appear spiritual mature to everyone else, yet in their hearts have struggles with basic issues — just as everyone else.

God’s thought for me today is that we are all in this battle of life together. I’ve met famous preachers — they lose their car keys and forget their wives’ birthdays just like many ordinary people. I’ve met famous authors and they goof up too, burn the toast and worse, just like I do. Don’t put anyone on a pedestal.

The preachers I learn the most from are transparent and willing to share their quirks and foibles. One of our pastors recently shared getting a speeding ticket and how he felt when he saw the flashing lights, while waiting for the officer to come to his vehicle, during the conversation and after receiving the piece of paper. He was up on a platform in the church building but refused to be put on a pedestal. Some listeners expressed discomfort, yet all of us felt closer to this man and more aware of the love of Jesus that he preached about that day.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Lord Jesus, it is easy to talk about accomplishments and not as easy to share my mistakes, needs, or negative emotions or events, but Paul did. And he invites his readers to follow his example. We humans are in this together; we all struggle with various things and should never make anyone feel they are so ‘special’ that they cannot be honest about their lives. Pedestals make them feel uncomfortable because standing there forces them to be unreal, even dishonest. Guard my heart that I don’t do this to anyone or let anyone do it to me.

Today’s thankful list . . .

Finally ready for a demo I’m doing tomorrow at a craft show.

A great checkup at the pacemaker clinic.

New technology – my heart can be examined using my smart phone.

Safety driving in Friday’s nutty traffic.

Mexican food and cinnamon buns.

Naps.

Leaning lightly on my friends

Yesterday was a long day of study, reading dense material and listening to lectures. I was feeling sorry for myself, complaining to God that I missed the encouragement that I needed, particularly from Christian friends that we didn’t see during our recent month-long holiday. I went to bed feeling discouraged and woke up the same way.

God amazes me with His timing. Today’s devotional is about leaning lightly on my Christian group of friends. It says, “Enjoy the group but don’t become over-dependent on it. Watch that it doesn’t become an idol, for you will find (if you haven’t already found) that it has feet of clay . . . never forget that God and God alone is the One who will never let you down.”

In the New Testament, Paul wrote to the church at Corinth about this problem. They had put certain people on pedestals to the point that they divided over it . . .

For it has been reported to me . . . that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? (1 Corinthians 1:11–17)

While it is not wrong to put Christ on a pedestal, they were doing this to elevate themselves, not to glorify God. I can relate to that. I’ve talked about my group of friends with that same motivation; “Look at me and how well off I am to know these people . . .”

The rest of the devotional reading points out that this is another subtle form of idolatry. I am to “lean lightly” on my church, denomination, the small group that we attend, the ladies in the study group that I lead, and my Christian friends who are a blessing. I can become addicted to their supply and forget that it is God who supplies all that I need.

As for that wretched self-pity, this same devotional reading addresses this also. As I was feeling sorry for poor me, God directed me to this . . .

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. (Hebrews 12:1–4)

What could be more direct! Besides this, the rest of the passage addressed my reason for self-pity. I have struggled with a certain issue for a long time and God has been disciplining me. Great victories have been won as He shows me the parts of my heart and thinking that need His touch. Yesterday, I became weary of the struggle and tired of the discipline. I just wanted it to be finished. But He said . . .

 . . .  Do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives. It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. (Hebrews 12:5–13)

He didn’t leave me with just that directive, but took me to three more passages of encouragement. The first one was after Moses died and Joshua was told to take God’s people into the land He had promised them. He said, “Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them . . .  No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them” (Joshua 1:1–6).

The second was in David’s words to his son Solomon, “Be strong and courageous and do it. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed, for the Lord God, even my God, is with you. He will not leave you or forsake you, until all the work for the service of the house of the Lord is finished” (1 Chronicles 28:20).

This third verse was like icing on a very satisfying slice of rich and filling cake. In the original, the blank space is “money” but it seems safe to fill this blank with anyone who has toppled off or simply abandoned that pedestal where I foolishly placed them.

Keep your life free from love of __________, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)

God’s kingdom has no superstars

Back in the eighties, I attended a woman’s conference on evangelism in Wheaton, Illinois. While not a new Christian, I still put Christian authors on pedestals like teenagers do with music and movie stars. I can remember my first encounter with one of those well-known authors. I’d read all of her books and imagined her far differently than the woman I bumped into on the steps of the venue. She would have been quite comfortable wearing an apron and carrying a plate of cookies. 

At that event, the first speaker told how she arrived late and went to a bathroom on the main floor to brush her teeth so as not to bother those who were asleep. When she finished, she discovered that the door would not open. She spent most of the night trying to sleep on the cold tile floor. At 5:00 a.m. she noticed the way the door met the floor and realized it was not locked after all. She opened it and went to her room. While everyone was laughing, I was smiling as I realized these “stars” were not that different from the rest of us.

Today’s devotional is a reminder that God certainly does not make stars out of His people. We are so much the same as each other, human, fallible, ordinary with ordinary needs. Paul wrote to his protégé Timothy while he was waiting execution in Rome. He was lonely and looked forward to a visit from the younger preacher…

When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments. (2 Timothy 4:13)

Spurgeon writes, “If we had seen Peter and Paul, we would have thought them very ordinary people—wonderfully like ourselves. If we had gone into their daily lives and trials, we would have said, ‘You are superior to what I am in grace. But somehow you are people like me. I have a quick temper; so have you, Peter. I have a thorn in the flesh; so have you, Paul. I complain of rheumatism, and the apostle Paul, when aged, feels the cold and wants his cloak.’”

  When I put the heroes of the Bible on a pedestal, I need to remember that much of what is written is about everyday events in the lives of ordinary people. Even when otherwise, if some had more grace, I know that the source of grace is as open and free for me as it was for them. I believe in the same Jesus who never changes and who wants me to have victory in trials and power in ministry just as they did.

Spurgeon expresses the same truth as this blog is about. That is, faith is practical. It is how I live in my kitchen, living room, study. It is about being patient in lineups at the grocery checkout, joyful when my body aches and doing my best even when I don’t like the task at hand. As Spurgeon says, “Grace is no common thing, yet it shines best in common things.” The grace given to those preaching and church planting is no more important than the grace given to mothers of small children, or employees misunderstood in the workplace, or Christians who serve in the shadows without recognition or much appreciation. We all have trials and we all need grace. 

I’m also reminded that the road was not made smooth for Paul any more than it is for me, nor for authors, preachers, and others we might consider “stars” in the Christian world. All of us must endure difficulties, yet all of God’s people are promised victory in the end. Paul knew it, and those promises helped him endure his trials — and joyfully tell others where they could find the same grace that had found him.

But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen. (2 Timothy 4:17–18)

Be wary of pedestals

Occasionally someone puts me on a pedestal. I’m very uncomfortable in that position because I know how easy it is to topple off of it. I’m not worthy of being there and wonder if anyone is worthy.

Years ago one of our neighbors had the tape of every sermon preached by a certain radio pastor. He was her idol and example, definitely on a pedestal in her mind. She talked like him and reacted to situations with similar attitudes.

Since then, I’ve noticed that when someone idolizes another person, they might pick up that person’s traits and this could be good, but people on pedestals also have their flaws. That means those who idolize them often fail to grow in those same areas. It isn’t that their ‘worshipers’ imitate the flaws, but rather they fail to find other good examples to help overcome them. They are too busy with their person on a pedestal. Also, as Madeleine L’Engle once said, “Because you’re not what I would have you be, I blind myself to who, in truth, you are.”

Today I realize that this pastor on a pedestal doesn’t like being there. He wrote the devotional guide that I’m using and in today's reading he is comparing the difference between the apostle Paul and Jesus Christ. He penned these words, “Paul wasn’t perfect. He is not our standard of righteousness. Only Christ is a perfect standard . . . ” (John MacArthur. Truth for today: A daily touch of God's grace).

The Bible talks about the attitude of both men when others treated them unjustly. Of Jesus, it says:

He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth. (Isaiah 53:7)

The Bible also describes an incident where Paul was on trial before the Sanhedrin. The high priest Ananias ordered him to be struck on the mouth. At first Paul didn’t realize who it was who said that. Nevertheless, his immediate response to Ananias was, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall!” (Acts 23:3)

Paul quickly realized what he had done and immediately had to apologize because such an exclamation against a high priest was against the law.

On the other hand, Jesus never broke the law of God. He had no sin in His heart and refused to retaliate. His example is always perfect and safe to follow.

As for Paul, he sometimes encouraged others to follow his example, but he also added, “. . . as I follow Christ.” He knew who deserved that place on the pedestal of our hearts.

Godly leaders are important and I can learn much from their life. However, I know the human heart because I know my own heart. I fall off my pedestal with the slightest things, an angry response, irritation at opposition, or even when I do well, a touch of pride will topple me.

The pastor who wrote these words is a humble man who knows the power of sin to sneak up on us and knock us flat. I doubt that he would ever compare himself with Paul. He also knows and tells me in today’s reading that Jesus Christ is our only perfect standard. Jesus knows how to handle whatever comes at Him without falling into sin, including the reviling of His enemies and the adoration of His friends.

The more I study the Lord Jesus Christ, the more I realize how much I have yet to learn!