I had forgotten–until this morning–the fever-pitch fanaticism that went on display a few years ago when Kanye (A.K.A, Yeezy) become a “born-again” Christian who had accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. The Christian world of all stripes went bonkers.

I’m sure I could easily find the vociferous–even smug and condescending–posts and articles that attacked anyone who promoted an “approach with caution” message regarding another celebrity conversion event. In fact, I remember specifically being lambasted by a writer, podcaster, and minister regarding my article that advocated “caution” and the importance of not promoting a tree before it produces fruit. I was saying, “let’s be cautious and not promote the music of a man whose music, thus far, has been filthy, wicked, and marginally blasphemous!” Such caution was instantly castigated as being old-fashioned, disconnected, and uncaring of the world around me.

The essence of this individual’s grievance was his perception that I was viewing the “conversion” of Kanye myopically. How could I not celebrate that thousands upon thousands were “turning to Christ” due to the conversation being had surrounding the conversion of Kanye? My response, in contrast to others, was dramatically different in that they were utilizing social media, blogging, and podcasting venues to promote and encourage others to celebrate and support this incredible moment as–potentially–one of the greatest moments in Christian modernity.

While I was disappointed by this response, many others began to fall all over themselves with the “creative genius” and brilliance of Kanye with the release of his “Jesus is King” album. Week after week these individuals could do nothing more than discuss the lyrics, the music, and the mastery of the album. The fever pitch was both amusing and jarring. Then, to put a cherry on the top, anyone who contradicted the fervor for Yeezus celebrating Jesus was instantly castigated for their stance of caution and skepticism. We were told that we didn’t comprehend how powerful the moment was. We were foolish to not recognize the work of the Spirit in this powerful celebrity conversation.

At the heart of this was an amorphous manifestation of an already active position many of these individuals took with worldly flirtations such as television, sports, and the desire to swim in pools filled with sharks whose teeth had been filed down so that ecumenical dialogue could be facilitated. Yes, also present were the self-ascribed academics, savants of Apostolic leadership, and aspiring theologians hypnotized by their own voices.

I don’t know, perhaps the underwhelming reality of Kanye’s conversion and the steady drip-drip of other celebrities who, like Bieber, drop vulgar music videos on Monday only to find themselves celebrated and lauded as a Christian champion on stage with Maverick City–the ultimate fountainhead of syncretistic musicality.

Caution to the Wind

Like arsonists, many of these individuals set the world on fire so that they can seemingly watch it burn with a self-righteous smugness only to move on to a new fire after that one has died down. There are men who are always seeking the cutting edge by–many times–cutting others to make that edge; their self-righteous pontifications laced with condescension for those “mired in old, unsophisticated religion.” Then, quick enough, they slip back into the shadows and engage in a political spin that would make Capitol Hill envious. On to new ideas, new pithy projects, and new controversial subjects, while the train wrecks of their past narrations seem to be forgotten.

“Caution to the Wind” is the mantra of many sycophants of Pentecostal Progressivism and, to be at the forefront of innovation and success, slick fingers and erudite voices woo the masses with their knowledge when, in reality, many have never pioneered, built, or framed anything from scratch in their lives. It is easy to talk about a wine that flows from vats, but it is an entirely different story to talk about having been the one to plant the vineyard and the process involved just to prepare the land.

Regarding Kanye, perhaps the latest collaboration with Marlyn Manson, Jay-Z, and DaBaby didn’t quite rise to the occasion of celebration for all those who vehemently pronounced his supreme sanctification and earth shaking impact for the Gospel’s sake. This, I point out, was the cautionary measure we all should have implemented. Instead, we seem to be so overcome with any buzz from Hollywood or the music industry that may involve Christianity. Anyone that is skeptical is deemed ignorant, yet time and again we observe the empty religiosity of celebrity conversion and the continual erosion of true Christianity that emerges from the fallout of such celebrities.

It has no gotten to a point where Denzel Washington, Bieber, Kanye, and a plethora of various other celebrities are being proclaimed as clairvoyant Christian voices. I have seen more reposts of Denzel Washington talking about subjects like God and prayer, but the movies that Denzel puts out are laden with some of the most base and sinful things. Genuine Christian witness is being diluted by a world that is at total odds with the Word of God and we, so plugged in to the entertainment industries, are caught promoting so many of this hypocrisy when we cannot even promote our own brothers and sisters in the church.

Prove the Tree before you Promote the Tree

The jarring language of this treatise has simply flown from the frustration of an observant student of culture and the church. At the heart of this frustration is the tragic byproduct of our seeming failure to pay attention to past patterns and trends. One such trend is that of being quick to promote what seems to draw crowds or that which pulses with potential. I distinctly remember sitting in a planning session with a group of men I highly respected and the subject matter of a minister came to the attention of those present while planning various meetings, conferences, etc. and I remember my jaw nearly hit the floor when a comment was made, “if we don’t use him first the others guys will.” Thank God for common sense that was voiced by several others present, but it would not be long after this planning event that a plethora of damning accusations that later proved true emerged regarding that specific individual.

You see, we seem to continually violate the scriptural admonition highlighted by the Apostle Paul when he admonished Timothy that the ministry needs to “first be proved” (I Tim. 3:10). Have we not stepped over the gravesites of countless men who, having some great edge or potential in ministry, were immediately placed upon pedestals that their character had not yet caught up with?

I am seeing this occur in youth ministries all over Pentecost. First, we have somehow decided that only “young people” can reach “young people” and we are further distancing the voices of subsequent generations from influencing the young. In fact, when we do introduce older men–often time over the age of 70–we carve out the special slots and play into that narrative to some degree. Have we not learned that many young men are simply not emotionally mature enough for such widespread success? How many men will we have to watch implode due to this tragic reality only because we–once again–seemed to take a cue from culture and not Christ?

Many churches are dying, but we are fixated on the attendance of roughly 15,000 conferences now taking place across America. Preaching has become so common-fare that we are texting our way through most sermons or–as is becoming the custom–tuning out because we heard the same preacher deliver the same sermon at the last 4 meetings we attended. Just the other day, another “new conference” was announced from a small church in a rural community and I thought to myself, “why?” Without being critical, the small church had been locked into a paradigm of stagnation for over twenty years. Why a conference? Why not revival services with an evangelist?

First, I believe many in Pentecost are bored. Second, I believe we are seeing the effects of social media on the broad whole of the church community. It’s a unique spin on the 15-minutes of fame mentality. Everyone wants to throw the best party, the best conference, the best after-party, the best music, the best line-ups, the best offerings, the best worship–we are competing–not against the world–but against ourselves! Just take a look at the daily offerings of new podcasts that emerge. We are inundated with another podcast that promotes a new spin, a new look, and a new conversation. I actually tried to wet my feet in the podcasting world but have found, time and again, that I don’t have time!

The honest reality is that we have become vey adept with the marketing features of social media. We break down segments of our sermons and highlight them, promote them, and advertise them to our follows on social media. We post and repost, often engaging in the most nefarious of promotions; self-promotion. Frankly, many have become better promoters than preachers! Promotion has captivated our community and we, as I have said, are so quick to latch on to things that will increase our numbers, tap into generational relevancy, or bring about more likes and shares.

We have become, in some instances, like the boxing industry. We promote talent before we are truly convinced of its ability to come through in the long term. We want to grab those who are making the largest splash, do a quick cost/benefit analysis of using them, and then commit to an all-out promotion of their ministries or niche’ operataions. Sometimes, what “trends” on social media seems to be the cue we take for such promotion. A new ministry that is the “talk of social media” becomes the measure by which we seem to decide, many times, who we ought to utilize and promote. From this I am convinced we have created an echelon of Pentecostal celebrity.

We need to slow down, take a steadying breath, and put our knees back down into the carpet and submit once again to the process of prayer and preparation. We must cease promoting things before the fruit is sampled and proven with time. We must cease placing ministries in the limelight whose characters have yet to be forged in the dark. We must cease competing with ourselves and others, put down worldly paradigms of success, and get back to biblical ideals. More than this, we must get back to holding people accountable for their words and actions when they are wrong, especially those who wield a modicum of influence. Let us not forget the outcome for false prophets in the OT and be mindful of how secular culture seeks to distort, distract, and distress the Pentecostal community.