EAST WEEK #23 ~ WE NEED RIGHTEOUS ROLE MODELS NOT CELEBRITIES

ON THE MOVE

EAST WEEK #23 ~ WE NEED RIGHTEOUS ROLE MODELS NOT CELEBRITIES

In the past year I have had the opportunity to work with many celebrities and artists in the entertainment field counseling, advising and being a pastor to them spiritually. I began to ask the Lord why He had opened this unique door of mentoring artists & entertainers to me, specifically I heard God say, “I am raising up righteous role models to positively influence the next generation for My purposes.”

Why is it important to see artists/celebrities as key influencers in this generation? Because we live in a post-modern culture today that sees leadership and authority very different than the generations before it. Before postmodernism there was modernism and pre-modernism (Christendom).  Let me explain each from a Western context to make a point…

Christendom

The understanding of church that developed after Emperor Constantine made Christianity an official religion of the Roman Empire in the 4th century so that the church became a pillar of society and Christianity the dominant religion.

Modernity

The historical period that emerged in the West around the turn of the 16th century

characterized by the growing authority of science (knowledge), emphasis on rationality (epistemology), and the autonomous individual (society).

Post modernity

The period that is succeeding modernity marked by its rejection of science as the sole authority, the insistence on multiple ways of knowing, including the spiritual, and advocacy of cultural pluralism and relativism.

In pre-modernism (Christendom) the sole authority was the parents. They lived in a society where the family was the social unit and foundation of society. The Church was the basis for morality in Western cultures and the parents enforced those values to their children. In modernism the sole authority was the teachers. During this period where science, knowledge and rationality were advancing many put their trust in those who had the most knowledge. Therefore we created government, business, education and spiritual institutions around the teacher who carried superior information. Yet, when modernism proved to not have all the answers to the world’s problems (wars, diseases, spiritual emptiness, corrupt leadership, etc) the culture shifted to a postmodern society. So in postmodernism if the sole authority and leadership is not found in parents, nor found in teachers, where is it found? My conclusion is that the sole authority is found in “pop stars” or “celebrity icons.”

Think about it? Because of globalization, modern media technology, the world-wide-web, MTV and other sources, whom do the youth look to for leadership? Not so much their parents, no so much their teachers but more so, people like Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie who are helping the poor in impoverished areas. More so, people like U2 rock band lead singer BONO who uses his music as a platform to rally others to fight HIV AIDS in Africa. For instance, Barak Obama to me is a “rock star” before he is a president! Pop Stars today must realize that their lifestyles do not just have an effect on their fans, but on all of popular culture and society today.

I always tell the celebrities and artists I work with to remember what Mother Teresa once said, “You are not called to be successful you are called to be faithful to God.” I challenge them to think about their choices, their actions and how the messages they convey will directly effect future generations. I cause them to realize that whether they like it or not, they are ROLE MODELS to society. The question is whether or not they will use their influence for selfish gain or for selfless causes?

Celebrities have rights but Role Models do not have but one right. The celebrities right is to serve themselves, their ego and their selfish desires. The role models right is to serve others, because they recognize that what they say and do will influence others for better or worse.

I once heard a person quote the actor Matt Damon saying, “What is the point of being a celebrity if I can’t do something with it?”

I believe God is raising up “RIGHTEOUS ROLE MODELS” who will influence the next generation with faith, values and lives that honor and uplift the human existence. Pray for those artists/entertainers and icons that lead this postmodern culture. What does it mean to be “righteous?” it simply means to be a person who chooses to do what is right…it is being obedient to God.

Blessings,

Jaeson Ma